Pubdate: Sat, 03 Feb 2001
Source: Times-Standard (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Times-Standard
Contact:  930 Sixth St. Eureka, CA 95501
Fax: 707-441-0501
Feedback: 
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Website: http://www.times-standard.com/

VERDICT SPLIT IN MARIJUANA CASE

EUREKA -- A jury convicted a Bay Area man of transporting about 5 pounds of 
marijuana but deadlocked on whether his friend was guilty of the same charge.

Christopher White, 26, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol Jan. 
31, 1999, during a traffic stop. Officers found about 5 pounds of pot in 
half-pound bags and $9,200 in cash in White's backpack.

Also arrested was White's friend Jason Fishbain, who was driving White and 
his teen-age girlfriend back to the Bay Area after their van broke down in 
Eureka.

Deputy District Attorney Nandor Vadas said the jury convicted White of 
transportation of marijuana but deadlocked on a charge of possession of 
marijuana for sale. The jury deadlocked on both charges against Fishbain, a 
McKinleyville resident.

Vadas said White claimed the cash in his backpack was an inheritance from 
his father.

White has one prior felony conviction for transporting marijuana in 
Southern California, and another drug-related conviction in New York. He 
faces a maximum penalty of four years in state prison. He is lodged in 
Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

It has not been decided whether Fishbain will be tried again, Vadas said.
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