East Coast Skates owner, James Mussleman, was arrested on April 26 for possession of two shotguns and a .22 rifle, which he is not allowed to own due to a prior felony conviction for robbery, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office
Mussleman, 36, was released from the Kent County Detention Center on $10,000 secured bond.
The arrest came six days after Mussleman’s skate shop in the 300 block of North High Street in Chestertown, and his home in Worton, were raided based on tips and other information given to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office over approximately two years.
Mussleman was given an eviction notice within several days of his first arrest and claims he will relocate his shop, which has become a popular hangout for skateboard enthusiasts, mostly teenagers.
“Our shop is not closing by any means,” Mussleman said in a comment to the Spy. “We love our shop, we love all the kids that come to our store, old and young, and we refuse to be bullied by local haters.”
Shortly after Mussleman’s first arrest for marijuana charges, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office was criticized for wasting manpower resources on a two-year investigation that yielded just a few grams of marijuana.
But Cpl. Nathan Blazejack of the Kent Sheriff’s Office said there was no ongoing investigation where extensive manpower was strictly dedicated to Mussleman. He said the arrest was a result of tips and information provided to the Sheriff’s narcotics team over approximately two years.
Blazejack and his partner, DFC Brandon Davis, said they had no interest in arresting drug users–and focus their investigations on illegal distribution of narcotics.
joe diamond says
Hmmmmmmm?
“Tips and information. . .provided…” That is not exactly the same as confronting your accusers in a court where testimony is given and witness can be examined.
So on the basis of the “tips and information” the store, his car and house were raided. Kids were cuffed, intimidated and searched.
The three bags of pot produced an arrest.
On the basis of the “tips and information” the search for drugs………produced long guns….sitting in the home…….not robbing anyone.
This produced a second arrest….another bailment……….a second trial?
A felony conviction, without other felony convictions,………..while a serious thing, becomes less and less a threat with time ( I think). Now, on the basis of the “tips and information” the felony conviction has become public knowledge in an embarrassing way. An the store has been evicted…or was that his house?
I gotta think………….
Good one for the cops……….if there was just some way to separate pot from narcotics. They really are different things.
Anyone?
Joe
Keith Thompson says
Joe…I agree with you that, as public policy, separating pot from narcotics is a good idea. I think the problem here isn’t with the police because they are simply doing their job which is upholding the laws that are passed by the legislators who were elected by the voters. If police officers and investigators are not acting upon tips and information provided to them pertaining to alleged lawbreakers, they are guilty of dereliction of duty. I know quite a few police officers or retired police officers who support the idea of decriminalizing marijuana, but they also realize that they have a job to do and their job is to enforce laws and not to make them.
joe diamond says
Keith,
I do see what you see on this issue. I think I would add that I am looking at extremes in each direction.
There are truly evil people involved in the growth and distribution of pot. They enslave growers and spend humans like pack animals to import the stuff. They will kill to sell their product.
The other extreme is the municipal position that there is money in pot convictions. Property and cash can be confiscated for use by the entity that seizes it. There is federal money for toys to find and prosecute pot busts. Politicians like to advance their careers by being tough on drugs, including pot. Other criminal laws are not so well endowed and many go unenforced.
At the center is this relatively harmless luxury item. It became illegal as part of a political movement to surpress minorities who were known to use it. Clearly incorrect and exaggerated reasons for the pot laws have been advanced. Many nonviolent offenders sit in jails because of these laws.
You are correct that the cops are not the folks to change these laws. As long as criminals litter public grounds and bike riders flaunt helmet laws the cops have more important things to keep them busy, in my opinion.
Joe
Ronald Moore says
Does anyone else see the issue with having a Tobacco/Head shop in the same place that claims to kid friendly? Did they start putting porn and cigars in happy meals? I’m not one to tell private enterprise how to do things, however it makes no business sense to taint something kid oriented with an adult product. It also creates the opportunity for someone to misconstrue what you’re doing. Also, selling synthetic marijuana (be real here, we all know what it’s not incense) at a place that caters to kids sin’t too smart either. I think everyone here was in high school at some point, and I’m also fairly sure most of us went through college. I remember what being a teenager was like, and I’m sure most of you do too. Muss, split your businesses, it’s the smart thing to do. If for no other reason than personal liability.
That being said, this is the wrong place to have a head shop. You’re detracting from the kids you claim to love so much.
Keith Thompson says
Point well taken.
Jack Dorsey says
Being fairly sure that most of “us” went through college is quite an over-statement. You may want to check some numbers on that. Also teens these days are worlds apart from the teens os even 10 or 15 years ago, not many of us had cell phones, Ipods, or even internet. Instant gratification is one thing they learn early on. It is a different place for the youth of today. Most businesses today are not concerned with how old their customers just how fast they can spend their cash. All that being said, common sense should dictate to anyone that skirting the law in an obvious manner will put you on the someone’s radar, and the police don’t USUALLY get to chose which laws to enforce.
Whatever IS in a happy meal is a whole different subject.
joe diamond says
There are quire a few issues here. Mr Mussleman is not he biggest one.
Kids need place to hang out. That is not the same as congregating at a place of business.
Cops do not set public policy. They rightly follow the orders of elected officials. Cops cannot have legal opinions but are expected to show good judgment.
Adults who have unrelated minors hanging out in their homes are just asking for it.
Cops do need “tips in information” to enforce the laws. What they choose to do with them…and are compelled to do with them is another issue.
I went beyond these and looked at how convicted felons rights are altered. Even the supreme court is not clear on this area.
IF a convicted felon cannot possess a gun…has he not been punished enough…what other punishments are appropriate? What is a gun? Is a long gun the same as a pistol? How about a cross bow or a muzzle loader? IF a convicted felon cannot possess a weapon…how should that control the rights of a non felon who lives in the same residence and legally posses many weapons? Is it the intent of the law to ban convicted felons from hunting? IF the right to bear arms is for the purpose of resisting the unlawful acts of the government are convicted felons intended to be vulnerable in ways non law breakers have protection or resources?
And one of the unmentioned issues here is…….has Mr. Mussleman’s right to vote been restored? If so the federal statute appears to say he is allowed to have the guns anyway. State law is equally murky…has he asked for his previous conviction to be expunged? Regardless of these considerations……is Mr. Mussleman a vendor selling wares or is he operating a teen clubhouse. Would he be the person selected to do this? Could he be certified as a teacher or a member of the police with his entire background examined?
Much more here than three portions of pot!
Joe
rachel goss says
selling pot and illegally owning a gun = breaking the law.
i am not so sure what the problem is here.
no stereotyping…no speculation…no profiling.
break the law, get caught, pay the price.
joe diamond says
Rachel,
This is the big people table. We are allowed to ask why things are as they are without being sent to our rooms.
Foe example……………Hide Jews in your basement….get caught…….be shot right then and there.
Catch escaped slave and not return him to his master….pay a fine.
Drink or possess alcohol………..break law……………pay the price.
Breaking the law!
‘Cause why?
Joe
rachel goss says
hit Enter too quickly.
it is not that i don’t find musselman to be a nice guy…he made the skating environment on sunday for the younger kids a fun time. but just because someone is nice, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t face the consequences.
joe diamond says
How about this way?
If all agree there should be consequences for actions……………are the current laws producing the effects we want?
Do current pot laws protect anybody or is the consequence of violating those laws worse for society than if there were no law or a different law?
Is a store that markets to minors serving their best interests?
What about guns? There are many points of view on who can have them and how they can be used. Ban guns. Allow all to carry sidearms. What?
Once a person has violated a current law….what should a consequence be? When will the consequence stop? Can people change? How many do-overs
is enough? Than what?
Get caught, pay the price just seems a bit thin.
Joe
rachel goss says
My father was a Judge – I believe in our system.
Tips and Information – all for it…
I do not think that marijuana should be legal — simply my opinion.
Guns – right to bear arms – loss of that right as a result of a felony conviction seems reasonable to me.
joe diamond says
OK…but just one before bedtime,
The right to bear arms has been preserved as a means for citizens to repel the actions of the central government. Ask an NRA member.
So this final protection against unreasonable government action………..like kicking in your door and taking your college age child because he has not reported for military duty……………you would open fire.
The man across the street sold pot to an undercover agent while he was in college. He is a felon and has no gun.
So when they come for his son..the son gets no protection because his father cannot have a gun?
And no!…serving in a well regulated militia is not the answer. If the government does something outside constitutional powers granted to that government…citizens have a right to retain and bear arms against that government………..not convicted felons?
Next time we hear why marijuana was made illegal and why it should stay that way.
My father was a WWII vet and U.S. Senate employee….he distrusted some judges.
Just sayin’,
Joe
rachel goss says
I got ya…maybe we should continue this over a cup of coffee…
I will end with these thoughts:
My dad was above board in all aspects of his life…so while there are bad apples, he wasn’t even close. He just died at age 92..maybe their paths crossed during the war…or in the political realm…a Maryland native.
My husband is a career hunting guide and my children have been hunting since age 8…our right to own/respect guns is very important.
I am in recovery…some folks can smoke dope/drink responsibly…but I have too much knowledge of the negative effects of drugs to see a reason for it to be legal…simply my experiance…
Too hard to paint anything with a wide brush…
See at Evergrain sometime?
rachel goss says
ps…please excuse my spelling…tiny keyboard…
joe diamond says
Rachel,
No problem……this site would be easier to use if posts could be edited……maybe cancel and start over is just as good.
Anyhow…remembering that all this got started because Mr. Mussleman has been screwed in numerous ways before being convicted of anything. Even if he goes to court and is exonerated you cannot unring the bell.
A point I would add to this conversation comes from a sincere sounding mad who called into a radio talk show with Dan Roderick recently. I had never considered this, but he saw it clearly. He pointed out that after being convicted of a few felonies his PO (probation officer) reminded him he could not have any guns. He viewed this as a racist law because poor people commit crimes. After being convicted they tend to get out of jail and are forced to live in poor (cheap housing) neighborhoods. So his question was …”where does the man get off barring felons from “filling their hand” when they are forced to live where criminals (poor people)……and often minorities live?
This is a complex topic and I enjoyed the exchange. I meant no disrespect for your father but as you correctly pointed out…there are judges and then there are “judges!” Another topic for another time.
Joe