Man testifies in his own trial in marijuana resort case
FLANDREAU, S.D. — A man on trial for his alleged role in a marijuana grow room on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation testified Tuesday that he had visited the facility just three times, as prosecutors tried to tie him to day-to-day management of the operation.
Eric Hagen, president of Monarch America, worked with the Santee Sioux Tribe on its operation about 45 miles north of Sioux Falls, after the Justice Department cleared the way for Indian tribes to grow and sell marijuana under the same conditions as some states that have legalized pot.
The tribe ultimately destroyed its crop in November 2015 after federal officials signalled a potential raid. Hagen and fellow consultant Jonathan Hunt were charged about nine months later. Hagen, 34, of Sioux Falls, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess, possession and attempted possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana.
Hagen testified Tuesday that when the tribe destroyed the crop in 2015, he walked away, according to the Argus Leader (http://argusne.ws/2qTkf7R ).