Alleged Marijuana Distributor Gets Bail Sliced In Half

JOLIET, IL - Although Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced that legalizing and taxing marijuana is one of his top political priorities, police departments in Will County continue to devote enormous resources to pulling over people with marijuana in their automobiles. On Friday, March 8, the Illinois State Police District 5 arrested 26-year-old Narek Margaryan of Citrus Heights, California, on three felony charges of trafficking marijuana.

The criminal complaint against the California man charges him with unlawful cannabis trafficking, a Class 2 felony, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of cannabis, a Class 1 felony.

Margaryan "knowingly and unlawfully possessed more than 5,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis, other than as authorized in the Illinois Cannabis Control Act," states the criminal complaint at the Will County Courthouse.

Here's what the Illinois governor had to say on the topic shortly after taking office: "In the interests of keeping the public safe from harm, expanding true justice in our criminal justice system and advancing economic inclusion, I will work with the legislature to legalize, tax and regulate the sale of recreational cannabis in Illinois," Pritzker was quoted, according to the Marijuana Moment website.

This Tuesday, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of James Glasgow filed a criminal complaint against the California man informing Will County Circuit Judge Dave Carlson that Margaryan "knowingly brought or caused to be brought 2,500 grams or more of cannabis into the State of Illinois for the purpose of delivering said cannabis."

Meanwhile, Margaryan hired downtown Joliet criminal defense lawyer Steven Haney as his legal counsel. Haney filed a motion with the court asking that his new client's bail be lowered. (One of the rotating judges for Will County last weekend set the defendant's bail at $500,000.)

According to court papers, Haney informed Judge Carlson his client would need to post $50,000 cash to get out of the Will County Jail on felony marijuana charges, that his client "has no significant criminal history" and the "defendant's bond in this cause is oppressive. Defendant seeks a more reasonable bond amount …"

Judge Carlson agreed.

He cut the defendant's bail in half, from $500,000 to $250,000. He also ruled that Margaryan can leave the state of Illinois to return to his native California, where he resides, while his case is pending at the Will County Courthouse.

Early Thursday morning, logs show, Margaryan was released from the Will County Jail after six days in custody. He came up with $25,000 cash to post as bond.

He can now go home to sunny Citrus Heights, Calif.

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