By the GAZETTE-TIMES | Posted: Friday, August 8, 2008 12:00 am
The expected plea agreement Thursday for a Corvallis man charged with drug conspiracy and racketeering has been delayed for a week so attorneys can review a new decision by the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Joseph Page, 37, was arrested by a Benton County Sheriff's Office and Corvallis Police Department Joint Street Crimes Unit on Feb. 21 while driving from Corvallis toward Interstate 5 on Highway 34. Several hours later, police served a search warrant at Page's apartment at 900 S.E. Centerpoint Drive, where they reportedly found 30 pounds of marijuana, along with about $3,000 in cash.
Investigators said Page was shipping large amounts of marijuana to various states and they intercepted at least one package. The seized marijuana has an estimated street value of $150,000.
Page was in court Thursday to determine if he would take a plea bargain when his attorney, Jay Frank, requested an additional week to review whether a recent court decision in an unrelated case would have a bearing on Page's case.
"If I object, it's just going to delay the process with another hearing," Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Stringer said. "But I would choose to go forward today."
Frank said he wanted the additional time in order for his client to make an informed decision.
"I would like to sit down with (Page) for a couple of hours to talk about this," Frank said. "He understands there is an enormous downside to fighting and losing."
Page is scheduled to appear in court again at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 14.
Page initially was held at the Benton County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, but that amount was reduced to $100,000 and he was released in April after posting 10 percent of the bail amount.