BURLINGTON – The owners of the Ridin’ High skate shop in Burlington have reached plea deals over federal marijuana offenses, which are far less severe than what they were originally indicted on last summer.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan said when the indictment was returned that the business located on the corner of Battery and Pearl streets was a place where “open and notorious” trafficking of marijuana was taken place.
Both John Van Hazinga, also known as Big John, and Samatha Steady faced multiple counts of marijuana distributing, manufacturing and possession with intent to distribute.
The two appeared separately in back-to-back hearings Monday in federal court in Burlington, where they formally entered plea deals with prosecutors.
Van Hazinga pleaded guilty to one felony count of distributing marijuana, with nine other felony charges against him set to be dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Steady pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of marijuana possession. Five felony charges against her will be dismissed as part of her plea deal with prosecutors.
Van Hazinga faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in June. Steady faces up to a year in prison at her sentencing hearing scheduled for the same month.
Judge Christina Reiss ordered federal probation officials to conduct a pre-sentence investigation in both cases to look at Van Hazinga’s and Steady’s participation in the offenses as well as other factors, such as their criminal backgrounds.
Reiss will consider federal sentencing guidelines in deciding the actual sentences for both. In Hazinga’s case, his plea agreement stated that for purposes of sentencing his offense involved between 5 kilograms and 10 kilograms of marijuana.
Both Hazinga and Steady, as part of their plea deals, have also agreed to not challenge the forfeiture to the federal government of more than $67,000 seized by authorities as part of the investigation.
Specifically, according to court records, authorities seized $33,289 from their residence in Underhill on Aug. 6, 2019, as well as $9,000 from the vehicle, and $24,900 from their yurt in Keene, New York.
The hearings Monday focused mostly on the judge questioning each of the defendants on their understanding of the plea agreements and whether they were voluntarily giving up their rights to trial, when prosecutors would have to prove the cases beyond a reasonable doubt.
Judge Reiss then accepted the guilty pleas from Van Hazinga and Steady.
The charge Van Hazinga pleaded guilty to stated that on Aug. 5, 2019, he sold $40 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer, with the sale taking place on the roof-top patio of the Ridin’ High business.
Steady, as part of her plea agreement, admitted to a charge that on Aug. 6, 2019, during a search of a residence she shared with Van Hazinga that authorities seized “a quantity of suspected marijuana.” The agreement added that Steady “jointly possessed the marijuana with John Van Hazinga, and knew that some of the marijuana was intended for distribution to others.”
Paul Volk, Van Hazinga’s attorney, and Timothy Fair, Steady’s lawyer, both declined comment following Monday’s hearings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt, the prosecutor in both cases, also declined comment after the hearings.
In court filings when the charges were initially brought in August, police said they began their investigation after receiving reports that “individuals” at Ridin’ High had sold marijuana to teenagers.
An undercover police officer, according to court filings, also purchased the drug “over-the-counter” on multiple occasions from Van Hazinga. In addition, authorities at the time of the indictment alleged that Steady had manufactured edibles sold at the skate shop.
On Aug. 6, 2019, authorities executed warrants at the three properties linked to the couple.
As a result of those searches, according to court filings, authorities seized more than 50 marijuana plants, over 5 kilograms of marijuana, and “numerous” edibles suspected of being infused with THC.
The initial charges against the pair stemmed from incidents that allegedly occurred between Aug. 8, 2018, and Aug. 6, 2019.
On July 1, 2018, Vermont legalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 or older, and allowed for adults to grow small amounts.
Vermont lawmakers are currently considering legislation that would create a tax and regulate market for cannabis in the state.
The colorful Ridin’ High shop remained closed Monday. Painted on the outside of the building was the message, “Free Big John,” which has been there for the past several months.
