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Authorities claimed that Ronald Kirkwood had more than 100 pounds of
marijuana on his Harris County property in April 2008.
A federal
jury, however, found the 48-year-old not guilty last week of possession
with the intent to distribute, said John Martin, defense attorney.
But Kirkwood was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon on Friday. He remains out on bond pending his sentencing before
U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land.
The jury deliberated for
more than two days, sending out a number of questions about whether
having drugs on your property equaled possession, Martin said. The judge
replied that jurors had to weigh the facts, the circumstances and the
evidence in the case.
“There was very little evidence other than
the anonymous tip,” Martin said. “That drew the battle lines.”
Harris County authorities seized more than 100 pounds of marijuana from
a Waverly Hall home in April 2008 during the execution of a search
warrant, Sheriff Mike Jolley said. The drugs were found in a van in a
storage shed, packaged into 5-pound bundles, he said.
A sawed-off
.22-caliber rifle, other rifles and pistols were also found, the sheriff
said.
Kirkwood turned himself in about six weeks after the search
warrant was executed, Martin said. The defense attorney said Kirkwood
had back surgery in Colorado about three weeks after his property was
searched. There was also a dispute about whether he was in the state
when the search occurred. Kirkwood could face about five to six years in
prison on the weapons charge, Martin said.
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