from CTI: Parent/Patient Child Abuse Hearing Tuesday

From: Cannabis Therapy Institute <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Subject: Parent/Patient Child Abuse Hearing Tuesday



For immediate release, August 23, 2010

Parent/Patient Charged with Felony Child Abuse

Help Support Parent/Patient Rights

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Cannabis Therapy Institutue - Parent/Patient Charged with Felony Child Abuse

{Denver}-- Parents of legal grow operations can be charged with felony
child abuse under current Colorado law, according to the Denver District
Attorney. In June, Denver DA Mitchell R. Morrissey filed felony child abuse
charges against parents Joseph Lightfoot (30) and Amber Wildenstein (29)
for legally cultivating medical cannabis in the basement of the house that
they lived in with their three children. Joseph and Amber were arrested and
forced to post $50,000 bond each to get out of jail. They have a
preliminary hearing set for Aug. 24 in Denver District Court.

*Joseph Lightfoot Defense Fund*
Donate to Paypal Account: [email protected]
http://www.paypal.com/

According to the DA's press release, the couple had been operating a
"licensed marijuana growing operation" in their house when police were
called to investigate a domestic disturbance. When they arrived, the police
reported that there was no crime being committed, but discovered a medical
cannabis garden in the basement. The cultivation area was legal under state
law, and the police did not confiscate any of the plants or medicine.
However, days later they came back to serve arrest warrants on Joseph and
Amber for felony child abuse and to take the kids.

According to the DA's press release, "Colorado Revised Statute 18-6-401
states in part that a person commits child abuse, if, in the presence of a
child, or on the premises where a child is found, or where a child
resides... the person knowingly engages in the manufacture or attempted
manufacture of a controlled substance."

In an interview with Michael Roberts from Westword, Lynn Kimbrough,
spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney's Office, said, "It's state
law, and we don't pick and choose the laws we enforce and prosecute. We
have an obligation to go forward with what's on the books, and marijuana is
a controlled substance."
Marijuana cultivation leads to child abuse charges: New way to target home grows? - Denver News - The Latest Word

Lightfoot's attorney is Daniel M. Murphy of Denver. Murphy says he is
confident his client will be cleared of all wrongdoing. "My client is a
good parent and the facts of this case will show he absolutely did not
commit child abuse," Murphy says.

However, medical cannabis activists see this as yet another attack on
cannabis patients by the government. "This is a disturbing trend where the
police will use the kids to get at the cannabis, or the cannabis to get at
the kids," says Riah McBee of a group called Medical Marijuana Family
Advocates Cultivating Truth (MMJ-FACT).

McBee's children were the target of a Boulder County investigation related
to his medical marijuana use last year, but the case was resolved and McBee
still has custody of his children. "The Denver Police are trying to send
the message that you will have your children seized even if your medical
cannabis is legal under state constitution. Parents should be very
concerned about these perversions of the laws and infiltration into their
families lives," McBee says.

The children, aged 7, 9 and 11, were allowed to remain in the custody of
their mother. However, Joseph is only allowed phone contact with his
biological daughter, even though Joseph raised all the children with Amber
for 10 years.

*NEXT HEARING*
Joseph Lightfoot has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 24 at 8:30am
in Denver County Court, Courtroom 2100, Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center,
490 W. Colfax, Denver, CO
If you attend to show support for Joseph, please DRESS TO IMPRESS.

*DEFENSE FUND*
A defense fund has been set up by Timothy Lightfoot, Joseph's brother, to
help pay for the expenses of the arrest and prosecution of his brother.

Contributions can be made to:
*Joseph Lightfoot Defense Fund*
Donate to Paypal Account: [email protected]
http://www.paypal.com/

*PRESS CONTACTS*
Cannabis Therapy Institute
Patient Advocacy Project
1-877-420-4205

Daniel M. Murphy, Attorney
Phone: (303) 572-0275

Riah McBee
Director, Medical Marijuana Family Advocates Cultivating Truth (mmjfact)
Email: [email protected]

*BECOME A CTI SPONSOR*
This press release was written by the Cannabis Therapy Institute's Patient
Advocacy Project.
Please donate to support our mission of advocacy and activism.
Cannabis Therapy Institutue - Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Research, Education and Advocacy in Colorado


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Provided as a Public Service by the:
Cannabis Therapy Institute
P.O. Box 19084
Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: Cannabis Therapy Institutue - Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Research, Education and Advocacy in Colorado
Email: [email protected]

I think I heard this was an 830am hearing....

anyone hear anything?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by copobo

I think I heard this was an 830am hearing....

anyone hear anything?

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I would imagine there will be a story on westword.

I heard this has been continued to October, and that the restraining order keeping Joseph from his kids has been lifted.