3/21/13 -- Today charges were dropped against former cannabis club owner Mat Shotwell. Shotwell, who was the proprietor of Greenwell Dispensary in downtown Vallejo was one of the first dispensary owners raided by Vallejo Police and the DEA. Today all charges were dropped by the Solano County DA due to "insufficient evidence."
At this point charges have been dismissed against five of the Vallejo dispensaries that were raided by authorities.
The expectation is that civil action against the city for damages will likely be next.
The video was shot just shortly after Shotwell emerged from Courtroom 101, Judge Allen P. Carter presiding.
The proceeding lasted only a few minutes with almost playful (read eye-rolling) banter between Judge Carter and the DA. At one point, Carter asked, "Are we in Federal court?" to which the DA answered "No," The DA opted not to move forward shortly after.
Congrats to Matt and every revolutionary out there it's one for the team and the history books.
I love seeing the fuzz swallow.
wharf rat
|March.23.2013
Lets see We are up to five now wonder what the legal settlements will be ?
does COV have even a modicum of knowledge
or even any understanding of Legal exposure or basic risk management ? seems not . If the Fed chooses to prosecute these cases will COV be a co defendant since they took revenue $ from these enterprises ? or will COV be charged or sued for false arrest and or Constitutional rights violations or other ? if every suite settled for
$ 100,000 We are up to 1/2 a Million where is the ceiling perhaps an out of Court solution would be the least expensive option .
Anonymous
|March.22.2013
Whatever you say Claudia.
Really
|March.22.2013
Claudia Quintana did not become our city attorney until mid- or late -July last year. The raids on the MMD were under our previous city attorney's watch (Fred Solely); he retired 5/31/2012. City Attorney Quintana is in the same position as Chief Kreins: They both are picking up the messes left behind by Nichelini.
Whether you like our current city attorney or not, let's keep facts straight and don't place on her the crap decided by Nichelini under an ex-City Attorney Fred Soley's watch.
Anonymous
|March.22.2013
Well Matt, I'm glad you don't have to face jail time but if you're smart you'll move on to greener pastures. When the people here smoke mj, some of them get careless and stupid. We have enough stupid people in Vallejo for any one town so less mj is probably a good thing. Take care.
anonymous
|March.22.2013
LOL. claudia quintana, a strong woman? please... she's more terrified of litagation than soley was. she's an apologist for the city staff and any stupid recommendations they make. luna-reynosa's support of callaghan's rape of our waterfront is a good example of quintana's weakness. and as far as quintana stopping anything at glen cove, wrong.
@Jim Davis
|March.22.2013
Remember, Jim, the discussions of what legal actions to take are held in closed session. So you have no idea what Quintana's recommendations were. Unless you were in closed session too, you're speculating. And, she can't go against the majority vote. If her bosses, the council majority, says go after dispensaries, she has to. And, what about Fred Soley? Wasn't he the attorney when the city decided to pursue this? Why no disparaging remarks against him? Or, are you another man afraid of strong women?
Anonymous
|March.22.2013
Sorry, Jim, once again you are wrong and speak before knowing all of the truth. Several city council members spoke up about this and asked questions. Don't paint them all with the brush that is covered with Osby and Nichelini stink.
These "raids" were Osby's way at getting back at his fellow council members for the medical marijuana tax.
And don't forget....Osby is angling for an extra year in office by changing to the even year voting right now. Pay attention, people, the man is a snake!
Jim Davis
|March.22.2013
I mean to tell you folks, this is a surprise to NO ONE but the city council members (all of them participated in this farce), the city manager, and the city attorney. We told them. The law is not complicated. They subverted justice, knowingly. And they should pay for it, dearly. You elected the putzes. They were on a moral mission (Davis, the mayor (no relation), thinks cannabis is what he calls a "sin"; he is perverted). They destroyed these people, these businesses, preventing the city from collecting the revenue from these businesses, even though we TOLD them to collect these taxes. They gave us the finger and got busy destroying and moralizing. Shame on the city of Vallejo. Love, Jim
Anonymous
|March.21.2013
Remember, Quintana works for the council. This smells like Osby/Nichelini. One's gone, the next one will be when his term is over but not soon enough.
Reckless Decisions
|March.21.2013
Now let's see how much the city has to pay gor lawsuits. They ruined people's lives on nothing more than a power play by Nichelini, the City Attorney's (Quintana) office and the Mayor. They took action on faulty reasoning and legal standing. All of the money the city spent on legal fees, police overtime, consultants, etc. etc. could have been spent going after violent gang members and other violent offenders. The money spent could have paid for a consultant to draft a regulating ordinances and closing down the non-compliant MMDs. Good luck to you Matt. I hope you know that everyone wasn't a hater.
You don't have the half of it, do you wonder why the idiot who shall not be named and other VPD sycophants no longer mention the Vallejo homicide rates? VPD last year was responsible for at least 1/3 of those homicides.
Smack
|March.21.2013
Here's a big middle finger going up to Osby and former Chief Nich.
Anonymous
|March.21.2013
Cute. And I like the pink tie.
More VPD wasted time and $
|March.21.2013
Yet another example of a complete waste of resources. Going after Medical Marijuana while people get killed here weekly. Hopefully someone wakes the hell up! Congratulations Matt!
