Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) Copyright: 2008 The Bakersfield Californian Contact: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries POT DISPENSARY OWNER SENTENCED TO PRISON The owner of a Bakersfield marijuana dispensary was sentenced Monday to six months in prison, six months home detention and three years supervised release. William Eugene Connelly, 51, the owner of Seven Seas Compassionate Care Center, 6403 Seven Seas Ave., had pleaded guilty in March to possessing 40 pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute. That is a violation of federal law. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Fresno, by Judge Anthony W. Ishii. The judge said Connelly must also register as a drug offender, wear an electronic alcohol monitoring device, participate in a program of mental health treatment and participate in drug and alcohol testing. Connelly bought the dispensary in June 2006, one year after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal prohibition on the medical use of marijuana. He made about $10,000 a month from selling marijuana at his dispensary, the U.S. Attorney's office reported. The judge noted that Connelly has a criminal history including four convictions for battery, providing false information on a document and four convictions for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake