James and Laveta Arnold, left, appear before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Onalaska couple charged with growing lots and lots of marijuana at their rural property pleaded not guilty today.
James L. Arnold and Laveta L. Arnold were arrested on Feb. 10 following an investigation by Centralia Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office into alleged money laundering.
Prosecutors allege they generated about $136,000 a year selling what initially was grown as personal medicinal marijuana.
Police seized more than 40 pounds of marijuana and 614 plants from an indoor garden, along with cars, trucks, firearms and a den full of mounted animal heads from their home on Griel Road.
The couple were accompanied this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court by Kent attorney Bradley G. Barshis. At least 11 friends, family and supporters sat behind them.
They are free on bail.
In the brief hearing, they pleaded not guilty to manufacture of marijuana, possession with intent to to deliver and with money laundering.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said he and their lawyer agreed to modify their conditions of release to allow for travel in all of Washington and also northern Oregon, as they have business and ill family to tend to.
Both the Arnolds and their attorney declined to comment outside the courtroom.
A trial was scheduled for the week of May 4.
•••
For background, read “Onalaska arrests: Big medical marijuana enterprise funded African safaris, say police” from Friday February 13, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Possesing and growing weed wasnt against the law in the 1800s also i dont believe a word that comes from free air and if those deaths WERE caused by weed it would be national news. Lewis county sucks so bad I was never so glad to move away from a place as I was to get the hell out of that backwards, backwoods hillbilly hell that is good ol boy lewis county. Weed dude, do yourself a favor and get out of there and join us in the real world.
Wow u pulled a few heart breaking news stories ,I can go online and fine 20 stories related to kids dying and drugs having nothing to do with it , and people that smoke pot can’t keep a job?? Are u from the 1800s ?
“Honestly who cares ? It’s marajaunia ?? Anyone who thinks pot is some hard core drug needs to go back to the 1800s…”
Well, first off you misspelled marijuana; no biggie.
As far as having another legal intoxicant in our society I think we all should care. If everyone who is using recreational drugs just stayed at home, kept it away from kids and still managed to keep a job, then I’d give them a pass; but they don’t. Lives are destroyed due to vehicle crashes, children and babies have their brain development damaged, users resort to crime to fund their ever growing habit, and on. There’s just a lot more evil from it than comes from it compared to the benefits society reaps. Look at our own area crime rates and see how often shootings, robberies and the like are drug funded. Is it 90% or even higher? It’s hard to call that a benefit to the State. What taxes will be gathered are a dent compared to the damages caused.
Nov. 3ed Pot smoking Duane C. Abbott drove up on a sidewalk and hit four people killing Seven-year-old Cadence Boyer.
Nov. 24th Pot smoking Kallie Marion James struck and killed pastor Eric Renz.
Jan. 11th Pot smoking 17 year old male crashed his car in Kitsap Co. killing his three high school age passengers.
The list of these and crimes against people in their own homes is almost endless.
How can you balance the benefits of getting high against the anguish of dead children?
That’s why we should all care.
Read your first line , smoke so weed …you mean so much weed , weeds legal , just like Copenhagen and Busch light , and as for the job , there plenty millions of people that smoke weed and pay more taxes and make more money in a month then you will make in a lifetime , I know stepping out of adna, or Doty or Onalaska and into the real world is a shock …. weed crimes are a joke…any other charges fine …
legal weed can you just not count or have you smoke so weed that you “think” what you are saying makes sense. As a taxpayer I am happy so these dumbasses being charged with tax evasion and money laundering. i’m sure deab beats like you don’t work and live off the ones who do and pay taxes.
Honestly who cares ? It’s marajaunia ?? Anyone who thinks pot is some hard core drug needs to go back to the 1800s, and who cares if the bought fancy cars, went on safaris or blew every cent , grow up mind ur own business and let them go free
It’s just getting so tough to pay for new cars and African safaris these days; what’s a family disposed to do?
I’ve often wondered how big the dope grow on the 3600 block of Jackson Highway must be. Most of year the pot smell there is really strong. Might be a safari in the making there too.
“Gee, your honor, we don’t know WHERE those 615 plants came from. Or those 40 pounds of pot. They weren’t there before…this is obviously a setup.”