cannabisnews.com: Veteran Crime Reporter Faces Drug Charges Veteran Crime Reporter Faces Drug Charges Posted by FoM on September 01, 2000 at 22:39:06 PT By Danny Andrews Source: Plainview Daily Herald Immediately following a memorial service for his wife on Wednesday, veteran Herald reporter Richard Orr was arrested at his Edmonson home and charged with second-degree felony possession of marijuana.Acting on an informant´s tip, a state narcotics taskforce from Lubbock - accompanied by DPS troopers and other local law enforcement officers - met Orr at his gate moments after the funeral of his wife Jean Sterns-Orr, who died last Saturday after a three-year battle with cancer. He voluntarily took them to a barn at the rear of his property, where they found 11 female marijuana plants. The amount of marijuana involved or the value was not immediately determined.Orr, 63, was charged with possession of between five and 50 pounds.He declined comment, other than to say he is " not a dealer " and had been growing marijuana on and off the past several years for health reasons.A reporter for The Herald since 1984, Orr, has covered city, county, court and crime news and has often written columns advocating the legalization of marijuana. He took early retirement in June to care for his wife. Since then he has continued to work for The Herald on a limited part-time basis.A DPS spokesman said the arrest originally had been planned for Wednesday morning, but was postponed when the Lubbock agents were informed about the funeral. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Kaye Phillips at the county jail late Wednesday afternoon and freed on $10,000 bail.The case is expected to go to the grand jury in September.Felony possession carries a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail sentence of two to 20 years.Herald Publisher Rollie Hyde said Orr would be placed on indefinite suspension.Published: September 1, 2000Source: Plainview Daily Herald (TX)Copyright: 2000 Plainview Daily HeraldContact: dandrews lonestarbbs.comAddress: 820 Broadway, Plainview, TX 79072Website: http://plainviewonthe.net/CannabisNews Justice Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Frank on September 02, 2000 at 08:29:11 PT Police Create Crime When There is None The authorities are such sweethearts. It’s most likely that he was growing the marijuana for his dying wife. What a crime! It’s very easy to judge others on their actions. However, when you see someone you love in unimaginable pain and dying from cancer you will do anything to easetheir pain. Physicians prescribe many varied drugs, morphine, antidepressants and a whole litanyof other medications why not marijuana if it eases someone’s pain? Stand at someone’s bedsidewhile they are dying and the “Supreme Court” and the “Justice Department” (Just-Us Department) seem a long way away. If you want to find where the criminals are in your community simply go down to the police stationand look for the people in uniform. You have found crime headquarters. The “Drug War” has so corrupted the police that they are no longer reliable or trust worthy. In the area I’m from they (the police) are constantly engaging in criminal activity. No one trusts them here. Welcome to America’s Drug War. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on September 02, 2000 at 07:01:19 PT BOYCOTT the Hearld Herald Publisher Rollie Hyde said Orr would be placed on indefinite suspensionOh, you mean he is fired? This is truly sick. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on September 02, 2000 at 06:27:19 PT: How very considerate...for slime. '*Immediately following a memorial service* (Emphasis mine) for his wife on Wednesday, veteran Herald reporter Richard Orr was arrested at his Edmonson home and charged with second-degree felony possession of marijuana.''A DPS spokesman said the arrest originally had been planned for Wednesday morning, but was postponed when the Lubbock agents were informed about the funeral.' How very kind. They wait until just after his wife is in the ground, then they spring their trap on this vicious reefer fiend! Can't take the chance that this emotionally wrecked man might escape the long arm of the Law!'A reporter for The Herald since 1984, Orr, has covered city, county, court and crime news and has often written columns advocating the legalization of marijuana.He took early retirement in June to care for his wife. Since then he has continued to work for The Herald on a limited part-time basis.'What would you bet that the 'informant' was a cop snooping around their property SOLELY on the basis of Orr's pro-MJ articles? And without a warrant?The antis kill little kids (Esequiel Hernandez) and hard-working parents (Ismael Mena). Should we honestly expect them to have any *real* compassion for a man who's just laid his wife to rest after her losing a battle with cancer? (Did they think the cannabis was only for *him*? Probably; they don't seem too bright.) Especially when they are so willing to *arrest* such suffering and dying people?May God have mercy on their blighted souls for all that they've done. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on September 02, 2000 at 06:19:42 PT Perfect Timing Right after his wife died. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: