Legal Experts Question Willie Nelson Pot Bust

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Legal Experts Question Willie Nelson Pot Bust
Texas criminal defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin, Kinky Friedman speak out on arrest



Hudspeth Country Sheriff's Department/WireImage

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/68404/238588

Willie Nelson was arrested last Friday by federal Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas after they seized six ounces of pot off his tour bus. If convicted, the 77-year-old country legend could face extended jail time — the offense carries a minimum sentence of 180 days in jail and a maximum sentence of two years plus a $10,000 fine.

But the arrest doesn't sit well with Texas attorney Dick DeGuerin, a criminal defense lawyer who recently represented Tom Delay and country singer Billy Joe Shaver, and was lawyer to David Koresh during the 1993 FBI siege of the Branch Davidian ranch outside Waco, Texas. DeGuerin questions the lawfulness of the search, which he says occurred 100 miles from the Mexican border. "It needs to be contested," he says.

"It's supposed to be a checkpoint only for aliens, and overstep their authority all the time," he says. "I've had several cases from that checkpoint and they just use the opportunity to check out anybody they want to. If you have long hair, if you're driving a van or it looks like you're from California or you look like a hippie, they do profiling."

DeGuerin's advice for Nelson? "He needs to get a good lawyer," he says. "I wish him the best."(It's unclear who's currently representing Nelson.)

Texas personality (and perennial gubernatorial candidate) Kinky Friedman also believes agents overstepped their boundaries. "The real crime here is that it occurred in a county that is one of the headquarters of the Zetas," he says, referring to the growing Mexican criminal drug cartel. "These guys don't have bigger fish to fry? The Zetas are taking over their county and they're busting Willie Nelson. That shows a real lack of priorities."

[FiveGoodMen]

1. It's a war on freedom, not drugs.

[Tsiyu]

3. Another from the file of

sad headlines I thought I'd never have to see again.


2010, People. 2010.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Texas personality (and perennial gubernatorial candidate) Kinky Friedman ??

I posted the other day that Kinky ran for governor and someone corrected me and said he ran for water commissioner, or dog catcher or some shit.

Did he or didn't he run for governor? I thought he did?

Anyone know?

Don

[GrannyK]

5. Yes

Kinky ran for Governor and split the vote so the Dem lost and Rick Perry was elected with a very low vote count. Don't remember all the stats.
But he was on the ballot when I voted for the Dem.

[NNN0LHI]

6. Thank you for straightening that out

I didn't think I was dreaming it.

Don

[alstephenson]

4. The Border Patrol does the same thing on I-8, which is the route between Phoenix and San Diego.

The City of Yuma has deputized the Border Patrol agents, who walk the lines of traffic with drug sniffing dogs and bust people for as little as a seed. They are supposed to be looking for illegals, but instead it is a money maker for Yuma. What a waste of resources.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-03-13/news/border-patrol-checkpoints-near-yuma-nab-hordes-of-pot-users-headed-back-from-the-beach/

[dmr]

7. I remember reading that those of us in Michigan could be subject to

border patrol stops. Something to do with X amount of miles from a foreign border. Thus, we could be driving on I-75, or right here in town going about our daily business & get stopped. That angers me!

I wish I could find a link for that because some people I've spoken to here don't believe me when I tell them.

Free Willie!

:hi:

[Mnemosyne]

8. My b-i-l is border patrol and actually believes weed is evil He wouldn't even

look at me if I was in the room nor respond when I said anything to him because I smoke, on occasion.

Of course, I didn't help by telling him Hannity and Colmes are idiots. :evilgrin:

He is a psycho control freak dick.