PEORIA, Ariz. – A Peoria man is facing deportation for growing five extra marijuana plants than what is legally allowed to help with his chronic shoulder pain.
“Never thought I would do anything that was bad enough to get me deported,” said 53-year-old Dennis Mejic. “I was, like, a plant can get you deported? But apparently it can.”
If Mejic had 12 plants on Oct. 10, 2012, he would not be facing any legal repercussions. At the time, Mejic says he had a medical marijuana card for pain sustained after years of construction work.
However, Mejic was growing 17 plants at the time. According to paperwork we obtained, Peoria Police initiated a search warrant on his home, after Mejic says a neighbor complained about the smell. The exact reason is unclear in the report. Police found the plants growing in two rooms. Many were small and not yet flowering.
Mejic was taken to court, and negotiated a deal to plead guilty to one count of ‘Attempt to Commit Production of Marijuana,’ which is a Class 6 felony. After a year of probation, the charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor.
Mejic thought the nightmare was over, until ICE officials showed up at his front door in 2013.
“So in the end, that criminal case kind of ended with probation – Don’t do that again – but nothing with regard to deportation until ICE got involved, and they charged him immediately with an aggravated felony, which is basically automatic detention and automatic deportation,” said Mejic’s attorney, David…
