ANTI-MEDIA Staff

March 5, 2015

(ANTIMEDIA) IOWA CITY, IA — Robert Pardee was traveling through Powesheik County, Iowa in June of 2012, when State Troopers pulled over the vehicle he was riding in for tailgating and a non-working taillight. Upon a search of the automobile, officers found “a small amount of marijuana” and $33,100 in cash. Pardee was taken into custody and charged with marijuana possession. First-time possession offenders in Iowa can receive up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 in fines.

Pardee was later acquitted of the charges against him in district court, but not before the state filed a civil forfeiture case against his seized cash. Despite being found not guilty, both the district court and most recently, the Iowa Court of Appeals ordered the cash be relinquished to the state.

The Iowa Supreme Court can always still agree to hear Pardee’s case. If the court declines to review the case or they rule in favor of the state, law enforcement will retain the money. As of today, it is not likely that Pardee will retrieve his money.

Civil forfeiture allows law enforcement agencies to seize and retain property from citizens without a criminal conviction, and even without charges being filed. Only in cases of criminal forfeiture does the state have to obtain a conviction to keep a person’s property. Considering civil forfeiture cases are heard in civil court, there is a far lower burden of proof needed for the state to win their case.

Iowa State Patrolmen seized around $7 million in cash and $18 million in drugs between 2011 and 2013.

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