Pot find leads to arrest at court

A 29-year-old Wilseyville man faces up to a year in jail and a $500 fine after allegedly entering the Calaveras County courthouse with marijuana in his pocket.

When Peter Aaron Bell stepped up to the metal detector at the courthouse shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, deputies smelled the “odor of marijuana” on him, said Sgt. Dave Seawell, Sheriff’s Department spokesman.
  

Before passing through the detector, Bell turned over a key chain with a metal container on it. The deputy on duty opened the container and found the marijuana inside, Seawell said.

Bell was booked on suspicion of possessing concentrated cannabis, which is the resin that is obtained from the marijuana plant.

It was the first time that Seawell could recall an arrest being made at the metal detector, through which all visitors to the courts and the Board of Supervisor’s chambers must pass.

People passing through the court intoxicated is not unheard of.

Two years ago, a Douglas Flat man arrived drunk to a jury selection for a murder trial.

William Shaw, then 55, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication after offering a drink to a fellow potential juror.