McClatchy Washington Bureau

Print This Article

Merced County prevailed Monday in a lawsuit launched after the area's most vocal medical marijuana advocate was handcuffed and jailed, but not charged with any crime.

A federal judge in Fresno dismissed Grant Wilson's lawsuit that alleged false arrest by officers, a search-and-seizure civil rights violation and that he was held in jail longer than necessary.

The judge further ruled that Wilson couldn't file the case again.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill ruled that Wilson named the county as a defendant too late. The arrest happened in 2005. The county wasn't added to the lawsuit until December 2008.

"We are certainly pleased that the statute of limitations was upheld," head county attorney James Fincher said.

Read the complete story at mercedsunstar