By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The (Longview) Daily News reports a 63-year-old Kelso man suspected of running a four-county marijuana distribution organization – following a two month long investigation by the Centralia Police Department’s special Anti-Crime Team – pleaded guilty yesterday to a single charge of second-degree malicious mischief and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
George Szerencsy was arrested in September when police seized 21 pounds of marijuana buds, guns, cars, more than $50,000 cash and several nine-foot tall marijuana plants growing in his backyard.
News reporter Shari Phiel writes the Cowlitz County Prosecutor’s Office was unavailable Monday to explain why the charges were reduced.
Szerencsy was originally charged with unlawful delivery of marijuana, conspiracy to deliver 15 to 20 pounds of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful manufacturing of marijuana, all within 1,000 feet of a school zone and while armed, according to Phiel.
Centralia police were assisted by the Kelso Police Department and the Cowlitz County Drug Task Force.
The operation was using the cover that they were supplying medical marijuana distributors, according to police.
Read more here
Sounds like he may have hired Jim Arnold as a consultant on how to avoid drug charges.
The police could use the 50,000 thousand to outfit there cars with dash and body cameras now. Like that will ever happen. Sharyon you should be asking what the confiscated money will be used for. Demand that all police wear body cameras. We want police accountability not hatred towards them. Keep on them about this new found money. It could be used for the greater good. Lets turn that money into a tool that promotes police accountability.
Forest Amos got ten years for charges similar to this and this guy gets a month. So how much did it cost the tax payers for a two month investigation. This needs to be a federal case. Someone needs to call the DEA here. This is an outrage. Selling drugs in a school zone. Hundreds of people have been given stiff sentences for less than this. Hes an armed drug dealer selling drugs next to a school. Then he gets a misdimeanor and keeps his gun rights. The judge and prosecutor has to go. Someone was paid off. Good job detective Shannon
My guess is that he flipped and snitched. Even a botched investigation wouldn’t turn it into a malicious mischief case.
What happened someone dropped the ball here. Another illegal arrest and investigation or what. Something is fishy.