Pubdate: Fri, 08 Aug 2008
Source: San Bernardino Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2008 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.sbsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1417
Author: Will Bigham
Cited: Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition http://www.ivdfc.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Lanny+Swerdlow
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL-POT ADVOCATE REJECTS PLEA DEAL

Insists Battery Claim Unfounded

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A medical-marijuana advocate facing  battery charges for 
allegedly shoving an anti-drug  activist refused a plea offer from 
prosecutors Friday  that would have reduced his charge to an infraction.

Palm Springs resident Lanny Swerdlow, 62, was arrested  on suspicion of 
battery in October after he and several  other marijuana activists were 
ejected from a Rancho  Cucamonga meeting of the Inland Valley Drug 
Free  Community Coalition.

Swerdlow says the meeting was advertised as a public event.

But Paul Chabot, the event's guest speaker and husband  of the coalition's 
president, denied entry to Swerdlow  after Swerdlow was recognized as a 
marijuana activist,  Swerdlow said.

Chabot told sheriff's deputies that Swerdlow pushed him  and entered the 
meeting when he was told he wasn't  welcome. Swerdlow denies there was any 
physical  contact.

Swerdlow pleaded not guilty to the battery charge, a  misdemeanor, in December.

On Friday, a plea deal was offered that would have  reduced Swerdlow's 
charge to an infraction for  disturbing the peace.

Swerdlow. declining the offer, said he is determined to  go to trial if 
necessary to clear his name.

"I will not plead guilty to anything because I did not  do anything wrong," 
Swerdlow said after a hearing in  West Valley Superior Court.

Swerdlow said another man who was ejected from the  meeting, Temecula 
resident Marty Victor, spoke to  sheriff's deputies a week after the 
meeting seeking assault charges brought against Chabot.

Chabot, Victor said, verbally harassed marijuana  activists who attempted 
to enter the meeting.

Chabot did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

Swerdlow said he would consider pleading guilty to the  infraction if 
Chabot were convicted of the same  offense.

Deputy District Attorney Garo Madenlian, the  prosecutor, said he was 
unaware of Victor's statement  to sheriff's deputies before Friday's court 
hearing.

Swerdlow is set to appear for a hearing Aug. 27 in West  Valley Superior Court. 
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