HONOLULU (AP) — A change of plea hearing has been scheduled Friday for a Big Island marijuana advocate.
HONOLULU (AP) — A change of plea hearing has been scheduled Friday for a Big Island marijuana advocate.
Roger Christie, 63, is scheduled to change his plea to marijuana trafficking charges. His wife, Sherryanne “Share” Christie, also is scheduled for a plea change.
Roger Christie promoted the religious use of marijuana for years at The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry in downtown Hilo. He was arrested in July 2010 and his operation was shut down. He has been in custody without bail for more than three years, while his wife and the others have been granted bail.
A federal grand jury indicted the Christies and 12 others on marijuana trafficking counts. Most of the others have pleaded guilty to marijuana charges and await sentencing. Christie and his wife also were charged with conspiracy.
One co-defendant, Wesley Sudbury, is a fugitive.
Federal prosecutors contend Christie used religion to cover large-scale marijuana trafficking.