The case of Roger Christie: an object lesson in abuse of power

By Tracy Ryan

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 20, 2013

~~<p>Roger Christie is accused of running a marijuana distribution business through his church in Hilo. His THC Ministry has long claimed marijuana as a religious sacrament and the use of it protected under the right to freedom of religion.</p>
<p>The federal prosecution argues that the THC Ministry is a front for illegal marijuana distribution. In its motion to deny bail, it presented evidence it says supports this allegation. However, this should not be relevant to a bail hearing. Whether the defendant has committed a crime or not is a decision to be made by a jury in a public trial, not by a judge in a bail hearing. Since July 2010, Christie has been denied bail and remains behind bars awaiting trial.</p>
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Roger Christie is accused of running a marijuana distribution business through his church in Hilo. His THC Ministry has long claimed marijuana as a religious sacrament and the use of it protected under the right to freedom of religion.

The federal prosecution argues that the THC Ministry is a front for illegal marijuana distribution. In its motion to deny bail, it presented evidence it says supports this allegation. However, this should not be relevant to a bail hearing. Whether the defendant has committed a crime or not is a decision to be made by a jury in a public trial, not by a judge in a bail hearing. Since July 2010, Christie has been denied bail and remains behind bars awaiting trial. Login for more...