Hemp seed trial continues after plea talk fails
Defendant said he's not guilty so he won't plea bargain

By Crystal Kua
TribuneHerald

An attempt to resolve the hemp seed trial of Aaron Anderson with a plea
agreement delayed the start of Thursday's session.

But in the end Anderson decided not to plea bargain with prosecutors,
opting instead to go forward with the trial.

When asked why he decided not to enter into the plea agreement, Anderson
responded, "Because I'm not guilty. Why should I plead to something that
I'm not guilty of."

Anderson, 60, is charged with seconddegree commercial promotion of
marijuana, a felony, stemming from a 25pound shipment of hemp seeds he
ordered from mainland seed company.

The package of seeds was sniffed out by a police dog after it arrived in
Hilo via Federal Express. Anderson contends that the seeds he ordered were
sterile. But police tried to glow the seeds, which they said resulted in 11
plants growing' 8 inches to afoot tall.

The plea discussions lasted several hours with lawyers going in and out of
Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura's courtroom.

Besides Deputy Prosecutor Kay Iopa and courtappointed defense lawyer Brian
De Lima, the plea talks also involved Prosecutor Jay Kimura.

Lawyer Steve Strauss and county Deputy Corporation Counsel Steve
Christensen were also consulted. Strauss represents Anderson and former
defendant Roger Christie in a $3 million federal civil lawsuit filed
against the county as a result of the hemp seed case.

The hemp activists filed the lawsuit alleging that they were singled out
for prosecution because of their outspoken views on marijuana

The trial was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Jurors were brought the
courtroom at about 2 p.m. Anderson decided not to accecpt the last plea offer.

Officer Dennis De Morale' chief investigator in the case, wrapped up his
testimony in the afternoon.

De Morales testified that Police Department has a permit from the state
Department of Public Safety for handling contralled substances.

But he also said that the permit doesn't specifically say that Police
Department has the green light to grow marijuana.

Trial resumes Monday with prosecution close to wrapping its case.