GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Former State Representative Roy Schmidt was officially arraigned Friday afternoon on drug charges.
Schmidt was charged with two counts of Delivering and Manufacture of Marijuana. Both are felonies. The judge called Schmidt "whistle clean", but the charges could land him up to four years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Schmidt was released from the Kent County Jail just before 3 p.m. Friday and told FOX 17 News that he knows "this is a serious charge. I take it seriously."
The Kent County Narcotics Team and undercover agents searched two locations connected to the 61-year-old and charges were authorized against Schmidt Thursday. Court documents say that Schmidt told officers that he was a medical marijuana patient and caregiver, but admitted to selling marijuana to at least 20 people who were not his registered patients.
Police found approximately three pounds of marijuana at his home on 7th Street NW. Schmidt told police that the distribution of the marijuana happened at that address. Police also searched a home on Myrtle NW which is rented by Schmidt and registered to his son. There, they found 71 growing marijuana plants.
Judge Donald Passenger of the 61st District Court granted Schmidt a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, based on his prior clean record and called Schmidt "whistle clean."
“At worst this is a medical grow operation that’s not as tight as it should have been or something of that nature," said Passenger. "It’s obviously been charged as a felony, it may be a felony, I don’t know."
"For the record, I’ve known Mr. Schmidt for many years and considered him a professional colleague for many years, so whatever that is worth. I want that on the record," Passenger said.
Schmidt is due back in court June 25 for a probable cause exam.
