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ROGER MENTCH MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVIST PREPARES FOR THIRD TRIAL IN SAN JOSE

by Roger Mentch (rmentch [at] sbcglobal.net)
Roger Mentch founding member of The Hemporium, a Santa Cruz County Collective located in Felton has meet with more medical marijuana resistance. This time Santa Clara County incarcerates Mentch and disabled patient and resident Laura Eldridge.
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Roger was behind bars at Elmwood without bail for 5 months. Once bail was allowed, it was set at a ridiculous $105,000. We petitioned the court and it was reduced to $55,000. Many Thanks to my dear friend Allen for putting up enough money so I could be freed or I would still be there.

The long corrupt arm of the Santa Clara County DA's office and their Specialized Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz Sheriffs Marijuana Enforcement Team conspired to entrap by estoppel Mentch and Eldridge Jan-Feb 2009.
To my knowledge the San Jose Police, the Highway Patrol, and the Santa Clara's Sheriff are the composition of the SCCSET. They were all there, raiding this small collective located in the redwoods of Santa Cruz County. About 14 officers in all.
They raided the second cabin on the property without a search warrant. They violated search and seizure laws at the very least.

It really angers me that this government has been spending OUR money, OUR TAX dollars to destroy family units, destroying the pursuit of happiness, destroy our freedoms, making vague laws and making felons out of otherwise law abiding citizens. I imagine it has cost the state some where near $500,000 to a million dollars prosecuting this Vietnam veteran, father of two and a very supportive individual to others.

Could it be that the Santa Cruz Marijuana Enforcement Team (The Sheriffs Carnie, Carr and the DA) be angered that Judge Stevens in my first case stated on the record, I could continue my medical marijuana business and not be in violation of probation as long as I abided by the laws.
Maybe they were angered that they were forced to return 2 lbs. of marijuana in our second case.
We did find out in my first trial that one of the Santa Cruz prosecutors and 2 of the sheriffs are paid by a DEA grant. Pushing the federal agenda and saying they aren't.
Spending your tax dollars like this is what is breaking this country! WHO IS LISTENING OUT THERE? Its like the bailout of wallstreet. 20 Billion in Bonus money
to these papered idiots. It is no longer for the people by the people. Its criminal that they are destroying the american fabric of life here. Sorry but it pisses me off.

This Hemporium is not a dispensary, it is a collective. The Hemporium is a group of patients with 2 disabled patients living on the property, consisting of one house and two cabins. Roger was a state paid caregiver to the two. One of Roger’s responsibility as manager of the collective is safety. Safety to the patients and the property of the collective.

So before patients came to this collective, I would meet with them for the first few times. Making sure I felt comfortable enough with them before allowing them to The Hemporium property. Makes sense to most people......

The problem arises when the cops decided to ENTRAP me. First they called the Hemporium to make an appointment Jan 20 ish 2009. I told the individual that they needed the proper papers and would need to meet me in Scott valley at the Kmart parking lot. They would have to drive over the hill from San Jose.
They commenced to get those papers and that's when FRAUD started. The undercover produced fraudulent documents to the Doctor for a recommendation and pasted them off to me. I verified the recommendation with the doctor as being valid. I then met with him 2 times telling him he could come to the collective the next time. The last time I was to meet him they had our house in surveillance.
The highway patrol pulled us over an commenced to arrest Laurie and me.
Laurie has been very shaken from her arrest. It is criminal what they have done to us and others.

After 3 raids 2003, 2005, 2009 they have broke me financially, to the point I can't even pay for bankruptcy. They haven’t broken my fighting spirit though!

As most know I have been out since August 2009. I want to THANK everyone that has support me and us through this ongoing ordeal. We are in and out of court every month.
Our next court date is March 19th in San Jose. Our trial date will more then likely change and I will update this. Many thanks to my family, friends, supports and of course the brilliant lawyers.

Donations are needed and can be made to: Roger Mentch 7500 HWY 9 #2 Felton CA. 95018.





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by Roger Mentch
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