Officers initiated contact with 33-year-old Billy Jack Pierce III after becoming aware of the ad on Thursday. In the conversations that ensued, he expressed interest in selling marijuana. Police continued contact with Pierce until the afternoon of his arrest, Bruschi said. The ad was placed at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday. It describes a 26-foot 1992 Mirage that "runs great, looks awesome, ready to hit the water." The person asked for a "215 trade plus cash or just cash." The "215 trade" means Proposition 215, which is a reference to medical marijuana, Bruschi said. At about 5 p.m. Friday, officers located and arrested Pierce near Riverbend Park, according to police. He was reportedly in possession of approximately 3 pounds of processed marijuana he intended to sell in Oroville. Pierce told police he traded and owned the marijuana for medical purposes, but police found him to be outside the Butte County guidelines and parameters of Proposition 215. The marijuana seized is worth about $2,500, Bruschi said. Pierce was charged with sales and possession for sale of marijuana and soliciting of drugs for sale. He was booked Advertisement into Butte County Jail. His bail is set at $60,000. Reach Almendra Carpizo at 896-7760, acarpizo@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @almendracarpizo.
2/26/2013
Eureka man comes to Oroville to sell pot to cops, is arrested
OROVILLE — A Eureka man was arrested Friday after he allegedly told police he was interested in selling marijuana.
The Oroville Police Department conducted an investigation after noticing a Craigslist post that offered to trade a ski boat parked in Oroville, worth $8,750, for marijuana or cash, said Oroville police Sgt. John Bruschi.
-->
Officers initiated contact with 33-year-old Billy Jack Pierce III after becoming aware of the ad on Thursday. In the conversations that ensued, he expressed interest in selling marijuana. Police continued contact with Pierce until the afternoon of his arrest, Bruschi said. The ad was placed at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday. It describes a 26-foot 1992 Mirage that "runs great, looks awesome, ready to hit the water." The person asked for a "215 trade plus cash or just cash." The "215 trade" means Proposition 215, which is a reference to medical marijuana, Bruschi said. At about 5 p.m. Friday, officers located and arrested Pierce near Riverbend Park, according to police. He was reportedly in possession of approximately 3 pounds of processed marijuana he intended to sell in Oroville. Pierce told police he traded and owned the marijuana for medical purposes, but police found him to be outside the Butte County guidelines and parameters of Proposition 215. The marijuana seized is worth about $2,500, Bruschi said. Pierce was charged with sales and possession for sale of marijuana and soliciting of drugs for sale. He was booked Advertisement into Butte County Jail. His bail is set at $60,000. Reach Almendra Carpizo at 896-7760, acarpizo@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @almendracarpizo.
-->
Officers initiated contact with 33-year-old Billy Jack Pierce III after becoming aware of the ad on Thursday. In the conversations that ensued, he expressed interest in selling marijuana. Police continued contact with Pierce until the afternoon of his arrest, Bruschi said. The ad was placed at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday. It describes a 26-foot 1992 Mirage that "runs great, looks awesome, ready to hit the water." The person asked for a "215 trade plus cash or just cash." The "215 trade" means Proposition 215, which is a reference to medical marijuana, Bruschi said. At about 5 p.m. Friday, officers located and arrested Pierce near Riverbend Park, according to police. He was reportedly in possession of approximately 3 pounds of processed marijuana he intended to sell in Oroville. Pierce told police he traded and owned the marijuana for medical purposes, but police found him to be outside the Butte County guidelines and parameters of Proposition 215. The marijuana seized is worth about $2,500, Bruschi said. Pierce was charged with sales and possession for sale of marijuana and soliciting of drugs for sale. He was booked Advertisement into Butte County Jail. His bail is set at $60,000. Reach Almendra Carpizo at 896-7760, acarpizo@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @almendracarpizo.
