Tag Archives: deputy-avila

A California deputy has admitted using a doctor's recommendation and stolen identity from a legal medical marijuana patient in order to buy pot in a drug sting. Deputy Steve Avila of the Calaveras County Sheriff's Department said during questioning that he had used the patient's recommendation, with a falsified birthdate, to persuade a dispensary owner to sell marijuana to an officer. Avila claimed he obtained the medical marijuana recommendation “from an investigation we conducted,” but also claimed he “did not recall” which officer obtained it, or how it was obtained. Jay Smith of K Care Collective, the dispensary owner who was tricked into selling marijuana to an officer, said Calaveras County is waging a war against medical marijuana, and is doing so using unethical means, reports Dana M. Nichols of the San Joaquin County Record. Robert Shaffer, the medical marijuana patient whose identity was stolen, tells the same story. According to Shaffer, Deputy Avila violated his privacy by using his identity and documents in the sting operation. Smith, Shaffer and several medical marijuana patients and providers pleaded for help this week from the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. “I also fear my identity is being used in another of Avila's illegal ruses,” Shaffer told the supervisors. “It just smacks of entrapment and sleaziness to me,” said Dr. Philip A. Denney, who issued Shaffer's medical marijuana recommendation. Denney said his office got a call from dispensary operator Smith, and that his staff confirmed that Shaffer had a valid medical marijuana recommendation, not knowing that Deputy Avila had stolen Shaffer's identity. “I think the cops have better things to do,” Dr. Denney said. “It was completely deceptive, because they never did talk to me. They did not have Mr. Shaffer's authorization for any of this.” At Smith's preliminary hearing May 10, Deputy Avila admitted that he had used Shaffer's recommendation. Shaffer was arrested last November on felony marijuana transportation and sales charges. Investigators said they found Shaffer through a Craigslist ad for medical marijuana. (more @ link) added by: Omnomynous