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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Russia: Fulbright Scholar From U.S. Is Sentenced To 3 Years
ccguide Thursday 03 May 2001 Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2001 Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, The (US) Copyright: 2001 by The Chronicle of Higher Education Contact: Website: http://chronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/84 Author: BRYON MACWILLIAMS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR FROM U.S. IS SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN RUSSIAN PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES An American Fulbright scholar was sentenced on Friday to more than three years in a Russian prison after being convicted of possessing and distributing marijuana. Investigators testified that John E. Tobin was carrying a matchbox that contained marijuana on January 26 when he was detained by police as he left a nightclub in Voronezh, about 300 miles southwest of Moscow. A subsequent search of his apartment reportedly yielded more of the drug. Mr. Tobin's lawyer contended, however, that the drugs had been planted on his client, a native of Ridgefield, Conn., who was conducting postgraduate research at Voronezh State University. "I never offered or sold anyone drugs. ... I don't have anything to do with drugs," Mr. Tobin, 24, told the judge in Russian before his sentencing on Friday."I consider myself not guilty. I am a student. I came here to study." The case attracted interest worldwide when the local branch of the main Russian security service accused Mr. Tobin of being an apprentice spy who was carrying out on-site training. According to The Washington Post, Mr. Tobin studied at a U.S. military school and at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., and was a member of an Army Reserves military-intelligence battalion. Russian authorities filed no other charges against him, however. The judge said character references were mitigating factors in imposing a sentence of three years and one month instead of a possible four years. Nevertheless, the term is severe for a first-time drug offender in Russia. A prosecutor had told the judge that police investigators inflated the total amount of marijuana allegedly in Mr. Tobin's possession. An additional charge of persuading others to use narcotics, which carries a term of up to 15 years, was dropped because of a lack of evidence. Mr. Tobin's lawyer said he would appeal the verdict. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart
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