Yes, those are the facts from what I have heard. This article was not correct. The other fact is that his 3 year old child was there and is witness to the drug use on a DAILY basis!!! THAT is the ISSUE! He should be charged for that ALSO!!!!!

I want to point out to every person who has commented on this article. FIRST thing this is not even true. The gun in the house was locked away which he has a permit for and NOT LOADED... There was no cash found but the money that he had in his wallet and some single one's just like all of you who save change he saved his one's. I think people that publish stories and people who also write comments should really find out the whole story because IF YOU DONT KNOW IT YOU SHOULDNT COMMENT ABOUT IT.... learn your facts people. I agree drugs shouldnt be by kids and they were not any where for children to get. ALL IM SAYING IS EDITIORS AND PEOPLE COMMENTING GET ALL THE STORY BEFORE YOU START JUDGING SOMETHING.

I happen to know this individual. Not a close aquantance, but I have spoke to him recently as a passer-by. I do have someone in my life that is much closer to him, and has known him for years. I notice how a lot of people are saying "he should go to jail". I am not condoning what he has chose to do with his life, but I don't think that as a person getting their opinion off this small of an article, you can not make that sort of suggestion. You do not know his life story, or even the details of the situation at hand. I notice many are not agreeing with the gun. I am not sure if people realize that a gun could be kept in a safe, locked away place. I know a lot of people who keep guns within there homes, my father being one of them. It was not a stolen gun, it was bought legally, he just had not permitted the gun. Tell me that no one you know has ever had a gun. Yes, it was loaded, but maybe that was a mistake on his part. I know that he would not keep this weapon sitting on his living room table, it would be locked in a secure location. From what I hear, he cooperated with police, and that is why they found what they did. Marijuana will always be around, whether it is legal or not. There will always be buyers and sellers. That is the way that it has been for a very long time. Actually, it goes manufacturers, to sellers, to sellers, to sellers, until you get to that person who is buying little amounts for recreational use. And since the article doesn't mention his life story, he is the individual who buys at bulk for his friends, sells only to his friends, and was set up by a friend who he thought he could trust, that must have been trying to help himself. Like I said, I am not condoning his poor choices, and I am not a user, but I do not think that such comments can be made on this without knowing the individual at hand and knowing the entire situation.

If one considers the budget shortfall and the rise in the prison and police budgets in our state, it will be obvious that we need to do something about the costs of incarcerating and prosecuting non-violent crimes. We should de-criminalize marijuana immediately. It would save us a lot of money and help a lot of people. Our "war against drugs" is costing us all a lot.

After reading all the comments, I need to throw in what I found myself saying just today. I was chatting with a neighbor about another neighbor who recently had a run in with the police on a marijuana charge. I found myself saying *at least it was only marijuana and not heroine or crack* Times they are a changing LOL

Dang! It's hard to work the debt snowball when people thieve your emergency cash!

thanx blood:)

i understand this guy will and SHOULD go to jail for breaking the law. ive stated before, even in this blog, that we are all fully aware of the risks. he knew and he will go sit. im not arguing to keep this one particular guy out of jail. i do this to point out the hypocrisy in the law to begin with and to highlight the fact that marijuana is NO different than legal alcohol or tobacco. this guy SHOULD go to jail. but more importantly, he SHOULD have had the option to make this a legitimate business to begin with.

You're own your own Kid, I realize that there is NO legitimate forums to address this issue and that is why everytime an article comes close to the question the debate begins. I would encourage you to leave the personal attacks or comments out of your debate, no matter how many times others take a swipe at you; it diminishes your conversation.
Myself, I would much rather be realistically discussing what to with the GM plant or the Monterey Hotel or how to attract manufacturing back to Rock County, but I'm starting to believe and understand that vision in Rock County died with Ken Hendricks and that, my friend, is truly sad.
You're a good guy Kid and a strong advocate for what you believe in, we need more of that in Janesville.

No decriminalization scheme that I know of would have exonerated this guy from a trafficking charge. I am all for decriminalization, but I have too much experience with the dealer end of things here in the Fourth Ward to see them as anything but a source of serious nuisance behaviors *at the good end of the scale*.

blood--I agree, that does not make you a drug dealer. No profit being made. Just some pals splitting the cost. That is not what this guy was up to (obviously). I also agree that it was not the cash, it was the gun and the 3.5lbs(!!) of weed he had. The legality of the product he is selling that is the issue. It is illegal and until it is legal, this guy deserves every bit of punishment they can give him by law.

kid--try to see if from a 'non users' point of view (however narrowminded it may seem in your opinion). Most of the commenters are simply stating that they believe this guy should be punished fully for breaking the law. You are at your best arguing the legalization of the product in question, but most (not all) cannot or choose not to debate that with you. Your well armed with fact and opinion and have every right to your opinion. For me, (a non user) I just don't like reading an article about a criminal (by law, again not to dispute your opinion that it should be legal) being defended for clearly breaking the law. You have your opinion, I have mine, others have theirs and we are all entitled to them. But this guy is guilty of breaking the law period. Makes no difference if you or I or anyone else thinks the law should be changed.

I say legalize it. If you kid does drugs you obvioudly didn't teach your kid to much then did you?

im in agreement with that theory fo sho. this guy realized there were UNTAXED profits to be made and took advantage of that. isnt that how society works?? the owner of the company i work for. my uncle who owns a tavern. bill gates. didnt they all 'buy in bulk, sell off in smaller amounts to pay off the bulk purchase. Then, reap the 'profit' from further sales to pay for your personal useage'. thats how business works sir and you have just proven that the only difference between this guy and the bar owner or ANY business owner for that matter is the law. some people pay income tax and he does not. this is modern day al capone...on a smaller scale of course. legalize it and this guy is a legitimate business owner who may or may not still have a gun. but he most def pays income tax on whatever he sells. they could get INCOME TAX, SALES TAX, AND MARIJUANA TAX off of it. no state income potential?? please. none of this means that marijuana use WILL lead to harder drugs as we were told to believe.

I quote Norma Kauzlarich Assistant states attorney Rock Island County Illinois (5/21/09) "If a vehicle is permanently taken from its owner, it is returned to the agency that originally seized it. That agency can decide to sell or keep the vehicle; if the vehicle is sold, the agency keeps any money they make. It's free money for your department".

Local Guy- That's let me ask you a question...sorry

LocalGuy- Let me you a question, Let's say your a professional in town, maybe a lawyer, and you smoke pot on rare occassions. You're getting together with some of your buddies for a camping trip and you want some pot so you make a few calls. You come up with some and your buddies offer to buy some with you so you split the purchase. When you get together for the camping trip you give them their part of the purchase and they give you their money. Does that make you a "drug dealer?"
This guy in the article went way beyond the scope of my question and it wasn't because of the cash, it was because of the weapon. He put himself in a very negative position and deserves what he gets from the court. There is a big difference between "normally law abiding citizens" using marijuana recreationally and this guy. My arguement is that difference needs to be represented logically in the law. You have a bar in Janesville called the Speakeasy, that represents a place where a "normally law abiding citizen" could have had their life destroyed by the police raiding the bar. It happended way too many times in prohibition and it's happening way too many times today with recreational marijuana users. Would you like to see Willie Nelson put away for 15 years because he got caught up in a drug deal? Not me!!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...

I have a theory (only my opinion) that sort of ties into the whole gateway debate. I've gone back and forth with the kid before and I promise you kid, I am only using this as an example:

Kid--have you ever sold dope? Even just a joint to a buddy who was out? It is a natural gateway from being a recreational user to something that starts out as a recreational 'seller'. Kind of like a big box store--buy in bulk, sell off in smaller amounts to pay off the bulk purchase. Then, reap the 'profit' from further sales to pay for your personal useage. Talk about a gateway. Anyone care to argue that this guy arrested with 3.5lbs didn't start off as a recreational user? Slippery slope that starts by catching a buzz and ends with being busted with that much weed and a loaded gun.

Kid--I'm not calling you out on this one. I am certain that a very small % of people that use recreationally (alcohol, pot, or anything else) will end up like this guy, but there is an obvious connection there.

Well done JPD.

the LAW is the ONLY difference. this guy may or may not be a loser in real life. neither of us know him. both serve a relatively harmless drug(when used responsibly) to someone who wants to consume it. he had a gun yes. how many guns do you think are buried under the bars in this state?? really??

dont you remember we just discussed this YESTERDAY. i dont NEED it. i WANT it every day. as i said YESTERDAY, my life would not be worse. my life would be exactly the same. i accomplished what i have because of who i am. it just so happens that i smoke pot every day. pot is a HUGE part of my life...but it does not DEFINE who i am. go ahead and tell me what you think...im not goin anywhere and i obviuosly gots some time to discuss this;)

blood: i think the gateway theory is reefer madness gone wild for all drugs. it ALL comes down to the individual. some people will try harder drugs. MOST will not. the ones who do, i believe, do it for reasons other than looking for a better high than nicotine/alcohol/pot. if someone wants to snort heroin or coke, they probably will whether they ever try pot, alcohol, nicotine, or oxy...i agree 110% about it happening cuz of who they associate with and the environment in general its associated with. i firmly believe and agree too that if you legalized it and controlled it that element would go away and it would become an alternative for free adult american citizens to relax with. or medicate with.

Hey Kid, the gateway issue is true and the answer to your question, in my opinion, is alcohol is the first gateway. Children, teens see alcohol use promoted, embellished and accepted by society and they can rightfully conclude that it must be okay. Afterall, the only people who become alcoholics or drunk drivers are losers any way; it will never happen to me!
I drink wine and no more than 3-4 glasses, thankfully my stomach can't handle anymore. The only time I ever drink a shot of anything is if I go to a bar and someone buys a shot. My wine drinking was the gateway to harder liquor because I went to a place where harder liquor was easily available. It's the same with pot, some people graduate up the ladder because they associate with people where there is availability of harder drugs and the environment to encourage it. If you legalize pot and make it available like alcohol, then you take the negative environment right out of the picture although I'm sure some would continue to illegally sell it just like the mob continued to illegally sell alcohol after the prohibition was reversed.
And by the way, we make the laws, that why we live in a self-governing nation. This law has been manipulated by big money lobbyists from the alcohol industry because they don't like the competition. The History channel has a great story that documents the events leading to criminalizing marijuana and then classifying it as a narcotic.
We haven't even discussed the economic benefits of legalzing marijuana, it is California's #1 cash crop, bigger than all the other legal cash crops combined!!!

kid - This is a lot different then a guy selling a beer. A guy selling a beer has to have a liquor license and does so legally in a store. Now, you can argue that someone should be allowed to do the same with pot, and that's your right. However, this loser is doing it and it's illegal. And by the way, he had a loaded gun. Hmmmmm.
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No I'm not your ex-wife, nor do I care about what go's on in your home or personal life. Call me a fool and names all you want, that is not the direction I'm going with you. You smoke pot everyday kid. You do it to catch a buzz. You are abusing it whether you think it controls your life or not. You obviously think you need it and that's your choice, but you are relying on a substance. You said before your life is greater since you started smoking. So if you quit, it would be worse? Bullsh*t! Like your first post said, if you smoke weed, it's better to keep a lower profile about it. I respect that you don't keep a lower profile about it, but I'm going to tell you exactly what I think because you obviously want that from people.

Hey kid I can answer that for you... It was probaly the parents that led them to their first substance... Drinking at a family wedding, grad party, parents smoking cigs, pills the parents have in the cabinet.. Oh wait did that mean it all started around the parents??? Hmm... No that has nothing to do with my first comment hahaha Stay Classy Janesville!

Hey kid, have you been growing manboobs? I know it can be a problem for long term heavy users.

Pot is only a gateway drug if you are a week minded person. Sadly half of you are bad parents so you all raise week minded kids that get easily addicted to drugs instead of being inspired in life to accomplish good things. You give your kid lack of hope in this world so they seek a escape in drugs... Stay Classy Janesville!

hey nellie...whats the first gateway then?? i mean...what leads to the marijuana use to begin with??

ughhh spark. do you, or do you not want to discuss this with me?? you ARE my ex wife i just know it. ok...so maybe youre not blind...but you are most def seeing things. did i post some where that this guy is a good person?? i dont know him so i dont think i posted that but maybe you saw something i didnt. the heroin analogy WAS a big stretch...im aware of that. but a guy selling pot IS the same as a guy who sells beer. one just happens to currently be legal. as blood pointed out there was a time where the legal status of both drugs is the complete opposite of what it is now. of course the laws are what they are now. and yes we must follow them or risk arrest. trust me, i understand the risk. as for the medical debate...mine is borderline, i understand that, but to debate the actual medical value of marijuana is silly and certainly not bs. if you cant even acknowledge the people CURRENTLY being helped by medical marijuana...well yer a bigger gas guzzling fool than i originally assumed. nobody is making fun of those who smoke dope?? really?? go back and read some of the blogs ive posted on. ive been called a LOT of names. been labeled as a bad father whose kids are probably on badger care. my headband was to tight. kidiot. why?? because im not afraid of someone hammering on me so i lay my life out there. in fact in case you havent noticed...i actually enjoy it:) i live to dispel EVERY marijuana stereotype and i DO. i have no doubt you would make the same comments about a daily alcohol user. theres a diff between a user and an abuser tho. you know that. the abuser lets it control their life. i know its hard to fathom spark. but i take like 5 hits when i catch a buzz. equivilant to someone drinking 2-3 beers in an hour. even if daily THAT is not a bad thing...maybe even a good thing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15388898/

The best way to support our police is to force our legislators to strengthen sentences, to the point where would-be criminals choose to obey the law. Whether or not to legalize pot is an unrelated issue.

I agree with bignik! Pot is a gateway drug to other addictive drugs! and don't tell me it's not because I have many a relative who had started out with pot and couldn't get enough so they went to other drugs and now cannot get off!! Bottom line: IT'S ILLEGAL!!!!

Bravo Janesville law enforcement.

ILLEGAL IS EXACTLY THAT...Against the law.... Thanks for taking another drug dealer off the streets! Take the money and spend it on another K-9 to sniff out the cars in the school parking lots!

Thank you to our fine sworn officers of the JPD for a job well done!

Nobody is making fun of people that smoke dope, so wipe the tears away and lets not act like this is a grade school conversation. Some people don't agree with it and yes, it's illegal. Argue all you want that it should be legal, there is some valid points. However, the fact of the matter is, there's ways to make an honest living. This cat obviously is making his cash selling dope along with his loaded gun. He's a loser. Take offense to that all you want, the truth hurts. Debate the medical uses and everything all you want, most of you are smoking pot to get stoned. The only one ignorant is those of you that think we're blind by using the medical excuse bullsh#@. If a story comes up about some loser selling his stash of drugs and you post comments about how he has every right and is a great person, expect to get hammered on these posts. Use your head. It's illegal, we don't make the laws. I would make the same comments to someone that drinks everyday. You have a problem if you need a substance all the time. If you think you don't, you are in major denial.

Kid- I don't smoke pot anymore, I just choose not to be a hypocrite! People are only blind because they choose to rationalize their lifestyle by judging someone elses.
The DA in Dane County sent a letter to the Sheriff's department saying, "Do not arrest for simple possession of marijuana because we will no longer waste the resources of this office prosecuting such offenses. We do not have a marijuana problem in Dane County, we have an aging hippy environment who use marijuana recreationally. We do have an alcohol problem, a cocaine problem, a herion problem, a crack problem and a domestic abuse problem; that is where our resources will be directed." I'm sure that is not the exact quote, but you can email his office for the exact quote.

excellent post blood. unfortunately the blind cant see what you write and its easier for them to make fun of us. they dont REALLY make fun of us cuz we smoke pot...cuz the reality is most of those who ridicule and doubt, id bet have never even SEEN marijuana...let alone smoked it. its just natural to fear that which we do not know. unfortunate for them because the potential benefits to society by legalizing or de-criminalizing marijuana would FAR outweigh any potential new negatives.

memyself_I: marijuana is the most used illicit drug in the united states RIGHT NOW. the only clogging of rehabs i see is with alchol, heroin and other killing drugs.

This residence is a duplex and is very close to the child day care center on the corner of hwy 51 and Burbank.

I agree....what a loser!!!

the winners of this debate are the cops, the loosers those that break the law and get caught.

And then all of that revenue will be lost paying for addicts to attend rehab!

If this were the late 1920's it would have been bath-tub gin and the same environment of crime, syndicates, violence and corruption was created because of a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol. Today, over 36 million normally law-abiding adults use marijuana recreationally, including Willie Nelson, Art Garfunkel, Montel Williams, Chappel, etc.; these are just a few of the more famous ones. They also include many prominate people in your community! We've created the cartels and the violence because we've taken something that millions of people normally do and made it illegal; sound familar? When "Lucky Lindy" flew across the Atlantic for the first time and then returned to New York to celebrate, they had to get wine certificates from the Catholic church in order to get champange for the celebration!

There you are Kid, just wanted to take some of the heat off of you. Let's decriminalize marijuana before Willie dies, in his honor.

Alcohol kills, cirgarettes kill, perscription drugs kill, obesity kills and they make a lot of money for the manufacturers and distributers, but marijuana is evil, bad? Legalize it, tax it and you'll eliminate every story like this one and gain a lot of needed revenue!

ditch weed. but bad luck for this dude. if you smoke pot its a good idea to keep a lower profile about it;) lol

I HOPE NO CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN THAT HOME WITH A LOADED GUN AND ACCESS TO DRUGS. SCARY STUFF!!!!