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DA reports marijuana case resolutions and Maine Human Rights Commission finding; commission to mediate
Summary
The county's district attorney reported 5 of 15 marijuana cultivation cases resolved (including one open plea where jail was sought), described pending plea offers, and the administrator reported the Maine Human Rights Commission found the county should have provided more accommodations to a former jail employee, triggering required mediation.
The Somerset County District Attorney updated the commissioners on court staffing, the delayed rollout of the e-Prosecutor/e-filing system, and recent criminal-case outcomes in marijuana cultivation prosecutions.
The DA said 15 cultivation cases remain in the docket, with five resolved so far. In one open-plea case the DA requested jail time but was not successful; the DA said some pleas negotiated in the packet included fines and supervision fees that, depending on court structure and statutory allocation, did not flow to the county general fund. For several pending cases the DA said an offer on the table for some defendants would reduce a charge from class C to class B with a proposed six-month jail term and a $10,000 fine in some negotiations.
Separately, the county administrator reported a former jail employee had filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission alleging discrimination based on age and disability. The commission ruled 3-2 in favor of the employee, concluding the county could have provided additional accommodations; that finding requires mediation next and does not immediately impose a monetary award but may expose the county to legal costs and further proceedings.
The commissioners asked the DA about how court fines, forfeitures and seized funds are allocated; the DA explained some forfeiture and fine streams are handled by state processes and, in certain negotiated plea structures, do not return to county coffers. The DA said he is available for further follow-up on specific cases and encouraged commissioners to raise questions.
The commission did not take formal enforcement action on these matters at the meeting; staff will coordinate any necessary administrative steps for the Human Rights Commission mediation and provide further case-status updates to the board.
