Man in Austin grows a little pot, Feds use patriot act to prosicute Narco Terrorists"

[e-brake]

Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin’s Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges. He was caught growing 4 adult marijuana plants in his suburban home. What makes Mitchell’s case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist. The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything. And the details only get more distressing.
According to the Boxing Lesson’s publicist, Ryan Cano, Mitchell’s wife is currently serving a six month sentence as a conspirator for not turning her husband in. The fact that he was charged, and sentenced, under Patriot Act laws that have essentially branded him a domestic terrorist seems particularly ludicrous and disheartening.
Below is a message sent out by Cano concerning Mitchell’s and the band’s circumstances:
You know The Boxing Lesson aren’t ones to keep their mouths shut after several interviews and appearances since the release of their full length LP Wild Streaks & Windy Days. The real truth of the matter is that The Boxing Lesson have kept one of the most important parts of their story a secret. It is with much sadness we make this announcement but its time the public knows what is going on.
Jake Mitchell, drummer for The Boxing Lesson and most importantly, a dear friend, will be put in Federal jail at the beginning of Sept for some marijuana growing charges. What makes this story unique and
what has enraged every single one of our close friends, is that Jake has been branded by our government as a Terrorist under the Patriot Act. In fact, they have thrown the Narco-Terrorist tag on him. What this does legally for a defendant is mind blowing in terms of the new laws waged against them. If you are branded a terrorist, your wife doesn’t get spousal protections and will go to jail. If you are branded a terrorist, each party involved in the crime gets full responsibility for the scope of the crime. Then there are strict sentencing minimums. And remember we are talking about Marijuana here.
It is obvious from anyone who has ever met, hung out with and gotten to know Jake Mitchell that he is anything but a terrorist. This incorrect and unfair branding on our own US citizen and friend, Jake Mitchell, is a disgrace and this has caused untypical hardships on his life. He has lost his house, lost his cars, and his freedom… We know there was a crime involved but branding him a terrorist has set unfair sentencing guidelines on a person who is anything but a terrorist.

[-m-]

Hard time for hard criminals. Never forget!

[confucius]

Originally Posted by -m-

Hard time for hard criminals. Never forget!

I hope there was sarcasm implied there...

[Hubb]

fucking america.

unbelivable

[BLAZEN]

Wtfx1000000000000000000000000000000

[Nyteshade]

http://www.austinsound.net/2008/08/2...and-interview/

The response to last week’s news that the Boxing Lesson’s drummer, Jake Mitchell, had been convicted on marijuana charges has been overwhelming and rightfully outraged, but we now have more details on his case and some important corrections to the original press release. Contrary to our initial information, Mitchell was NOT charged under the Patriot Act, and has not been branded a “narco-terrorist.” His appeal against his 60 month sentence and conviction for both manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants is, however, focused on the questionable tactics by the Austin Police Department in pursuing their sting operation against Mitchell, namely the un-warranted use of drug dogs outside of the house and, as the ” target=”_blank”>Chronicle reports today, the controversial policy of the APD using utility information to spot potential illegal operations.

So, to be clear, Mitchell has not been convicted as a narco-terrorist, but his case still very much highlights the expanded and circumspect authority that has been granted in pursuing such convictions, as Mitchell mentions below. Mitchell begins his sentence next Wednesday, and appeal is pending, but you can show your support tonight as Mitchell and the Boxing Lesson play a benefit for Monkeywrench Books at the Carousel Lounge. We spoke to Mitchell yesterday about the situation, and excerpts from that interview are below.

Got to love it when bullshit gets exposed. The guy was dealing drugs and he's trying to say that a cop showing up with a drug dog at the front door is an illegal search.

[mali]

Ridiculous...

[J. Fees]

they've been busting growers all year down there.

anyway, if you get caught, don't be a bitch about it. actually, he got screwed on the sentence, but he could have gone to state prison, which prolly would have been worse on him.

[PETA]

pwnt that fucking pot head hippy didn't they

[I AM EL-NINO]

100 plants huh?
Wasnt enough that he could have gotten away with it had he just been growing enough for his own personal use.

I wonder what it was that got the popo's attention in the first place?

[Nyteshade]

Originally Posted by I AM EL-NINO

100 plants huh?
Wasnt enough that he could have gotten away with it had he just been growing enough for his own personal use.

I wonder what it was that got the popo's attention in the first place?

There's an interview of him that said the whole thing was with a friend and another guy "he thought was a friend". My guess is that he got ratted out.

[BradH]

no sympathy. 100 fucking plants? lol

[charlie brown]

Originally Posted by BradH

no sympathy. 100 fucking plants? lol

//

[Hubb]

in texas u stay under 99 plants period....thats some 101 shit right thur
ID10T error

[lightz]

He was caught growing 4 adult marijuana plants in his suburban home.

His appeal against his 60 month sentence and conviction for both manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants is,....

BIG discrepancy there.