GLENWOOD SPRINGS — A juvenile who was accused of selling his father’s medical marijuana agreed to a plea deal Wednesday in Garfield County Court.
The juvenile pleaded guilty to possession of between 1 ounce and 8 ounces of marijuana, which prosecutors say belonged to the child’s father, who has a prescription for medical marijuana.
Carbondale police arrested the juvenile after he allegedly sold an unspecified amount of the marijuana at Carbondale Middle School. It was unclear whether the juvenile was a student at the middle school.
“I think this is an unintentional consequence from the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes,” said Deputy District Attorney Tony Hershey.
Hershey agreed to drop the original charges of distribution and possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana as part of the plea deal and recommended a deferred judgment in the case, saying that this kind of drug offense on the juvenile’s record could affect his life in many ways for years to come.
“This is a big break,” Hershey said. “But it’s a one-time break, and I hope (they) see that.”
The student has been expelled from school and was placed on home detention after the arrest.
However, Garfield County Judge Paul Metzger agreed to release the juvenile from home detention after contacting the probation department.
Further specifics of the incident and subsequent arrest were not available because juvenile records are sealed.
