TESTIMONY BRINGS TEARS 62-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT RUSHES FROM COURTROOM.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - The trial of four people accused of illegally selling a methamphetamine ingredient from their feed store took a dramatic turn Tuesday when one of the defendants rushed out of the courtroom in tears. Ramona Beck, 62, left as narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. Detective Tom Holeman testified about the defendants' arrest on March 8, 2000, and what he was told about Beck being ill with cancer. Beck, who had missed several pretrial pre·tri·al n. A proceeding held before an official trial, especially to clarify points of law and facts. adj. 1. Of or relating to a pretrial. 2. court appearances because of a possible diagnosis of cancer but said later tests showed a cyst cyst, abnormal sac in the body, filled with a fluid or semisolid and enclosed in a membrane. Cysts can be congenital but are usually acquired, the most common locations being the skin and the ovaries. was benign, was not at the store when law enforcement officers arrived. Under questioning by defense attorney Alison Bloom, Holeman said he was told Beck and Manning were not at the store, and that Beck had been diagnosed with cancer. ``On the same day, you decide to arrest her?'' Bloom asked. ``She was placed under arrest that day, yes,'' Holeman said. ``You asked her to come and be arrested after you learned she had cancer?'' Bloom persisted. Holeman said, ``Not true.'' After leaving the courtroom, Beck was hugged and consoled by a niece and Bloom as jurors filed outside during a recess in the trial. Holeman testified that eight law enforcement officers arrived in a patrol car and five to six other vehicles at the store in east Lancaster. They came to arrest the defendants on suspicion of illegally selling crystallized crys·tal·lize also crys·tal·ize v. crys·tal·lized also crys·tal·ized, crys·tal·liz·ing also crys·tal·iz·ing, crys·tal·liz·es also crys·tal·iz·es v.tr. 1. iodine, which is used to treat hoof hoof, horny epidermal casing at the end of the digits of an ungulate (hoofed) mammal. In the even-toed ungulates, such as swine, deer, and cattle, the hoof is cloven; in the odd-toed ungulates, such as the horse and the rhinoceros, it is solid. disease but also is a component in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Holeman said he was wearing a green Sheriff's Department ``raid'' jacket, and he and the other officers were wearing bullet-proof vests. ``That's a little excessive in this case, wouldn't you say?'' Bloom asked. Holeman replied, ``No, ma'am.'' Holeman also testified that of the more than 15,200 ounces of crystallized iodine shipped to the feed store by wholesalers between January 1999 and March 8, 2000, more than 3,800 ounces remain unaccounted for An inclusive term (not a casualty status) applicable to personnel whose person or remains are not recovered or otherwise accounted for following hostile action. Commonly used when referring to personnel who are killed in action and whose bodies are not recovered. because of lack of receipts or other documentation. Armitta Granicy, 60, and Robert Granicy, 64, who own Granicy's Valley Wide Feed Store, and Armitta's two sisters, Beck, and Dorothy Manning, 67, have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges that they failed to obtain and maintain records relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc iodine sales. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to a year in jail on each count. Manning faces up to four years, Armitta Granicy two years, and Robert Granicy and Beck a year each. The trial is scheduled to resume today. The four defendants last month rejected prosecutors' offer to drop criminal charges in return for a promise not to sell the crystallized iodine for two years from their feed store. Prosecutors have contended the defendants acted out of ``old-fashioned greed,'' netting themselves $46,000 in one year. They did not comply with the law despite law enforcement officers visiting the store and advising Armitta Granicy of the law's requirements and bringing a letter detailing the law. Twice, Armitta Granicy told officers she was not going to comply with the law, Deputy District Attorney Robert Sherwood said in his opening statement. Dut defense attorneys said the case had nothing to do with greed but people trying their best to comply with a confusing, ``crazy, insidious'' law. Beck's and Manning's attorney in opening statements described his clients as God-fearing, church-going people who work in churches and hospitals. He termed their prosecution an ``outrage.'' Defense attorney Robert Sheahen Robert Sheahen (born February 14, 1945 in East Cleveland, Ohio) is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. He has practiced throughout Southern California for more than thirty years. contended that the defendants were ``singled out as a test case for the new law,'' and authorities ``set them up, ensnared them and brought them here to court.'' The Granicys opened the feed store 40 years ago. Beck and Manning work at the store, which contains a gift shop, a horse tack Tack is a term used to describe any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, and breastplates are all forms of horse tack. room and truck rental business. The three women have nine grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. among them, and none of the four has a criminal record. A 1999 state law requires sellers of crystallized iodine to get the buyer's name, address, vehicle description and license plate number as well as a driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something or state identification card number of the buyer. Undercover officers say they bought more than 21 ounces of crystallized iodine in February 2000 in five separate purchases without providing the necessary identification. The defendants say they have complied with the law by getting the signatures of customers on the bills of sale, and under the new law, are being asked to track and stalk their customers. The defense signaled that they may try to make the health of some of the defendants an issue. Bloom said in a court hearing prior to opening statements and outside the presence of the jury that Armitta Granicy has had spinal surgeries that make it difficult to walk. Under the law, ``Ramona Beck is not only supposed to ask for some ID (but) then get up and hobble hobble leather straps fastened around the pasterns of horses, mules and donkeys. Placed on all four legs and pulled together by a rope, it provides an effective means of casting the horse. out to the parking lot and take down a license plate,'' Sheahen said in his opening statement. Sheahen had previously described Beck as ``elderly and infirm INFIRM. Weak, feeble. 2. When a witness is infirm to an extent likely to destroy his life, or to prevent his attendance at the trial, his testimony de bene esge may be taken at any age. 1 P. Will. 117; see Aged witness.; Going witness. .'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) BECK |
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