By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

CASSOPOLIS – Just days after Niles-area resident and medical marijuana card holder Sylvester Vanderbutts was found guilty on four counts of marijuana-related charges, another Cass County man appeared in court in a similar situation.

Kevin Nelson, 35, of Cassopolis, was sentenced to a one-year probation term Friday at Cass County Circuit Court.

Nelson, a medical marijuana card holder, was involved in a domestic disturbance at his home with his brother-in-law in August 2009 that resulted in his brother-in-law calling the police.

When officers arrived, they discovered 14 marijuana plants growing in the home. Nelson showed them his medical marijuana card, but he possessed two over the legal limit of 12 plants.

Nelson’s attorney John Conroy said his client was cooperative with police. Conroy also pointed to a letter from Nelson’s wife, revealing how hard Nelson works to provide for his family.
“This is not like the 47-plant case,” Conroy said, referencing the Vanderbutts case. “It’s just 14, and that’s because two others were dying. There was no victim here.”

Judge Michael Dodge said Nelson’s cooperation with police and the fact he didn’t have a marijuana-related conviction since the 1990s helped his case.