The High Court sentenced yesterday a man who was found with marijuana in his pocket while going through the District Court’s security door.
Michael Jackson, a Caucasian, was represented by Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley who asked the court to consider the fact that the defendant, a six year resident has been a productive member of the community.
He doesn’t have a prior conviction, runs a business and pays taxes to the local government.
Jackson also works with the Olympic Committee providing surfing lessons for the young people on island.
Shelly then asked the court for a suspended sentence for Jackson.
The defendant repeated what his lawyer told the court and asked for fair treatment.
Prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Robert Pickett pointed out that the marijuana found on Jackson was just a small amount and said that there’s no victim in this case unlike other crimes which have been brought before the court.
Associate Justice Mamea Sala Jr. corrected him saying that the victims here are the people and the government of American Samoa whose pride has been violated by Jackson’s crime.
Mamea felt that the defendant owes the government and the people of American Samoa an apology.
Possession of marijuana is a Class D felony punishable by 5 years imprisonment, a fine of $5,000 or both.
In handing down Jackson’s sentence Associate Justice Lyle Richmond sent the defendant to jail for 6 weekends starting tday and fined him $2,000 .
Richmond ordered that Jackson remain law abiding at all time, stay away from people who use illegal drugs and report to the Probation Office as required.
