New York State Assemblyman's Marijuana Charge Dismissed
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A judge has dismissed marijuana possession charges against a New York state assemblyman who was stopped for speeding last month as part of a plea deal.
The lawyer for Assemblyman Stephen Katz, a Republican from Mohegan Lake in the Hudson Valley, says there were difficulties in proving he had marijuana when he was stopped March 12 on the state Thruway near Albany. Police say they pulled him over for driving 80 mph in a 65 mph zone, smelled marijuana and found a small bag of the drug.
"The fact is, he was never arrested, there was never a DUI as reported. That was wrong and he was simply stopped, given tickets to appear," attorney Susan Chana Lask told 1010 WINS.
Lask said Katz's marijuana violation was dropped and the speeding ticket was reduced to a parking violation. She added Katz, 59, did not get any special treatment.
Katz, who represents parts of Westchester and Putnam Counties, did not appear in court on Thursday.
He was fined $75 and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.
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