[420 Girl]

Sixteen people were arraigned today on felony charges stemming from the raid of two medical marijuana businesses following an undercover investigation by Oakland County law enforcement.

Authorities said the marijuana was sold illegally at Clinical Relief in Ferndale and Everybody's Café, a restaurant in Waterford Township. The arrests and drug seizures also occurred Thursday at area homes and a warehouse in Macomb County.

In 43rd District Court in Hazel Park, Magistrate James Paterson ran through suspects in an almost assembly-line style -- some live and some through a video arraignment.

In each case an attorney entered a not guilty plea, gave a brief history of the client and his or her family life and said the client wasn't a flight risk. Paterson gave each defendant a $10,000 personal bond, which means they're free to immediately go home. Paterson set a Sept. 2 preliminary examination date for -- in order: Barbara Johnson, 40, of Leonard; Anthony Agro, 42, of Troy; Derek Anderson, 29, of Ferndale; Ryan Fleissner, 30, of Livonia; and Matthew Curtis, 39, of Lake Orion.

Those arraigned in Hazel Park were instructed to return for hearings at 1 p.m. Sept. 2.

In 51st District Court in Waterford, arraignments were conducted for Max Brochert, 22, of Birmingham; William Joseph Teichman, 50, of White Lake Township; Candace Jean Teichman, 45, of White Lake; Laval Anthony Crawford, 38, of Waterford; Michael Scott Danto, 23, of Ferndale; William Charles Rush, 47, of White Lake; Todd Phillip Robinson, 34, of Southfield; Kirk Alan Swafford, 28, of Waterford; Jennifer L. Zuck, 29, of Waterford; Edward Harold Thomas, 48, of Harrison Township, and Matthew John-Drinnon Miller, 26, of Waterford. Danto also was arraigned in the Hazel Park court.

Those arraigned in Waterford Township were instructed to return for hearings at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Each person faces at least one count of controlled substance -- delivery or manufacture marijuana. The charge is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Other marijuana-related charges were also levied against many of the defendants.

Personal bonds of $10,000 were ordered for most of the defendants, meaning they didn't have to post any money to be released. William and Candace Teichman were given $5,000 bonds, 10 percent cash; Crawford was given a $10,000 cash bond.

All of the defendants are being charged with something they believed to be not only legal but ethical as they were helping manage pain, said Farmington Hills attorney Thomas Loeb, who attended the arraignment on behalf of several of the defendants.

Loeb explained to the magistrate Curtis' situation, saying he has a mother and a brother in the area and a father who is also in the area and in hospice. Curtis and Richmond are the co-owners of Clinical Relief.

Loeb explained that Curtis, like others, are connected to the community and aren't a flight risk

"The prosecutor and sheriff's department has made this very provocative," Loeb said. "Had they simply asked us to surrender, we would have been there."

Grosse Pointe attorney Paul Tylenda, who represents multiple clients out of the 47th District Court, declined comment.

About 10 people were arraigned on similar charges today inside 51st District Court in Waterford.


NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Detroit News | detnews.com | Saturday, August 28, 2010 | News, sports, features, blogs, photos and forums from Detroit and Michigan
Author: Jennifer Chambers and Steve Pardo
Contact: Contact The Detroit News | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Copyright: 2010 The Detroit News.
Website:16 arraigned in Oakland County medical marijuana raids | detnews.com | The Detroit News


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