Pot party leads to probation

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A 22-year-old man who was involved in a party in which a number of minors participated and marijuana was used appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday and pled guilty to charges against him stemming from the event.Jacob Easley of Mountain Home was sentenced to six years probation and ordered to spend 30 days in the Baxter County jail. He will be allowed to spend his jail time on weekends.

He was not only sentenced by Circuit Judge Gordon Webb, but heard stern language from the judge who promised if Easley ever appeared before him again, his punishment would be much more severe. Judge Webb told Easley he was particularly concerned minors had been involved in the daytime hours party. Webb told Easley he found his actions “reprehensible as well as criminal.”

The investigation into the incident began when a complaint was made to Mountain Home police on April 20th. The caller reported there were a number of people appearing to be of school age at a residence along Katherine Drive,rather than in classes.

When officers arrived and made contact with some of the occupants of the home, they reported detecting the odor of burned marijuana coming from the open door.

According to the probable cause affidavit, as officers searched the home, they located 11 people, six of whom were identified as minors, some by way of school-issued IDs. Charges against Easley included six counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

As officers cleared the residence, they observed burnt marijuana cigarettes, smoking devices and a Mason jar containing suspected marijuana.

In addition to probation and jail time, Easley forfeited slightly more than $2,000 found in the home.

He was sentenced under provisions of Act 346, meaning if he stays out of trouble, Easley can apply to the courts to have his record sealed.

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