The mother of convicted marijuana dispensary operator Charles Lynch is the latest of his supporters to file a complaint against the SLO County Sheriff, Patrick Hedges, for his role in bringing down the dispensary. Lynch’s mother, Bodine Jones, filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Department demanding an investigation into Hedges’ actions against the dispensary and Charles Lynch. The complaint has been forwarded to the State Attorney General’s office, the County Board of Supervisors, and the local District Attorney. A Los Angeles medical marijuana activist has also filed similar complaints.

Jones alleges in her complaint that Hedges failed to uphold California medical marijuana laws or to protect Lynch, who was presumably operating under California law. Jones further claims that Lynch was “sexually assaulted” when federal agents held him naked at gunpoint, during the March 29 raid on his home in 2007.

Jones’ letter was received by Hedges in late January. Undersheriff Steve Bolts responded Feb. 3, reiterating the department’s position that no state or federal laws were broken during the course of the Lynch investigation. Sheriffs’ spokesman Rob Bryn said they forwarded the complaint to the Attorney General for consideration. 

“By forwarding these particular alleged issues to the Attorney General’s office,” Bryn said, “we remove any potential conflict of interest that may arise locally.”

Jones did receive a response from the AG, which said the Department of Justice lacks resources to review all local matters; they said the matter should be handled locally.

Jones’ son is due to be sentenced March 23 in a Los Angeles federal courtroom. He was convicted on five federal charges related to growing and distributing marijuana in accordance with state law. Charles Lynch faces at least five years in prison.