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By: Jonathan Tressler
JTressler@News-Herald.com
01/14/2006
Madison Village official
facing marijuana trafficking charge following probe
Less than two weeks ago, Madison Village Councilman Larry J. Buck was
sitting behind the bench at a village Council meeting. Friday, he was
sitting in jail, accused of marijuana trafficking, Lake County narcotics
officials say. According to Lt. Ed Ebert with the Lake County
Narcotics Agency, Buck, 50, was arrested Friday following a three-year
investigation by the Trumbull, Ashtabula and Geauga drug task force and Lake
County Narcotics agents. Ebert said the two task forces arrested Buck Friday
afternoon, while the Madison Village police assisted. Ebert said he
couldn't comment much about the arrest or the investigation, pending Buck's
arraignment Tuesday in Painesville Municipal Court.
He faces fourth-degree felony trafficking in marijuana, which carries a
maximum of 18 months behind bars and a $5,000 fine. Buck couldn't be
reached for comment Friday night. The number he has listed in the Lake
County Public Officials' directory has been disconnected, according to a
recording.
The councilman's father, Ward Buck, who lives next door to him, said Friday
night that he'd rather not comment. It's unclear what will become of
Larry Buck's seat on village council.
Madison Village Mayor Michael J. Evangelista said Buck had not by Friday
afternoon expressed any intentions to resign as councilman.
Evangelista said given the circumstances, he didn't think Larry Buck should
sit at Monday's Village Council meeting, should he post bond before his
Tuesday court appearance.
"My position is that, given the circumstances, (Larry Buck) shouldn't sit as
a councilman until this is all cleared up," Evangelista said.
Larry Buck was re-elected to his second, four-year term in November and if
he's convicted of a felony, he won't legally be allowed to serve as a
councilman.
"The important thing to keep in mind here is that he, at this point, is only
charged, not convicted," Evangelista said. The mayor said that if Buck
is convicted of a felony, council will have 30 days to appoint a new council
person. He said if council can't act in 30 days, he would have to
appoint a new council member himself. He said no one was ready for
this.
"We're amazed," Evangelista said Friday night. "No one expected anything
like this." Evangelista said he feels badly for Buck and his family.
"Of course I'm shocked and disappointed for Larry and his family that
something like this would ever take place," the mayor said. "But at this
point, it's just alleged, so we have to treat it that way."
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