Two men arrested in an allegedly marijuana-production facility were merely employees who didn't know of the alleged illegal business practices, their attorneys argued Friday.
While the storefront was open to the public, it was what was going on in the back that drew interest, Assistant Prosecutor Harlee Stein told the judge.
There, detectives allegedly recovered more than five pounds of marijuana.
But with legalized facilities now popping up locally, Marrero did not know there was anything illegal, attorney Christopher St. John told the judge.
"An employee doesn't have an obligation to ask for his or her mercantile license," he said.
Mezquita's attorney said his client has no proven connection to the illegal activity.
"Just because he worked in a legitimate part of the business doesn’t mean he knew," Durann Neil told the judge.
"Unless he has a sight problem, I don’t understand how he doesn’t know what’s going on there," Stein told the judge.
When the business was raided, the backroom was closed off to the public, protected by several dogs, she said.
On the other side of the door, Mezquita and Marrero were seated on a couch. Between them was a bag that allegedly contained illegal product.
Neil noted Mezquita was not found with marijuana nor involved in any controlled buys.
"He was just in the room where there was a bag of marijuana," he said.
Stein said the business' location adds to the danger, since it is within a school zone and 500 feet from the library.
But the judge found that the men do not pose a threat to the community and could be released with conditions as their case goes through the courts.
BreakingAC has learned that the owner of the business, Melvin Marrero, is now jailed, but details were not immediately available.
Check back with BreakingAC.com for updates to this story.
