http://activedaily.readingeagle.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=REG/2006/07/09/1/Img/Pc0011800.jpg http://activedaily.readingeagle.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=REG/2006/07/09/1/Img/Pc0011700.jpg

Noted pair grew ‘pot,' police say
The Sovereign Performing Arts Center's director and her husband, an ex-general manager of the Sovereign Center, were raising marijuana in their city home, investigators report.

By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle

The former general manager of the Sovereign Center and his wife, who runs the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, were arrested Saturday after police found several thousand dollars worth of marijuana and a sophisticated growing system in their Centre Park home, officials said.
Steven J. Haver, 45, and his wife, Karen Lynn, 36, were committed to Berks County Prison after arraignment before District Judge Wally Scott on charges of manufacturing and possessing marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

Bail was set at $1 million for Steven Haver and $500,000 for Karen Haver.

Steven Haver was general manager of the Sovereign Center when it opened and held the post for three years. He works as a professor at the York campus of Penn State University, according to records.

Karen Haver, who also is known as Karen Lynn Meyers, has been the director of the performing arts center for the past five years.

They married in 2004, according to records.

Reading police said they discovered the drugs and growing operation in the basement of the couple's row home in the 200 block of Douglass Street while investigating a burglar alarm at the residence Saturday morning.

The couple was not home.

“This was a super-sophisticated setup,” said Lt. Mark E. Talbot of the Reading police vice and narcotics division. “There was a sophisticated climate control system in the room, which was designed exclusively to manufacture marijuana.”

Police said they seized five large, potted marijuana plants from the basement. They said the plants were about 3 feet tall with an estimated value of $500 each.

“At this point, it appears they were growing the plants for personal use,” Talbot said.

Police have found as many as 100 marijuana plants growing in hidden labs in homes in Berks in recent years, investigators said.

Police also seized a high-powered lighting system, an assortment of chemicals, a log book, a self-contained watering system, temperature and humidity sensors, an air intake system and electric timers.

Investigators gave this account:

Patrolmen went to the home to investigate the burglar alarm about 5:30 a.m. The front door was locked but a bay window was ajar.

Police entered through the window. While searching for burglars, they uncovered the marijuana operation in the basement.

Steven Haver was arrested when he returned home later in the day, police said. His wife turned herself in to police at City Hall a short time later.

Officials of the Berks County Convention Center Authority, which is in charge of the Sovereign Center and theater, could not be reached for comment.

http://readingeagle.com/re/lead/1539387.asp

http://growabrain.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/ups_1.jpg

Thats fucking horse shit. There going to waste the courts time with this instead of having someone who is worse get in the court system.

When I spoke to an Officer, who requested anonymity, about growers in the city of Reading that use their rooftops as green house he said the following,

"If we can't see the plants from ground level there is nothing we can do about it. Even if we can see the tops of the plants it isn't enough for probable cause to get a search warrant."

So attention all marijuana growers in the city of Reading... immediately move all of your plants from your basement to your roof top... and by all means... do not under any circumstances grow pot if you drive a Volvo... because the cops aren't afraid of you...

:bigangry:

The former general manager of the Sovereign Center and his wife, who runs the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, were arrested Saturday after police found several thousand dollars worth of marijuana and a sophisticated growing system in their Centre Park home, officials said.

-snip-

Bail was set at $1 million for Steven Haver and $500,000 for Karen Haver.

-snip-

Police said they seized five large, potted marijuana plants from the basement. They said the plants were about 3 feet tall with an estimated value of $500 each.

“At this point, it appears they were growing the plants for personal use,” Talbot said.

Let's recap:
"several thousand dollars worth" = $2500
$2500 worth of marijuana = $1.5 million bail

The next time I hear about some poor black drug dealer getting railroaded by the white man's legal system, I'm gonna pull this article out and bash them over the head with it.

Let's recap:
"several thousand dollars worth" = $2500
$2500 worth of marijuana = $1.5 million bail

The next time I hear about some poor black drug dealer getting railroaded by the white man's legal system, I'm gonna pull this article out and bash them over the head with it.

As long as you're selling crack, heroin, or committing armed robbery they have no problem setting bail at $50,000... but if you have 5 pot plants in your basement that even the police admit were for personal use you're bail gets set at $1.5 million combined...

This is the type of election year bullshit that makes me lose any faith I had left in the system fly right out the fucking window...

The next time I speak to a "Police Officer" I'm going to have to record the conversation so I can go right to the Newspaper with it... you wouldn't even believe the shit I was just told... I don't want to misquote the rest but... what it comes down to is this...

IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT A CRIME IN READING AND NOT BE INVESTIGATED OR PROSECUTED... DON'T BE NON-THREATENING...

That's fucking bullshit. Cops even noted it was for personal use. Probably no criminal pass and $1.5m for bail.

man crazy story, it is a shame for real.

man crazy story, it is a shame for real.

I have never been so personally outraged about something that has happened to someone else as I am with this...

The city of Reading is a cesspool of illegal immigrants and welfare abusers that got cut off the tit else where and then came to Pennsylvania to start milking it once again. If you're a minority in this city you can do whatever the fuck you want, and not only get away with it, but be rewarded with a nice government stipend...

all i can say is ...........wow!

More testimony from another Reading resident...

What really burns me up... the guy across the street from me was busted on Dec. 22, 2005 with a pound of cocaine, 17 firearms, and over $20,000 in cash in his home during a raid. He was recorded making over 64 drug sales to under cover agents, both federal and local, over the preceding 15 month period.

His name is Kevin Ortega.

He lives right next to an elementary school. He was using 14 and 15 year old "mules" to sell his crack cocaine to children. He is still out on bail, awaiting his trial, which has been delayed twice now. The federal judge gave him only $50,000 bail, which Mr. Ortega produced in cash within 3 hours. He owns the used car lot on 5th Street, right next to the cemetary before you go down the hill.

How can this menace to society who is poisoning our children get $50,000 bail, and this couple who was growing marijuana for personal use get $1 million and $500,000 bail respectively?

They weren't selling pot to kids!

The law is fucked up my friends...

It truly is amazing how our judicial system comes up with this shit.

Here's something to even better illustrate the absurdity of this...

A Reading man accused of driving his car with a patrolman hanging onto his steering wheel surrendered to Berks County sheriff's deputies, officials said Wednesday.

Leon P. Eason Jr., 19, of the 100 block of North Fourth Street was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail after arraignment Monday before District Judge Thomas H. Xavios in Reading Central Court.

City police in February obtained an arrest warrant for Eason on charges of attempted murder and related offenses.

On Monday, he turned himself in to the sheriff's office in the courthouse, officials said.

Police gave this account:

On Feb. 10, Patrolman Ronald Miko, 31, was doing a security check at a house near Front and Greenwich streets when he heard loud music coming from a car.

Miko walked to the car and asked Eason, the driver, for identification.

Eason began to drive away, and Miko grabbed the steering wheel. Eason drove west on Greenwich Street as Miko was dragged alongside the car.

Miko let go before he hit parked vehicles. He suffered minor injuries.






So you can try to kill a cop... and get out on $500,000 bail... grow 5 pot plants and get a $1,000,000 bail... so the moral of the story is... don't grow pot in Reading... but feel free to try to kill a cop...

Bush looked in the wrong place they must have the weapons of mass destruction Bush was looking for. 1.5 mil give me a fucking brake.

THIS IS SUCH A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE!!!! Obvioulsly this was for personal use.... Is'nt there people out there who steal, murder, rape and molest children???? I think the Readng Police Dept needs to refocus its attention on actual crimes

THIS IS SUCH A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE!!!! Obvioulsly this was for personal use.... Is'nt there people out there who steal, murder, rape and molest children???? I think the Readng Police Dept needs to refocus its attention on actual crimes

That's the problem... this city is full of gang bangers, rapists, murderers, armed robbers, corner drug dealers, illegal aliens... but they have the cops running scared... there are certain neighborhoods that they plain and simply won't even respond to without four or five cars going with...

hey balloon knot.... you are great with your words and you could crush that town just by creating a blog about it.

there is a guy here just south of tampa in a town called Venice, FL that created a website called www.veniceflorida.com .. basically a blog calling out everything wrong with his town. he even called out the mayor and other top police officers a few times here and there.

this guy basically single handedly got the mayor of this town to resign with his website.

before this mayor resigned, in a press conference, he told this guy that his website was the worst thing that has ever happened to that town.

you should consider creating a blog about your town and it's happenings. and plug it on SFN. you'd get some good traffic!

maybe livin' up here ain't so bad. you get a misdemeanor ticket for under 12 plants and they give you your equipment back.

absolutely fucking ridiculous especially when u consider this!..

Child Raped By As Many As 10 College Athletes, Police Say
Two Arrested, As Many As 10 Suspected

POSTED: 7:04 am EDT July 10, 2006

Email This Story | Print This Story

FRESNO, Calif. -- Police are investigating the rape of an 11-year-old girl that may have involved as many as 10 men in Fresno.

Police have arrested two men and identified eight others as persons of interest. They said most or all are football players at either Fresno City College or Reedley College.

Police said the victim -- a runaway from a group home -- went to an apartment in Fresno Saturday night to visit an acquaintance. While she was there, she was sexually assaulted multiple times by several men, police said.

The child then fled the apartment and sought help from a couple on the street, who called police.


Mackey Davis, 20, and Eddie Scott, 19, are each being held on $100,000 bail and were charged with child molestation with a victim under 14 and oral copulation with a victim under 18.

Police said both were students at Reedley and may have been in the process of transferring to Fresno City. Both were being held Sunday at Fresno County Jail on $100,000 bail.

The rape allegedly took place in housing arranged by the Fresno City College football team.

Officials at both colleges could not be reached for comment.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/9490136/detail.html

Good! Put those drug dealers away!

Good! Put those drug dealers away!

So are Church people exempt. Is it OK to distrubute if you are not selling it? Here's another story. I haven't posted the full story, it's about 3 pages. It didn't mention what the bail is set at.


Pot church takes a hit
S. Arizona couple face prison for what they say is religious use of marijuana
By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.09.2006
PIMA — The Church of Cognizance, which has quietly operated here since 1991, has an unusual tenet — its worshippers deify and use marijuana as part of their faith.
Until federal authorities charged them with possessing 172 pounds of their leafy green sacrament earlier this year, church founders Dan and Mary Quaintance say they smoked, ate or drank marijuana daily as a way of becoming more spiritually enlightened.
But now, with added conspiracy charges, the Quaintances face up to 40 years each in prison in a case they call religious persecution.
Federal prosecutors say religious freedom does not exempt the use of illegal drugs. The Quaintances say it does. They also say a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing a religious group's use of a hallucinogenic tea containing a federally banned substance should nullify the charges against them.
The couple is scheduled to go on trial in Las Cruces, N.M., on July 18, though defense lawyers are asking for a delay.
"They have a bona fide religion and the only marijuana they utilize is for the practice of their religion," said Mary Quaintance's attorney, Mario A. Esparza. "Our Constitution in the United States guarantees that freedom of religion, and the Quaintances are being punished for the very thing the Constitu- tion stands for.

Here's a little more to the story.
A tapestry of Bob Marley smoking a large joint decorates the front hallway, and inside, the couple has a few handmade pipes, some of which have won ribbons in the glazing division of the Graham County Fair. Most of their pipes and other sacramental accessories were seized when authorities searched their home March 3, they say.
The Quaintances do not grow their sacrament but, rather, say they rely on donations of it, which they pick up from church "couriers." That's what they say they were about to do when they were arrested.
They smoke the marijuana or sometimes blend it into a milk-like drink, saying it helps them to become more enlightened and in tune with the universe. Until they were arrested, the Quaintances say they'd smoked or ingested the plant every day of their 33-year marriage, even before they formed their church. Both were marijuana users when they met, and they credit the plant to helping their marriage survive.

A nice looking couple. That's the church in the background.

Here's what Al Walentis the editor for the Reading Eagle had to add...

There are any number of reasons why Wally Scott shouldn't be a district judge, and anyone who's lived in these parts for the last 20 years won't have a difficult time thinking of some. But the thing that should get everyone steamed is his habit of grabbing headlines by acting tough and wasting the court's time when you have to leave Wally world and reality is forced to intervene.

The pot bust involving Steve and Karen Haver is still front-page news today, largely because the couple still are behind bars, unable to post a total of $1.5 million bail set by DJ Wally. By way of comparison, the man accused of raping a 3-year-old at a Berks day-care center last month was jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Scott is quoted in today's story:

"Both of them had passports and the means to leave the country. High bail guarantees their appearance in court."
OK, so those statements are technically true. Equally true is the fact that the Havers are charged with growing only five marijuana plants, a junk case that will certainly net no more than probation if they are convicted or they plead guilty. Steve Haver is a professor at Penn State. Karen is director of the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. You'd have to be a dope to think that "two community members who have been in good standing," to use their attorney's words, would skip bail over five pot plants and high-tail it to, oh, Amsterdam.

Equally true is the certainty that the Havers' attorney, Allan Sadomsky, will petition the county court for a bail reduction and a judge will issue one, but only after wasting an hour or two of the court's time because Wally Scott wanted to make believe he's a tough guy.

This is today's front page story about the "huge" dent the powers that be have put in the local drug trade...


A Reading couple with links to the Sovereign Center and Sovereign Performing Arts Center remained in Berks County Prison on Sunday, a day after police said they found several thousand dollars worth of marijuana and a sophisticated growing operation in their Centre Park home.

Steven J. Haver, 45, and his wife, Karen Lynn Haver, 36, of the 200 block of Douglass Street remained in prison in lieu of $1 million bail and $500,000 bail, respectively. Both are charged with manufacturing and possessing marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

Reading police said they found five marijuana plants with an estimated value of $2,500 in the Haver residence when they went inside to investigate a burglar alarm and window that was ajar Saturday morning.

After discovering the marijuana, police got a search warrant and seized the three-foot tall plants along with chemicals, water pumps, high power lamps and other paraphernalia used to grow the drug, investigators said.

Allan L. Sodomsky, the Havers’ Reading attorney, said he plans to file an emergency bail petition today seeking a reduction in their bail.

“The bail, for two community members who have been in good standing, is absurd,” Sodomsky said Sunday. “There’s certainly no flight risk, and both turned themselves in at the request of law enforcement.”

But Reading District Judge Wally Scott, who set bail at their arraignments Saturday, said high bail was merited.

“Both of them had passports and the means to leave the country,” Scott said. “High bail guarantees their appearance in court.”

Sodomsky said he plans to mount a vigorous defense.

“We’re still a little cloudy on what the allegations are and until the dust settles on the allegations and the investigation there really isn’t much to say,” he said. “They’re adamantly professing their innocence and looking forward to their day in court.”

Reading Mayor Tom McMahon said he does not think the arrests will tarnish the reputation of the civic center or impact its operations.

“It’s unfortunate,” McMahon said. “Karen’s done a good job at the performing arts center. I think this shows that the lure of drugs doesn’t have any socioeconomic boundaries. People of all backgrounds make bad decisions. They will have to suffer the consequences if they are indeed found guilty.”

Robert L. Cavalieri, the general manager of the Sovereign Center, said the arrest of Karen Haver will not affect the operation of the performing arts center.

Cavalieri said Haver is employed by SMG Corp., which manages the centers. Officials from the Philadelphia-based agency could not be reached Sunday.

SMG has a zero-tolerance policy for drug use, Cavalieri said.

Cavalieri, who oversees both centers, said he could not comment on Haver’s future employment but said she has been a good employee.

P. Michael Ehlerman, the chairman of the Berks County Convention Center Authority, which owns both entertainment centers, could not be reached for comment.


http://activedaily.readingeagle.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=UkVHLzIwMDYvMDcvMTAjQXIwMDEwMA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Doesn't surprise me, your country shit the bed when it comes to drug policy and law making. There is a guy in BC named Marc Emery who is currently in extradition hearings because the US government wants him for selling marijuana seeds over the internet. If convicted he could face 15 years in jail. FOR FUCKING SEEDS. Christ almighty.

Doesn't surprise me, your country shit the bed when it comes to drug policy and law making. There is a guy in BC named Marc Emery who is currently in extradition hearings because the US government wants him for selling marijuana seeds over the internet. If convicted he could face 15 years in jail. FOR FUCKING SEEDS. Christ almighty. Marc is a crusader for sure, this could cost him big time. They are going after him for shipping seeds across the US border.

i still think Balloon Knot should start a blog about it and add a signature link to it from here. you'd get some good traffic and definitely stir up some drama for the good!

As for the 11 year old visiting and "acquaintance" at an apartment...I dont know any 11 year olds that have an acquaintance. That seems a little shady. Sadly to say she was probly being pimped out.

The couple in reading seemed to be shafted. The bond seems a little much.

And if you (a police officer) can see the tops of Marijuana plants and can I dentify them as such. And if you have the legal right to be where you are at when you see them. Than you not only have prob. cause, it is in plain view and dont need a warrant if you think the evidence can or will be destroyed befor a warrant is obtained.

or i could be wrong...but probly not

this is complete, total, and 100% bullshit. leave it to stupid fucking pigs to investigate a burglery and end up arresting the home owners for growing personal marijuana for receational use. FUCK the POLICE.

"Taxpayers annually spend between $7.5 billion and $10 billion arresting and prosecuting individuals for marijuana violations. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for marijuana possession only."
"Police arrest more Americans per year on marijuana charges than the total number of arrestees for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. "

www.norml.org

Well violent crimes involve an investigation because violent crimes don't happen in the company of the po-po. Where poss.of mary is always in the company of the po-po. So that could be the reason for more arrests for poss. Not saying it is right, just how it is.

or I could be wrong...but probly not.

they probably would've gotten less bail for killing someone.thay's the f'd-up part about it

Check out what the DEA is trying to do too an owner of a seedbank in Vancouver BC Canada.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4639.html

Judge frees couple in marijuana case
Karen L. and Steven J. Haver, who police say were growing marijuana plants in the basement of their city home, are released on their own recognizance.

By Holly Herman
Reading Eagle

The manager of the Sovereign Performing Arts Center and her husband the former manager of the Sovereign Center were released without bail Monday from Berks County Prison in a marijuana case.
Karen L. Haver, 36, and her husband, Steven J., 45, were freed on their own recognizance by Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher.

District Judge Wally Scott had set bail at $500,000 and $1 million, respectively.

“I'd rather not comment,” Steven Haver said in the clerk of courts office while signing paperwork to be freed after spending two days in the prison.

District Judge Wally Scott had set the original bail amounts Saturday after the couple were charged with manufacturing marijuana in their city home and related offenses.

Their attorney, Allan L. Sodomsky of Reading, argued in a hearing before Sprecher that Scott had set the bail too high.

“These are two prominent people in the community,” Sodomsky said. “They will appear for court, and they are innocent until proven guilty.”

Afterward, Sodomsky said having a hearing was a waste of Sprecher's time because the original bail should not have been set as high as it was.

On Sunday, Scott said the bail amount was merited because the couple have means to leave the country.

Assistant District Attorney Tonya H. Tharp, who argued to maintain the high bail, said the Havers had an elaborate marijuana-growing system in their house in the 200 block of Douglass Street.

Sodomsky said the Havers were vacationing in Scranton when a burglar alarm went off in their residence.

Police said they responded and entered the house through an open window.

Criminal Investigator Jose A. Colon testified that he found growing equipment and five roughly 3-foot-tall marijuana plants in the house.

Sprecher asked Colon if the Havers were growing the marijuana to sell or for personal use.

“Personal use,” Colon said.

Karen Haver, who goes by the name of Karen Lynn Meyers in her position at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, told the judge she receives an annual salary of $48,000. She has held that job for five years.

Robert L. Cavalieri, general manager of the Sovereign Center, declined to comment on Haver's employment status.

Steven Haver was general manager of the Sovereign Center from September 2001 until February 2003.

Sodomsky told the judge that Steven Haver works as director of the performing arts center at the York campus of Penn State University.

Tysen Kendig, assistant director of public information for the university, said administrators are aware Steven Haver was arrested but that it is too soon to say if any action would be taken against him.

Steven Haver is a member of the board of directors of the Centre Park Historic District, and the couple's home was featured on the 2005 Christmas house tour.

Steven Haver also volunteers at Opportunity House, a city shelter.

The couple are active in the Reading Volunteer Crime Watch Inc., which patrols neighborhoods and assists police.


http://www.readingeagle.com/re/news/1540142.asp

Here's a guy that got $100,000 bail for raping a child... repeatedly...


Man, 30, sexually assaulted two teenage girls, police say


By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle

A city man was arrested Monday on charges he raped a 14-year-old girl he met at a city playground and had a long-term sexual relationship with another girl, police said.
Jose H. Colon, 30, of the 400 block of North 12th Street was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail after arraignment before District Judge Nicholas M. Bentz Jr. in Reading Central Court.

Colon, who is on state parole for a heroin conviction, was charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, statutory sexual assault, corrupting minors and related offenses.

Reading police gave this account:

Colon met the 14-year-old girl at the 11th and Pike Playground June 17 about 6 p.m. The girl said she was acquainted with Colon and left in his car.

He drove her to an apartment in the 800 block of North 11th Street, forced her inside and raped her. Colon then threw the girl's clothes at her and told her to leave.

She was treated in Reading Hospital.

In an earlier case, Colon sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl on numerous occasions from June through October 2003 at several city apartments.

Police said the girl told them she became pregnant when she was 16 after having sex with Colon for several months. She later gave birth to a boy.

Colon told Bentz he is married, has four children and works at a garage in the city.

Colon's parole officer filed paperwork in county court to detain Colon for violating his parole in the drug case. Details of that case were unavailable.

I got a funny story, My wife was given a plant from her friends mom that passed away recently from cancer. It was a hanging basket or something, well she was a pot user, especially towards the end of her illness. Well the plant has been hangin out front of our house for the past 3 months and my mom had pointed out the other day that there was a plant growing out of the other plant, well now i have a 1 and a half foot pot plant, growing in the front of my house outside and i refuse to take it down. I havent taken care of any other plant lke i have taken care of this one for the past 3 weeks.

So I suppose innocent until proven guilty has gone right out the window in this country as well... it's good to see all you have to do anymore is be accused of a crime to lose your job...

Theater director in ‘pot' case is fired
Karen L. Haver loses her job running the Sovereign Performing Arts Center after police say they found marijuana plants growing in her basement.
By Don Spatz
Reading Eagle

Karen L. Haver was fired Tuesday as director of the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, three days after she and her husband were charged with growing marijuana in the basement of their Douglass Street home.

“We're in a very, very public business. The corporate attitude is to be clean as a whistle at all times,” said Robert Cavalieri, general manager of Reading's downtown civic center, which includes the theater on North Sixth Street and the Sovereign Center arena on Penn Street.

Cavalieri is a vice president of SMG Management, which was hired by the Berks County Convention Center Authority to run the operation.

He has said that SMG has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs.

P. Michael Ehlerman, authority chairman, said earlier Tuesday that he would support SMG in whatever decision it made.

Haver, 36, who also is known as Karen Lynn Meyers, declined to comment on the firing. Her salary was $48,000.

Cavalieri said he did not know when a replacement will be named.

Haver had been theater director since 2001, when she worked with construction crews on a tight schedule for a $10 million, four-month renovation of what had been the Rajah Theater.

During her tenure, the center had brought in hundreds of shows, including the popular “Broadway on Sixth Street” series.

Her husband, Steven J. Haver, 45, had been the civic center's general manager, helping get the arena built and opened in 2001.

He went to Florida in 2003 to open another SMG facility, but left that position after several months.

He returned to Reading to marry Karen, become a professor at Penn State's York campus and help open the 1,000-seat Pullo Family Performing Arts Center there, where he now is the theater director.

The couple was away early Saturday when a burglar alarm sounded at their home in the 200 block of Douglass Street, police said.

Police said they responded and found an open window, so they searched the home in case a burglar was inside. Instead, police said, they found an elaborate marijuana-growing operation in the basement, including five plants worth a total of about $2,500.

The Havers were charged with manufacturing marijuana and related offenses and jailed in lieu of bail $1 million for Steven Haver and $500,000 for his wife set by District Judge Wally Scott.

On Monday, Berks County Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher ordered them released without bail.

Penn State York officials could not be reached Tuesday for comment on Steven Haver's job status.

Officials said Monday that they were aware of the arrest but that it was too soon to tell if any action might be taken.

Another pedophile with ridiculously low bail...


http://www.readingeagle.com/re/news/News0002.jpg


Man faces additional charges in sex cases


By Mike Trask
Reading Eagle

More charges were filed Wednesday against a Douglass Township man already accused of exchanging sexually explicit e-mail with two girls, ages 12 and 13, and kissing and fondling the older girl.
Michael R. Dibble, 24, of the 1100 block of Reading Avenue was charged with criminal solicitation to rape a child and related offenses.

The charges stem from two kissing-and-fondling episodes, officials said.

They were added by Berks County Detective W. Douglas Weaver, who arrested Dibble last week.

District Judge Michael G. Hartman of Boyertown raised Dibble's bail from $50,000 to $200,000.

Dibble remained in Berks County Prison on all the charges, which include luring a child into a motor vehicle, indecent assault, unlawful conduct with a minor and corrupting minors.

“A guy like this I call an opportunist,” Weaver said. “He's a predator.”

He gave this account:

Dibble met the 12-year-old in February through a mutual friend and promised in e-mail to teach her about sex.

He then met the 13-year-old, who was a friend of the other girl. He later exchanged explicit e-mail with her and kissed and fondled her twice.

Dibble, who had been a member of the Amity Township Fire Company, told the 12-year-old he would pretend to visit her mother, but visit the girl instead.

In March, Dibble twice met the 13-year-old in a parking lot in Colebrookdale Township.

He tried to lure the girl into his car each time, but she did not go along because she was afraid.

Each time, he got out of the car and kissed and fondled her.

The 12-year-old and her mother contacted Boyertown police, who referred the case to district attorney's office detectives.

A three-month investigation concluded with Dibble's arrest last week.

DA asks to seize house in pot case
The lawyer representing a city couple charged with growing marijuana says the district attorney's tough-on-crime policy is out of control.
By Holly Herman
Reading Eagle

Berks County District Attorney Mark C. Baldwin filed a request in county court Wednesday to seize the property of a Reading couple accused of growing five marijuana plants in their home.

Baldwin said the petition to seize the home of Karen L. Haver, 36, and Steven J. Haver, 45, in the 200 block of Douglass Street is a routine procedure.

“When we have a home that is used to facilitate or manufacture drugs, we routinely file petitions to seize the property,” Baldwin said.

The Havers are charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.

Police said they confiscated five 3-foot-tall plants and growing equipment from the couple's home after responding to a burglar alarm July 8 while the couple was in Scranton.

Baldwin said he filed the petition to prevent the couple from selling the property.

The Havers home is assessed at $63,800, according to records. The county last conducted a reassessment in 1994.

Records show Karen Haver obtained a $91,000 mortgage on Dec. 15 to buy the home.

The Havers' attorney, Allan L. Sodomsky of Reading, said Baldwin's tough-on-crime policy is out of control.

“The district attorney is grandstanding,” Sodomsky said. “The attempt to take the Havers' home is ridiculous. They happen to be a well-known couple who makes the front page. This is another opportunity for political gain.”

Baldwin declined to respond to Sodomsky's comments.

Sodomsky has 30 days to file a response to Baldwin's request.

Officials said a final decision on the seizure would occur after the criminal case is settled.

The last time a Berks home was seized was on Sept. 5, when Baldwin's office received court approval to take the property of George Broadfoot III, 36, in the 4400 block of Mays Avenue, Exeter Township.

Broadfoot was sentenced to three to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to selling cocaine.

Following her arrest, Karen Haver, who also is known as Karen Lynn Meyers, was fired as Sovereign Performing Arts Center manager.

Steven Haver is the director of the performing arts center at the York campus of Penn State University. Penn State officials declined to comment on his employment status.

Steven Haver was general manager of the Sovereign Center from September 2001 until February 2003.

The Havers spent time in Berks County Jail after District Judge Wally Scott set bail at $1 million for Steven Haver and $500,000 for Karen Haver.

On July 10, Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher granted Sodomsky's request to release the Havers without bail.

^^^^^That's Pennsyltucky for ya^^^^^

I wouldn't doubt that the investigation of a burglar alarm was a bit of bullshit too. With the high bail and questionable means of inspecting the domicile, sounds like someone has it out for them and put them on the railroad tracks.

I wouldn't doubt that the investigation of a burglar alarm was a bit of bullshit too. With the high bail and questionable means of inspecting the domicile, sounds like someone has it out for them and put them on the railroad tracks.

At this point I don't know what to think... all I know is the cops won't arrest people with plants on their roof, or in their yards... so what ever you do... don't keep them inside... :D

^^^^^That's Pennsyltucky for ya^^^^^

Uppity upstate state New Yawk bastard... :hw:

What a complete bunch of bullshit. How can they justify that type of bail when killers get next to nothing?

It's like a dream, it can't be real. A working family gets arrested for five pot plants, fired, their lives permanently altered. The majority of the populaiton has tried pot, this arrest won't stop a fucking thing except waste taxpayor money and destroy two peoples lives forever, unfucking believable. Meanwhile U.S. soldiers die in Iraq and Bush vetoes the stem cell bill which both houses passed and the research helps find a cure for Alzheimers. It is surreal, it's like it can't be happening. This is where you pray they get a good laywer who gets them off on a technicality.

This country is fucked..........

More news from Pennsyltucky...

A second lawsuit has been filed against the Bethlehem school district saying the school board election system discriminates against Latinos.



"If over 50 percent of the public school students are latinos not having someone representing their needs is unacceptable" It's the motivation for a lawsuit filed today by the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition.
The organization says the at-large election system by which members are elected to the Bethlehem School District's school board violates the voting rights act by diminishing the voting strength of the district's Latino voters.
"We have about 25-30 percent of the Latino population in Bethlehem versus 75 percent of the rest obviously it would be harder for that minority group to get someone elected."
To support the argument, PSLC points to the most recent election, when two Latinos ran for the board, but were beat out by board member William Heske.
The situation prompted Bethlehem's Latino residents to protest, two of them filing a lawsuit back in February.
Jose Molina who chairs the PSLC says the district hasn't responded. Now with this second suit, he hopes that officials will see they are serious and want to talk particularly about exchanging the at-large system for one that divides the district into single-member regions including one where Latinos constitute the majority of eligible voters.
Molina says the system is already working in cities like Philadelphia, and will benefit not only Latinos, but the district as a whole.

So I suppose if you can't get your ass out to vote you can always sue to change the rules... God Bless America... you can still say that right... :dontknow:

This story is infuriating.

How much punishment is this couple going to receive???

- Two days in jail.

- Names and pictures all over the local media.

- Fired from their jobs.

- Expensive attorney fees.

- Have to fight to keep their house.

- More potential jail time in the future.

It makes me ashamed to be an American.

Frim MSNBC.com... not bad... $10,000 bail for a growing operation with 5 pounds of weed...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14155586/

HIGHLAND MILLS, N.Y. - Robert Ferranti probably has more than the usual regrets of someone found rolling around naked on a neighborhood street, babbling, immune to pepper spray and accused of punching a police officer.

Investigators following up on the Monday fracas said they discovered a well-equipped marijuana growing operation in the house Ferranti rented with another man in a normally quiet community in southern Orange County.

"They were growing so much and storing so much, the odor was overwhelming," Woodbury Police Sgt. Clifford Weeks said. "For this town, it was a good-sized operation."

In addition to public lewdness, resisting arrest and assault charges, the 35-year-old Ferranti faces a felony count of second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. The other residents of the house — Michael P. Cody, and Cody's children Deirdre, 26, and Michael, 25 — were each hit with the same felony drug possession charge, police said.

A 911 call about Ferranti's antics touched off the events that led police to the house, which was set up to grow, dry and package marijuana, police said. Five pounds of the weed packaged for sale, $10,000 in cash, a 3-foot-tall hookah and a cache of martial arts weapons were found at the house, Weeks said.

After treatment for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation, Ferranti was ordered held on $10,000 bail at the Orange County Jail. The Codys were released from jail on $5,000 bail each.

Why haven't they seized their house and thrown these two in jail yet? Fucking bunch of dope dealers.

I dont know if youre being sarcastic or not, but I can think of all kinds of other things the law could be worrying about besides some harmless pot growers.

Rolling around on the street naked in front of your house? Im guessing microdots or too much paper.

Well the bust has been made. It's done, they are guilty. Take their shit and throw them in jail. Thats all there is left to do.

Well the bust has been made. It's done, they are guilty. Take their shit and throw them in jail. Thats all there is left to do.
You're right, let's not let Due Process and innocent until proven guilty get in the way of superior policy, like this.

Hearing on drug charges waived
The Sovereign Performing Arts Center's ex-manager and her husband are accused of growing marijuana. Their lawyer reportedly wants to discuss a probation program.

By Dan Kelly

Reading Eagle


A Reading couple charged with growing marijuana in their basement waived a preliminary hearing Friday before District Judge Wally Scott.

Steven J. Haver, 45, and Karen L. Haver, 36, also known as Karen Lynn Meyers, were released without bail to await further court action on drug-dealing, marijuana manufacturing and conspiracy charges.

Police said they confiscated five 3-foot-tall plants and growing equipment from the couple's home after responding to a burglar alarm on July 8 while the couple was in Scranton.

The couple's lawyer, Allan L. Sodomsky of Reading, said the pair are weighing their legal options.

Assistant District Attorney David R. Golberg said Sodomsky has asked if the couple would be eligible for the Intermediate Punishment Program, a special probation program.

The program would allow the Havers to avoid further prison time by serving terms of house arrest and probation, community service and drug treatment. Details of the program are set by a judge.

“He (Sodomsky) has indicated that may be the way to go,” Golberg said.

The couple spent two days in Berks County Prison the weekend that police said they discovered marijuana growing in their basement.

District Judge Scott set bail at $1 million for Steven Haver and $500,000 for his wife at their arraignments.

They were released two days later after Sodomsky appealed the bail, and Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher freed them on their own recognizance.

A petition to seize the Havers' house is pending in civil court.

District Attorney Mark C. Baldwin said his office routinely files forfeiture petitions to prevent defendants from liquidating assets while drug-trafficking cases are pending. He declined further comment.

Based on prior cases, it is unlikely Baldwin would try to seize the Havers' home. According to court records, the couple owes $91,000 on the $83,000 property.

After her arrest, Karen Haver was fired as the Sovereign Performing Arts Center manager.

Steven Haver is the director of the performing arts center at the York campus of Penn State University. Penn State officials declined to comment on his employment status.

http://www.readingeagle.com/re/news/1584446.asp

The way it looks, it is the discression of the officer to make the call if the stash is personal or for distribution. This is just a plot to black ball someone. Must be more to the story or a setup.

That is some bull shit