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79 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, June 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 17, 2004 Judge busted for buying pot By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Gold Hill’s longtime justice of the peace will appear in Jackson County Circuit Court on marijuana possession charges, after police orchestrated a meeting in which he allegedly bought the drug. Robert H. "Bob" King of the 400 block of Sixth Avenue in Gold Hill, faces one count of misdemeanor marijuana possession. Jackson County sheriff’s deputies cited and released King last Friday night, after a traffic stop revealed he was in possession of one-eighth ounce of marijuana, Sheriff Mike Winters said. King was unavailable for comment Wednesday. A woman who answered the telephone at his home, which is also the number for Justice Court, said King was "on vacation." Winters said an investigation was launched when a drug informant told Jackson County Narcotics Enforcement Team agents about previous drug sales made to King. On Friday, the informant wore a body wire — an electronic recording device — during a meeting with King where the judge allegedly purchased marijuana, Winters said. Advertisement Police allowed King to leave the home before pulling over his vehicle a short time later. Winters said deputies confronted King about the drugs, at which point he "relinquished" the marijuana. Winters said his department’s use of the body wire was necessary to prove King was involved in drugs on a misdemeanor level. "This is a judge we’re dealing with," Winters said. "We do use a lot of body wire, and felt it was necessary (because King is) a public official." King has worked the past 26 years as Gold Hill’s elected justice of the peace. In 2002, he easily won a fifth six-year term on the bench. The judgeship is a county position. Dave Kanner, Jackson County’s deputy administrator, said there is "no administrative way" to remove King from office because of criminal allegations. "He’s elected, so there’s not a whole heck of a lot we can do," Kanner said. King also serves as the appointed municipal court judge for the city of Butte Falls. Mayor Steve Harvey said Wednesday that city officials were unaware of the citation, but that they would discuss the matter and see if any city policy addresses the situation. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times