Teen Faces Federal Indictment, Life in Prison for Making Marijuana Brownies
Jacob Lavoro’s case will be presented to a federal grand jury in two weeks. On Wednesday, August 6th, Lavoro told reporters that he was still scared, although new evidence could reduce his sentence in the marijuana case.
In April, a pregnant neighbor called police officers because the smoke emanating from Lavoro’s apartment was making her ill. Lavoro reportedly make marijuana-laced brownies with THC oil. The officers weighed the brownies in their container, and arrested Lavoro for possession of nearly one and a half pounds of drugs with the intent to sell – a first-degree felony, with a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison, but up to life in prison.
Officers also confiscated THC in a container, a potential client list, and $1,600.
“Mr. McDonald advised there was a total amount of 2.5 grams of THC found in all of that stuff. I expected a little bit more out of it, but that’s what it is. That’s about the equivalent to two and a half of those sugar things you find at a restaurant when you sit down,” said Lavoro’s attorney. He said he will fight to have the charges reduced to a 2nd degree felony, which would reduce the punishment to 2 to 20 years’ probation.
“I’m 19 years old, and I still have my whole life ahead of me. Take that into account, and I can do more good than evil,” Lavoro said.
“They just bowed their way in because they thought because they smelled marijuana in the apartment, they thought they had permission right then based on the law, and they’re wrong about that,” Lavoro’s attorney explained. Although there is still a federal indictment forthcoming, that could violate Lavoro’s rights against illegal search and seizure. Police previously stated that Lavoro’s girlfriend let them into the apartment, but Lavoro stated that was untrue.
“If this was just some college kid experimenting in his friend’s Easy-Bake Oven, with a reefer’s worth of pot and a bunch of brownies, that’d be different,” First District Attorney Mark Brunner said. “This man was trying to run a business, allegedly.”
Although there are business licenses for recreational marijuana production in Washing state and Colorado, Texas currently does not allow for legal recreational marijuana use.
If You Face Marijuana Charges, Including Drug Charges for Medical Marijuana Use, The Strom Law Firm Can Help
Possession of marijuana charges are all too common in South Carolina. If you are arrested and charged with possession or distribution of marijuana, you may be facing serious consequences. If you or a loved one have been found with medical marijuana, you could face criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor to felony, depending on how much marijuana was in your possession, and what your intent was with the drug. The drug crimes attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. Do not let drug charges for medical marijuana hurt your reputation or your personal or professional future. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800