No Convictions in 50 lb. North Dakota Pot Bust

DICKINSON, N.D. – A North Dakota jury has acquitted one of two Lithuanian men accused of trying to transport nearly 50 pounds of marijuana from Washington state to Chicago two years ago. Arturas Teras and Donatas Jasiulionis were both arrested in November 2009, when they were stopped for speeding in southwest North Dakota.

It took a jury less than an hour to acquit Arturas Teras on marijuana charges in North Dakota.

Arturas Teras, who was accused of possessing nearly 50 pounds of marijuana, was acquitted after less than an hour of deliberation Thursday afternoon at the Stark County Courthouse.

Although Teras had a medical marijuana license from Washington state, the amount of the drug found in the vehicle exceeded what would be used for personal consumption, prosecutors argued.

Mary Nordsven, Teras’ attorney, argued that there was not enough evidence to prove charges, even though Teras was driving the vehicle the drugs were discovered in.

“We do know that this is not my client’s vehicle,” she said. “There is no real concrete evidence that ties my client to what was in the hatch of that vehicle.”

Jasiulionis’s fingerprints were found on the bags of marijuana, but Teras’ weren’t.  She told jurors there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Teras knew the drugs were in the vehicle he was driving, she added.

Teras stood trial alone, as Jasiulionis had fled to his native Lithuania rather than face charges.

“He voluntarily deported back to Lithuania before the trial,” said Kelly Armstrong, Jasiulionis’s attorney. “If he ever comes back into the country, they’ll arrest him immediately.”

Tom Henning, Stark County state’s attorney, said an arrest warrant was issued for Jasiulionis, but officials will likely not extradite him.

“Given the fact that it’s not a murder, we’ve only got so much to work with and this is not something I would expend those types of funds on,” Henning said.

Added by Sativa Galore on February 4, 2012.
Saved under North Dakota, Top Stories
  • David

    “Given the fact that it’s not a murder, we’d like to extradite the owners of MegaUpload and TV Shack.” Is how I actually read that last sentence.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Malcolm-Kyle/100001700224506 Malcolm Kyle

    Jury Nullification is a constitutional doctrine that allows juries to acquit defendants who are technically guilty but do not deserve punishment. – All non-violent ‘drug offenders’ who are not selling to children – be they users, dealers or importers – clearly belong in this category. 

    If you sincerely believe that prohibition is a dangerous and counter-productive policy then you must stop helping to enforce it. When it comes to acquittals, you, the juror, have the very last word! 

    * It only takes one juror to prevent a guilty verdict. 

    * You are not lawfully required to disclose your voting intention before taking your seat on a jury.

    * You are also not required to give a reason to the other jurors for your position when voting – just simply state you find the accused not guilty.

    We must create what we can no longer afford to wait for – PLEASE VOTE TO ACQUIT!