The gym at Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon. Photo by Bureau of Indian Education
A young member of the Warm Springs Tribes of Oregon has reached an agreement to end a marijuana case that has attracted widespread attention. Federal prosecutors will drop a single charge of possession of marijuana if Devontre Thomas, 19, stays out of trouble and attends school or is gainfully employed for 60 days, according to a document filed in court on Thursday. Thomas has already been employed since his graduation from Chemawa Indian School on May 13, his attorney wrote, so it appear he is well on his way to meeting the terms of the agreement. "On August 3, 2016, Mr. Thomas entered into an Agreement for Pretrial Diversion with the government," the attorney wrote on Thursday. "Under the terms of the Agreement, the government will dismiss the pending misdemeanor Information if, for a period of 60 days, Mr. Thomas: (1) obeys all laws (federal, state, and local); and (2) attends school or works regularly at a lawful occupation." Thomas was hit with the misdemeanor information on April 13, more than a year after the alleged incident at Chemawa. But he was never found with the drug -- instead a small amount had been found in the backpack of a fellow student, according to news reports. That fellow student apparently blamed Thomas for the marijuana, which led to the federal case. He made his first court appearance on May 5, just days before his graduation ceremony at the Bureau of Indian Education institution. Marijuana is legal in Oregon and even the Warm Springs Tribes are entering the growing industry. But the drug is still illegal under federal laws that apply to Chemawa and to Indian Country. Still, the case drew condemnation due to the small amount of marijuana at issue and the status of the drug in Oregon. Members of Congress are questioning U.S. Attorney Billy Williams about his priorities, Willamette Week reported. "President Obama has stated that 'we have bigger fish to fry' than prosecuting state legal marijuana cases. We agree with this approach," three Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter posted by Willamette Week. Chemawa is an boarding school in Salem that attracts young tribal members from Oregon and across Indian Country. It opened in 1880, according to Wikipedia. Read More on the Story:
Feds Dropping Charges Against Native American Teenager Who Faced a Year in Jail for Cannabis (Willamette Week 8/4)
Charges dropped for Native American teen facing prison over gram of weed (The Guardian 8/4)
Capitol Hill Officials Demand to Know Why a Native American Teenager is Being Prosecuted for Cannabis (Willamette Week 8/4) Some Opinions:
Editorial: Drop the federal prosecution (The Bend Bulletin 8/5)
Inbox: Letters about Devontre Thomas (Willamette Week 8/3)
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member of Warm Springs Tribes hit with marijuana case (8/4)
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