Retired school teacher arrested for trafficking 58 pounds of marijuana
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael A. Campbell, 70, of Yakima, on Thursday after a KCSO K9 named Pogo and his handler Deputy Nelson reportedly found 58 pounds of marijuana, cash, methamphetamine, and a firearm in Campbell’s vehicle that was traveling on Interstate 90. (Photo courtesy of KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)
COEUR d’ALENE — A retired school teacher who authorities say drove from Yakima, Wash. east across North Idaho with a dog, 58 pounds of marijuana, a small quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun, is in the Kootenai County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Michael A. Campbell, 70, told the court Friday at his first appearance on drug trafficking charges that he was effectively blind, that deputies had taken his money, cell phone, his companion pet and his glasses, leaving him virtually helpless.
“I’m basically incommunicado,” he told First District Magistrate Anna Eckhart at his afternoon hearing.
He failed to apply for the services of a public defender, Campbell said, because without his glasses he could not use the jail kiosk, and he could not make a phone call because he stored relatives and friends’ telephone numbers in his phone without committing them to memory.
Campbell was arrested before noon Thursday on Interstate 90 near Rose Lake for a traffic infraction, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
He told deputies he was a retired school teacher heading to Chicago. When a sheriff’s office K9 alerted on Campbell’s vehicle, according to deputies, a search turned up a large quantity of marijuana stuffed into clear, 25-gallon plastic sacks in the economy car’s trunk.
Deputies also seized $1,400 cash, three grams of meth and a loaded pistol.
Trafficking more than 25 pounds of pot carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years in Idaho, and no more than 15 years, and a maximum fine of $50,000.
Campbell was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum seven-year sentence. He also faces a misdemeanor paraphernalia charge.
Prosecutors said that he had previous marijuana charges - including growing marijuana - and a firearms charge in either California or Florida that were dismissed. He had no previous convictions.
Campbell told Eckhart he operates a farm in Yakima, where he has lived for 28 years. If he doesn’t post bond, his next hearing will be set within 14 days in Magistrate Court.
Campbell told the court he was concerned about his pet.
“I have a companion dog,” he said. “I have no idea what’s going to happen to her.”