Suspect who ate marijuana joint may dodge charge

JUNEAU, Alaska – The Juneau district attorney says he probably will not file charges against a 24-year-old man suspected of eating a marijuana joint two weeks ago as he was approached by a police officer at a downtown intersection.

Prosecutors considered charging the man with felony evidence tampering, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

But District Attorney David Brower tells the Juneau Empire that would have been far more harsh than public possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor with maximum penalties of 90 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Brower says that to prove the felony, his office would have had to pay for expert testimony and the convening of a grand jury.

He says the charge would be disproportional to the resources of his office.