2 grams of marijuana is next to nothing, less than one-tenth of an ounce. Under the law a conviction for possession of this small amount usually means just a fine. But, tonight instead of a fine, 34 year-old Albert Ford has been confined and is spending the first night of a 2 month prison sentence.
According to police, at around 8:45 yesterday morning, they were on patrol in Pitts Alley when Ford threw away a plastic bag.
Police recovered the bag which contained 2 grams of weed, and an additional 65 grams in another section of the bag. He was charged with drug possession for the 2 grams and drug trafficking for the second amount.
When he was arraigned today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers, Ford decided to plea guilty for the drug possession. Normally that would have earned him a court fine that he would have had to pay. This time, however, the magistrate decided that because he was a repeat offender, this wouldn't be a sufficient punishment.
She sentenced him to serve 2 months in jail, with the stipulation that if he doesn't pay an outstanding $50 fine for a previous conviction, he will serve an additional month.
For the drug trafficking charge, he pled not guilty and was offered bail of $2,000. He will be brought back to court on January 28, 2016.
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