News » Bartkowicz To Get 5 Years





As reported yesterday, Christopher Bartkowicz, the Colorado grower of medical marijuana, plead guilty to three drug charges (including cultivation) before federal U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer. His plea was entered and his bond was rescinded. He was cuffed and taken into custody.

Sentencing will formally take place on January 28, but Bartkowicz’ plea deal offers him five years in prison on three charges rather than a possible life sentence because of a previous drug conviction (also for marijuana).

The Judge has the option of rejecting the plea deal and giving Bartkowicz a different sentence; always a danger when making a plea bargain.

Judge Brimmer has been less than kindly towards Bartkowicz throughout the trial process, rejecting out of hand all of his arguments of defense, including Colorado’s medical marijuana laws and statements and memorandums from the DEA and DOJ regarding the low priority to be given to MMJ prosecutions.

John Walsh, U.S. Attorney for Colorado, called the 5 year sentence “proper.”

Fellow Colorado grower Rodney Jobe was also sentenced on Wednesday by the same judge, getting time served and 3 years’ probation for his cultivation charges, which were also for medical marijuana.

[source NPR]

Tags: Bartkowicz, Colorado, jobe, medical, prosecution