Day Two of Bob Constantine’s Trial for Growing Cannabis

by | Apr 12, 2011 | 0 comments

Bob ConstantinePete Eyre from Liberty on Tour reports from the second day of the jury trial of Bob Constantine, an NH native accused of growing some cannabis plants and facing up to seven years in prison for it:

NORTH HAVERHILL, NH – Around 7am this morning I jumped into one of two cars leaving Keene for day two of Bob Constantine’s trial (see this post for a rough write-up of what went down yesterday). Two hours later I sat in a courtroom with 14 others supporting Bob from all over the ‘shire and at least one from nearby Vermont. Also present were 10 paid via theft. Worth noting – the order banning cell phones and cameras had been rescinded since those with badges had testified the day prior.

Before the jury was led into the room the man in the black robe inquired of Bob and Melissa Pierce, the “district attorney,” if they had any objections to the jury instructions he planned to communicate after closing statements, including the details of the felony manufacturing marijuana charge that threatened Bob with seven years in a cage. Neither party did, though Bob asked about the status of a motion he had submitted the day prior – to also inform the jury of a less serious possession charge, which the man in the robe agreed to include later that afternoon. (I think Bob wanted to give the jury another option that wouldn’t result in as serious a penalty for himself.)

Since Pierce had rested her case it was Bob’s turn to call his witnesses. (more…)

Free Farmer Bob!

by | Apr 11, 2011 | 1 comment

Bob ConstantinePete Eyre from Liberty on Tour reports from the first day of the jury trial of Bob Constantine, an NH native accused of growing some cannabis plants and facing up to seven years in prison for it:

Lots happened today – it was the most-active “courtroom” day I’ve been to. The below is a very rough overview based on notes I jotted down. Check the links for other writes-ups and related content. We’ll likely chop up a video(s) in the near future (since we’ll likely collect more video over the next couple of days the trial is expected to last).

NORTH HAVERHILL, NH – Running on about 90-minutes of sleep Ademo and I jumped in Ian Freeman’s car this morning and, along with our bud Amish Paul, drove almost two hours to the northern edge of Grafton County and joined over 20 others to support Bob Constantine – a peaceful individual who is being threatened with three to seven years in a cage for allegedly having on his property some plants strangers deem “illicit.” Rather than take a plea deal, he’s standing for what he knows is right – there is no victim. He did nothing wrong.

Facebook event: Trial: The State vs. Bob Constantine
Live updates: Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund
Free Talk Live from April 11th, 2011 (including comments by three people present at court today)

(To really get to know Bob and the harassment he’s faced since September 4th, 2009 when men with badges and guns trespassed on his property, check out the five-minute Free Grafton’s Bob Constantine to be caged by New Hampshire for growing a plant video by Jason Talley.)

When we saw FIJA bumper stickers on parked cars outside a government building we knew we were in the right spot. (more…)

Ridley Covers Big Mike’s Trial

by | Apr 4, 2011 | 0 comments

Thanks to Dave Ridley for putting together this package from other activists’ videos and experiences at the trial of Big Mike for having the courage to stand up to the Nashua thugs during their assault on the 420 celebration over a year ago.

Jim Johnson’s Jury Trial for “Criminal Trespass”, aka Standing on Public Property

by | Mar 31, 2011 | 0 comments

Nearly a year after Jim Johnson was arrested with 11 others for the horrible crime of assembling for a protest on the supposedly public property of the local jail, he faced a jury trial. They found him guilty. Sentencing has yet to complete. Here’s the footage of this historic first-ever jury trial of a free stater and at the end you’ll see an interview with a juror. While the trial did not come out in Jim’s favor, it wasted an entire day of the court bureaucrats’ time and filled up 50% of their courtrooms. Any large amount of civil disobedience and refusing to plea-bargain will crush the system with a huge burden of cases. Please come join the activism in NH!