UPDATE Jan 17, 2017, 10 a.m.: The case against Drew Kirvida below was dismissed and evidence expunged as of Aug. 9, 2013.
One of two men alleged to have arranged the shipment of 11 pounds of marijuana to a post-office box in Snowmass Village struck a plea deal with prosecutors Monday, while the second suspect said outside of court that he is a licensed distributor who should not be criminally charged.
Both Drew Kirvida, 19, and Vaughn Barnett, 27, appeared in Pitkin County District Court, during which time Kirvida pleaded guilty to a class-six felony charge of criminal attempt to possess more than 12 ounces of marijuana. In exchange, prosecutor Arnold Mordkin dropped felony charges of possession of more than 5 pounds of marijuana and conspiracy.
Kirvida was given a two-year deferred sentence by District Judge Gail Nichols, which means that the charge will be dropped if he doesn’t commit any crimes during that period. Kirvida also has entered a substance-abuse program and has returned to his home state of Minnesota.
Kirvida called his role in the incident a “stupid decision on my part.”
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