Man draws 90 days in jail after cannabis conflagration

Jimmie Lee Baker has a bad hip, a big yard that needs maintenance and a garden that needs care.

If he goes to jail, Baker told a Coeur d’Alene judge Monday, his property in Post Falls is in trouble.

“It’ll go to shambles,” Baker, 63, told Judge Scott Wayman in First District Court.

His hip was the reason he smoked cannabis, and the reason he fears going to jail, said Baker, who was arrested in November and charged with drug trafficking after Post Falls police found more than 10 pounds of pot in his house and garage.

“I use marijuana to lessen the pain,” Baker said Monday.

“It’s still illegal,” Wayman reminded him.

“I know, your honor, I know,” Baker said.

The trafficking charge was reduced to possession of more than two ounces of marijuana. Wayman sentenced Baker, who has no criminal record, to three months in jail with work release as part of a four-year suspended sentence.

Police and fire crews responded to Baker’s residence at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 after witnesses reported a fire at the home on the 600 block of Mullan Avenue in Post Falls. The fire was out when crews responded, but the alarms were still sounding.

When firefighters arrived, they said Baker’s girlfriend met them at the door carrying a large water bong. They noticed cannabis in the house along with paraphernalia including a glass bong made from an Aunt Jemima syrup container.

Baker told police he and his girlfriend were trying to extract THC from the cannabis to make wax, a potent form of cannabinoid concentrate.

Baker told police that the couple was trying to refine the cannabis when the living room rug caught fire. He said that despite a possible financial gain — concentrates start at as little as $10 a gram at legal Washington dispensaries — the couple had no intention of selling the potent product.

“We’re not … selling it or anything,” Baker told police, according to a report. “We smoke the **it ourselves. I know it’s wrong in Idaho.”

Baker said he was given the “schwag” — the street term for low-quality cannabis — from relatives who live in Oregon, where state law allows cannabis to be purchased for adult use.

Police didn’t immediately arrest Baker. Officers obtained a search warrant, seized the containers of pot and paraphernalia, and summoned Baker into court. He did not have to spend time in jail until Monday.

Wayman ordered Baker to show up at 8 p.m. at the Kootenai County jail.

“Have yourself a good supper first,” the judge said.

In addition to the 90 days behind bars, Wayman ordered Baker to pay almost $6,000 in fines, court fees and restitution. He also ordered Baker to complete 100 hours of community service.