A St. Johnsbury man arrested when police found drugs and a gun in his car is becoming an unwitting accomplice in helping police maintain a dog used in drug searches.
The Caledonian-Record reports that 42-year-old Hummingbird Takahashi pleaded no contest to a charge of possessing cocaine in exchange for a $200 fine and an order that he forfeit a handgun seized during his arrest. A second charge of marijuana possession was dismissed by the state as part of the plea deal.
http://liarcatchers.com/drugdogsweeps.html
According to the terms of the plea agreement reached on May 13, Takahashi agreed to forfeit a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handgun seized during his arrest by the St. Johnsbury Police Department in order to “augment the Bodie fund.”
The fund, which was set up to defray expenses for the dog, is supported by private donations.
The plea deal was negotiated by defense attorney David Sleigh of St. Johnsbury and Deputy Caledonia County State’s Attorney Kirk Williams.
Takahashi had been facing a possible maximum sentence of three years in jail on the felony marijuana charge and one year for the misdemeanor cocaine charge. Takahashi had no prior Vermont criminal record.
