| Description: |
Plumas County Sheriff's deputies had been looking for something else when they inadvertently stumbled upon Reverend Jeffre Sanderson's farm in August 2006. Sanderson had been growing a 10-patient medical marijuana garden, in addition to other vegetable crops, but all of this was destroyed when the sheriffs promptly returned with a search warrant. They arrested Sanderson and his wife, Alice Wiegand, in spite of their status as legitimate medical marijuana patients in compliance with California law. Sanderson and Wiegand's 6-month old son was taken by Child Protective Services, and the couple was told the baby would be adopted out unless they overcame their "addiction to marijuana." Their case was quickly turned over to federal prosecutors, a move that denied them the medical defense they would have had in state court. Sanderson and Wiegand fought the charges nonetheless, bailing out of jail and eventually getting custody of their son back. But in October 2007 agents found evidence of continued cultivation in Sanderson's garden, landing him behind bars once again for a violation of his supervised release. The couple's son went right back into the hands of CPS, along with his newly-born baby brother. A month later, unable to get the court to recognize the legitimacy of their religious defense, Sanderson pled guilty to cultivating under 80kg of marijuana, while Wiegand made a guilty plea on conspiracy and agreed to forfeit the family's home. On April 18th, 2008, Jeffre Sanderson was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, which he is currently serving. Wiegand was given six months but permitted to delay surrender until December 1st. This provision was granted in order to give the couple an opportunity to prevent their sons from being adopted out. The sentencing rulings for both Sanderson and Wiegand are currently on appeal.
Sanderson, Jeffre 16648-097
FCI Herlong-Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 800
Herlong, CA 96113 |
Jeffre Sanderson
