Now that Kalvin Catlin’s brother Kyle has been convicted on three felony drug charges, the 23-year-old doesn’t have much hope about the outcome of the trial the two will tackle together in December.
The husband and father of two—a daughter who will turn 3 years old in December, and a son who will be 1 next month—says he’s been trying to hide from the legal hell. Now that his brother sits in jail while he awaits for sentencing, all of the feelings are reemerging.
“It is devastating,” he says, wiping the tears from his face with paint-stained, white T-shirt. “I just lost my brother. It is unspeakable. To know that one day my entire life is going to (change)…everything I have been working so hard for.”
If it weren’t for the upcoming trial, Kalvin would be well on his way to a very successful career racing cars. His hobby and family have kept him happily distracted. But in two months, he’ll have to walk into Pima County Superior Court Judge Javier Chon-Lopez’s courtroom and pray for the best.
Three years ago, the brothers—both of whom are medical marijuana cardholders—partnered up in a caregiver project called Arizona Medical Marijuana Caregivers. They were arrested in late 2012, a few months after Kyle was arrested on separate counts. The brothers’ residence was searched, after investigators overseeing the case found recent information about the healing center online. That’s how they justified another search warrant. (It was a site with tons of reviews about the weed Catlin sold and his services, as well as customer testimonials, Kyle told the Tucson Weekly in September.)
Some of the felonies the brothers face are: Illegally conducting an enterprise; conspiracy to commit sale of marijuana; conspiracy to commit possession of marijuana for sale; possession of marijuana for sale; possession of drug paraphernalia.
The indictment refers to Kyle as the “Boss,” who employed an “associate” to deliver marijuana, and “arranged appointments between the runner and customer for the purpose of selling marijuana.” While Kalvin, “could facilitate and/or arrange appointments and meetings between the runners and the customers for the purpose of selling marijuana and/or cannabis.”
“Kyle and/or Kalvin would maintain a secure residence(s) and/or phone lines to further the goals of the enterprise. Such residence(s) would be used as a base of operations to 1. Secure cash and/or proceeds of the enterprise; 2. Store marijuana and/or cannabis for purpose of sale; 3. Store and use equipment for the purpose of manufacturing cannabis; 4. Manufacturing cannabis; 5. Packaging and inventorying amounts of marijuana and or/cannabis that would be sold by the enterprise, and; 6. Provide a clandestine and secure location to conduct the affairs of the enterprise,” the indictment says.
Kyle and Kalvin’s attorneys are going to work together to come up with a defense. Unfortunately, if Chon-Lopez heads the same route he did in Kyle’s first trial, they probably won’t be able to mention the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act as part of that defense.
In Kyle’s case, he’s already been convicted on three felonies, which means that if he is convicted in trial 2, the sentence will only double.
Medical marijuana laws aside, this is a time when President Obama, his administration and bipartisan members of Congress are asking for sentencing reform on nonviolent drug offenders. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice released 6,000 of them.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2015.
its disgusting, you can get longer time for growing marijuana then actual murder???? WTF is wrong with our State?
Remember this when it comes time to vote for Tucson City Attorney…
The incumbent keeps locking people up for this crap while her opponent will not…
The Defendants can request a Writ of Habeas Corpus and an Emergency Hearing with the Arizona Court of Appeals.
You are wrong Eric. Murder is still one year longer sentence. The politicians are destroying our legal system by not enforcing laws already on the books.
…..and…if both the Judge and Prosecutor are shown to be intentionally in violation of the Sixth (6) Amendment of the Constitution, they can be removed from office forthwith.
and….In the Federal District Court…..Prisoner Form – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254
Form and instructions designed to help prisoners prepare a petition challenging their custody on the grounds that their state conviction or sentence violates the United States Constitution or other federal law.
While I believe that at this day and age..laws should be changed nation wide and policy’s put in place for selling and taxing Marijuana… At this current time it is still illegal and by the current laws they are guilty. People as a whole need to stand up on voting day and choose those they feel will help change the law. Doing illegal things as a form of resistance only puts a bigger target on the people fighting justly.
Get your legal advise right here it is worth what paid for.
Chet I think you mistake the city attorney for the County Attorney. The county Prosecutes felonies and high misdemeanors Prison and terms over 1 year. This is not the cities job to enforce state statutes that is left up to the county as is the jail and the Justice and superior courts
I have in the past dealt with the catlins. They are all very fine people who care about the wellness of other people. It is sad that the family has to deal with this situation. It is new news that kalvin is expecting his 3rd child.(congratulations) would be very sad to see a father go through this. I care deeply about this family regardless of their opinions about me. I just hope all turns out good for kalvin and his family.
Activist Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friends Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Family Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fans Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kalvin Catlin has NOT received any Letters of Character.
Case: CR-20130049-002
To: Judge Javier Chon-Lopez, Signed and Dated.
Send to: Eric Erickson
Pima County Legal Defender
32 North Stone, 8th Floor
TUCSON, AZ. 85701
Sentencing: Jan 20th 2016
Please Share this..
Character Reference Letter for Court Samples.
https://www.google.com/search?q=letters+of…
Kyle Catlin got his letter from the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.
His Hearing is on May 18th 2016.
This is the link to the information needed to write Letters to the Board. https://boec.az.gov/
Please call them to insure we are getting the Correct Information about Letters.
His Attorney Brick Storts has a Trial on the 18th. so he is going to see if the Hearing date can be changed to a later date allowing Citizen more time to show support for the Sentence Reduction of Kyle Leslie Catlin 307334.
Do a search, so you will be more informed about Kyles situation. https://corrections.az.gov/public-resource…
Kyle is asking for a 2 year sentence reduction. however My belief is a Full Pardon is more appropriate.
Please Like and Share this, so he can be FREE from the injustices that he has suffered.
#freekylecatlin
Arizona Board of Executive Clemency
1645 West Jefferson, Suite 101
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-5656
Fax: (602) 542-5680
Call them and ask What a Letter should consist of, Who to send it to and when to send it.
Please say a prayer for Kyle, His Uncle Larry Catlin and all the other caged up Humans, “who were harming no one”.
Kyle’s Applet Supplemental Brief was Filed 11/30/2016.
If someone can create a text file from a scanned hand written document. Let Me know. Thanks.
#FreeKyleCatlin