UNDERSHERIFF REQUESTS MORE INFO IN CITIZEN COMPLAINT

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Contact: Reuven Cohen  Cel: (805) 801-0380 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNDERSHERIFF REQUESTS MORE INFO IN CITIZEN COMPLAINT AGAINST SHERIFF Medical marijuana patient sends a revised complaint Los Angeles – February 2, 2009 -- Undersheriff Steve Bolts sent a letter to concerned citizen requesting clarification regarding a citizen’s complaint against Sheriff Patrick Hedges on January 26, 2009. The original complaint asked for a thorough investigation into Hedges’ and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department’s involvement in the matter of Charles C. Lynch, former Morro Bay  medical marijuana dispenser. Cheryl Aichele filed an official complaint against Hedges on January 20, 2009, the day President barack Obama took office. Aichele’s original complaint accuses Hedges of violating California state law, wasting California taxpayer’s money, acting unprofessional, and causing Lynch and his family financial and emotional despair. In his letter, Bolts indicated it was unclear to Hedges or himself which specific actions Aichele referred to in her original complaint. Also included with Bolt’s letter was a copy of Aichele’s original complaint and California Attorney General’s Medical Marijuana Guidelines for Law Enforcement and Patients. California  State Attorney General, Jerry Brown, recognizes not-for-profit businesses as legally allowed to distribute medical marijuana in California to qualified patients. Lynch or his medical marijuana dispensary, Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers, has not been charged with violating state law. All complaints against elected officials get forwarded to State Attorney General, Jerry Brown, have to be investigated and stay on record for five years. On February 2, 2009, Aichele submitted a 7-page revised complaint. The revised complaint question the legitimacy of the police work which initiated the investigation into Lynch, his employees, patients, and CCCC. Apparently, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s department began investigating Lynch and his dispensary around the time CCCC opened despite no known complaint against Lynch or his dispensary. Both Morro Bay Mayor, Janice Peters, and City Attorney, Rob Schultz, testified they never received any complaints about Lynch or CCCC, they worked closely with Lynch before and after he opened his dispensary, they toured CCCC with Lynch, observed the procedures of the dispensary and believed Lynch to be a law-abiding citizen. In her revised complaint, Aichele accuses Sheriff’s Deputy Nick A. Fontecchio of violating state and federal law by returning marijuana to an unnamed paid-criminal undercover informant. Apparently, Fontecchio found two marijuana joints on informant during a routine search of his persons before an undercover operation. After the completion of the undercover activities, Fontecchio allegedly gave the informant the marijuana back. Additionally the revised complaint accuses Deputy John Blank of going undercover as Jesse Baldridge and smoking marijuana with a Los Angeles doctor when he obtain a recommendation to use cannabis for medical purposes. Also the revised complaint questions the legality of Sheriff’s Deputies going on private property and obtaining evidence from a garbage can without warrant, probable cause or permission. As well as the legality of the Sheriff’s department doing the forensic work for the Drug Enforcement Administration on California taxpayer’s money. Furthermore, the complaint inquires into the Sheriff’s Department violating the privacy of patients by allowing patient records to be made into public record during Lynch’s federal case. Lynch’s former patient, Elaine McKellip has sued Hedges for violating her privacy. Aichele’s revised complaint includes a list of questionable activities that seems to indicate that Sheriff Hedges has a pattern of misconduct. The complaint lists Hedges supposed domestic discord with his current wife and his two ex-wives. In addition, the revised complaint lists several dubious incidents with marijuana and qualified patients in San Luis Obispo County. SLO County Sheriff’s Department arrested and held Richard Steenken in jail for 21 days for marijuana violations although he was within his California medical marijuana rights. Furthermore, Hedges refused to return D. Craig Steffen’s medical marijuana even though it was wrongfully seized by SLO Sheriff’s Department until a court ordered Hedges to return the medicine to the patient. The SLO County Sheriff’s Department has also been investigated for the death of Jay Anthony Vestal after being restrained by deputies while being arrested for marijuana charges. The revised complaint also mentions Hedges involvement in the mishandling of the police work surrounding Andrea Lynn Hug’s death. Lynch’s case gained national attention after Reason foundation’s the Drew Carey’s Project created a Reason.tv episode featuring Lynch and Owen Beck, a former seventeen year old student athlete, who had his leg amputated to keep his bone cancer from spreading. Beck’s parents accompanied him on all his visits to Lynch’s medical cannabis dispensary as the business license requirements stated for minors. Al Roker interviewed Lynch for a MSNBC show called “An Hour on Marijuana” scheduled to air in the coming weeks. In addition, John Stossel from ABC’s 20/20 interviewed Lynch and his Federal Public Defenders for an episode called “Bullsh*t in America” scheduled to air Feb 9t h or 16th or 20t h at 10pm eastern standard time. Lynch is scheduled to be sentenced Monday February 23, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. Friends of Charles C. Lynch will demonstrate against the injustice of federal laws in California medical marijuana cases and Sheriff Hedges involvement in this case at noon on the Main Street side of the Federal Courthouse at 312 N. Spring Street Downtown Los Angeles. ### If you would like more information about this case, or to schedule an interview with Charles C. Lynch or others, please call Reuven Cohen at (805) 801-0380.