civilbeat:

That comes from KITV‘s Andrew Pereira and his twitter feed. He live-blogged from Judge Richard Puglisi‘s U.S. District Courtroom in Honolulu Friday (Sept. 27).
According to Pereira’s reporting (KITV and Civil Beat are media pals), Roger Christie, the Hilo pot minister who has been held at the Federal Detention Center near Honolulu Airport for more than three years, now says he is guilty of possessing marijuana. But he reserves the right to appeal his conviction to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on religious grounds.
Christie believes pakalolo is a sacrament; he told Judge Puglisi that he conspired to cultivate and distribute marijuana, but only as part of his religion. Christie also pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion. His sentencing is set for Jan. 22, and it has been suggested that it’s possible that he could be released as soon as next summer.
His wife, Share Christie, also admitted to possessing, manufacturing and distributing marijuana, but also reserved the right to appeal on based on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Her sentencing is set for Jan. 27, and she remains free on bail.
Read Civil Beat’s reporting on the Christie case:

No Christmas in Hilo for Roger Christie

Hawaii Pot Minister’s Bail Denial Called ‘Rare’

Federal Justice Officials Ignore Questions About Hawaii Pot Minister

Photo: Roger Christie, circa 2009. (High Times screen shot)

—Chad Blair