MASON CITY – Kory John Ferden, age 24, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 11:24 AM on Tuesday to serve the remaining 20 hours of a two day sentence following a voluntary plea agreement.
Ferden was charged in March 2011 with one count of possession with intent to deliver psilocybin, two counts of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and two counts of failure to affix a drug tax stamp. If convicted of all seven felony counts Ferdin could have received up to 45 years in prison under Iowa drug laws.
According to court records a search warrant was executed October 6th, 2010 on Ferdin’s residence after controlled buys. During the search the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force recovered more two pounds, ten ounces of marijuana, and a half ounce of psilocybin, hallucinogenic mushrooms known as shrooms on the street.
In a plea change hearing on November 21st Judge Colleen Weiland amended the felony possession with intent to deliver of psilocybin to a serious misdemeanor charge of possession of psilocybin. In addition Judge Colleen Weiland dismissed one count of delivery of marijuana, the two counts of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, and an unrelated driving while revoked charge.
On Tuesday, January 17th, Judge Colleen Weiland sentenced Kory Ferden to 2 days in jail with credit for 26 hours following his initial arrest for the amended serious misdemeanor voluntary guilty plea of possession of psilocybin.
Judge Colleen Weiland then gave Ferden deferred judgements for the delivery of marijuana and the possession of the two pounds, ten ounces of marijuana found in during the search warrant’s execution. As part of Ferden’s deferred judgment he must complete three years of probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections, upon completion the marijuana charges will be stricken from his record.
PLEA BARGAIN
One more comment…
We could use a lot more judges like Judge Weiland. She effectively peruses our judicial system by showing common sense & compassion. She understands that it makes absolutely no sense to ruin someone’s life for providing (or using) a natural occurring plant that DOES NO HARM and can provide significant relief for many chronic illnesses/conditions.
I hope Judge Weiland is someday appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court!
Judge Weiland is also the one who gave a suspended sentence to the guy who rolled the opertunity village van into the river leaving the handicap inside while trying to outrun the police.
What did he do during his suspended sentence you ask? Well he is sitting in county right now waiting to go on trial for molesting a group of little boys.
Judge Weiland gave Randi Timmons probation for molesting the 14 year old at big blue.
Judge Weiland gives probation to somebody on probation for dealing meth.
She needs to go, this next vote they will be getting a wake up call.
I totally agree with Peter L.! Marijuana is harmless, not addictive physically, and is being used for many chronic illnesses with only positive effects, and no negative effects. Can you say that about the legal prescription drugs that many of YOU use? They can absolutely kill you, especially if combined with other prescription drugs or used improperly.
Marijuana should be legal. Alcohol & cigarettes should be ILLEGAL. Period!
Marijuana has 70% more cancer causing agents in it then cigarette’s and makes one one-and-one-half more likely to become a paranoid schizophrenic.
Ask peter about the time he had to run out of Mercy ER because a qualified medical professional felt he needed to be checked into five east.
You’re way off. Approximately 1.7 years ago, I was struck with a mysterious illness that brought on severe flu like symptoms, nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, instability in balance, ringing in ears, sensitivity to light, and muscle weakness. I tried my hardest to hold off on going to the ER, but after 4 days of trying to deal with the condition, I determined that it was severe enough to go into the ER. I was worried that perhaps I had H1N1 Flu in my lungs.
While in the ER, I was put on IV’s, and had blood draws, a chest X-Ray, and I gave my symptomology to the nurse, to the intern doctor, and eventually to the main doctor. The tests could not find anything overtly wrong, but some levels were off…not enough to give a clear diagnosis. During the process I developed some anxiety due to the air bubbles travelling through the IV line. I’ve never had an IV before that incident, and I was told by someone that if air bubbles enter your bloodstream you can die of cardiac arrest. The nurse told me not to worry about them and explained that it’s common. I understood and calmed down. However, I was waiting on the table for over an hour and I began to get restless. I sat up, and then stood up because I was tired of laying on my back waiting for no answers to arrive. I eventually got up and took the IV bag and hung it from the sprinkler system on the roof so I could stand up. The nurse came in and scolded me for doing so. This is what got her to call for the psychiatrist to visit me, because she wrote that I was acting strangely. So because I was tired of waiting in a room with no assistance for over an hour, and wanted to move around better, and developed an alternative method for hanging the IV bag…this qualified me to be seen by a psychiatrist.
When the psychiatrist Dr. Azam came in, he had 2 large men security guards with him. He did not give me a choice, and said that I was going to go up to 5 East to have anti-psychotic medications started. I tried to tell him that I was here for a medical condition but he insisted. I realized that in my weakened condition, and with the security guards standing in the doorway, I would not argue with him, but agree. He went away satisfied and for a moment they left me in the room alone. I got dressed, put my sandals on, and quickly walked to my right past the head nurse and out the emergency room exit door…triggering the alarm. The nurse yelled, but I kept on going. The security detail was over by the elevators dealing with another matter. I hustled to my vehicle and drove away. It was a very humiliating and debasing experience. To think that I would have to run away from my own community medical facility for fear of being abused with psychiatric incarceration and forced drugging, while I was trying to get help for a medical condition is DESPICABLE.
So “Mary Jane” I quite appropriately tell you to GO TO HELL.
The above comment is written by me: Peter L. I forgot to enter my name when I posted it.
I also will mention that another experience happened very similar to the April 2010 incident at Mercy back in 2000 when I came in for suspected food poisoning due to drinking 3 month old egg nog in the refrigerator. Only during that episode, I was actually committed to 5 East against my will, and was force drugged with Haldol by a fat ugly red-headed nurse on 5 East ward. This caused me to black out. Dr. Mark Lassise completely fabricated meeting me in the emergency room, writing that I admitted to having hallucinations, hearing voices, and was paranoid and wanted to come up to 5 East to be admitted and receive medication. It was all a complete lie. I never met with Dr. Lassise in the emergency room….only the medical doctor of the ER. Dr. Lassise is a liar and a fraud. Mercy is complicit with this defrauding of taxpayer monies with Medicaid and Medicare as well as insurance company money if you have it.
It’s a scam they’ve been running for many years. I had an Access nurse tell me one time that he knows about the money fraud situation going on with Dr. Lassise and other psychiatrists who admit people to the psychiatric wards against their will to get Medicaid and Medicare money…which is guaranteed.
It’s also important to note, that a positive laboratory test for aspergillus niger (black mold) was found on my fingernail culture. It’s important to understand that nearly EVERY finger on both hands was covered in gold colored mold, and I’ve never had such a problem prior to my falling ill, so it was a result of the illness itself. They have not given me a formal diagnosis of aspergillosis, but that is one of the top contenders for what it could be, due to my water damaged house which was mold infested, before we corrected the water problem in the basement. The other possibility is that it is a thyroid problem (my levels tested off) or that it’s some rare autoimmune disorder. I’m going to be tested for cancer next when I resume working with new Mayo Clinic doctors.
I just can’t believe the “gall” of this judge sentencing this guy to any time at all…look at all the other “druggies” that have been caught and turned free in the past 6 months…I am thinking we need to have a fund raiser for this dude and see if we can’t hire him a big time laywer and get his record completely reversed and throw in a little compensation money to boot! Come on out there, how about a little help…
If you do the crime, then you should be ready to do the time
And what is “the time” exactly? Who decides? You think the legal system is run by archangels from God? Look up this word in the dictionary: ARBITRARY.
Weed is a gateway drug, everyone knows that, its a launching pad to oblivion
That is an ignorant statement!
Actually it is a very proven statement… research on those that are covicted of higher drug based crimes has shown this to be highly true.
And so what is alcohol? Society’s little exempt darling? You’re full of fruit bat guano. Marijuana is a different experience than alcohol. Alcohol makes you sloppy, inebriated, uncontrolled, sick, leads you to illness/depravity and will kill you. Marijuana is transformative, peaceful, stimulating, enticing, alluring, exotic, mysterious, enlightening…alive. There is a difference, and just because you’re too scared to try it and find out for yourself…you continue to be an oppressor. Like the Matrix…until you’ve been set free, you’ll be no different than the Agents who control the Matrix.
Twinkees are a gateway food to obesity too. Better ban them.
You forget, Pot is illegal!
Observer, that is my point. Make twinkees illegal because every obese person STARTED with eating at least one twinkee (probably near a school even (where the fine should be double)). So the way to fight obesity it so make “gateway foods” illegal. That logic works right? The obese people who cost the health insurance industry millions and make normal peoples premiums increase should be punished. I poke fun at the “gateway drug” argument because it has no logical base.
Gateway? Well there is an aspect that gives it some credence. I just don’t like it’s usage.
First, if people are willing to risk ignoring the law to produce, purchase, and possess, what will stop them from other substances. Or for that matter, other anti-social behaviors?
It is not unreasonable for society to put restraints out there to curb anti-social behaviors. The line is drawn however upon the term: reasonable. Regulating Twinkie consumption, I would imagine in most peoples mind, is unreasonable. It leads to no anti-social or criminal behavior, thus there is no need for forced restraint. Self-restraint? Yes of course. In a perfect world, it is reasonable to expect that.
Anti-social? Interesting use of that term. So breaking the law is anti-social no matter what? Do you know how this country was founded?
Finally, someone else understands Observer’s weak arguments,and is debating him appropriately. I was tiring of Observer’s kindergarten logic. I like the Twinkie analogy. Spot on!
@JJ and Peter/public
JJ
I agree with you something more then two days is needed here. If all those charges are true. cause if you look at it he really only got 20 hours.
JJ and Peter/public
As for the rest it was only weed and mushrooms I agree. How bad is mason city getting that just because its not meth or cocaine that were not bother by fact it is illegal. That should be the discussion we should be having on NIT. Anyone agree.
Who cares what he does with his life. Hopefully it turns around.
I wonder if he was the one that led them to the NIACC arrests? That should have saved him from doing time.
Regardless if he was dealing with natural substances his activities were illegal , however if he did snitch or gave someone up more power to him. He did the smart thing and now he is out. Why should he be required to protect others if it means he serves more time? I really have no problem with “drug Dealers” they should legalize it and tax it to no end.
So in the meantime, until drugs can be legalized and taxed to all hell, you have no problem with people serving decades in prison before the legalization process took effect? That to me is a cop out. True justice is true justice. Falling back on the old “I’ll do it when society says I can do it” schpeel has never won any admiration and laurels for courage in the past, and it won’t now. People in the Third Reich in Nazi controlled Germany, went along with that status quo bullarky and Jews and undesirables were exterminated because ” Oh well, that’s the law!”.
Pathetic. Get some back bone man. Stand up for what’s right BEFORE it becomes fashionable.
I agree with Peter wholeheartedly! The kid was involved with pot and mushrooms, not meth! Nobody should go to jail for a herb that happens to be politically charged. It’s thought by many to be safer than alcohol. Why is it everybody agrees that alcohol prohibition was a huge mistake but don’t see that marijuana prohibition results in the same problems that alcohol prohibition did? I think a lot of you people are just plain vindictive and like to see people’s lives destroyed. I had a friend that was on a jury at a trial of some poor schmuck who had picked a couple of hemp plants (similar to marijuana but with no active ingredients that result in a “high”) from his ditch. Somebody saw him and called the cops. They were trying to pin multiple felonies on him, claiming all kinds of outrageous stuff. Everybody on the jury saw through the prosecution’s ridiculous claims and agreed he was innocent, except one mean, spiteful old lady. She held out and held out. At one point while being cajoled to be reasonable, she blurted out…”this is my one chance to send somebody to jail and by god I’m gonna do it.”
Wow. So was the jury hung like Wilt Chamberlain? Did it end up in a mistrial?
@Peter I see your point about who cares what someone else does with there life if its not effecting you. But it does effect people when this man has had an OWI a couple of no insurance,
driving without license tickets also an assault charge CAUSING BODILY INJURY on top of drug charges. But more then two days in jail is needed here. I don’t think prison is right thing to do these are just a couple bad choices i hope. But two days come on.
SO Peter on friday night when he’s out drinking don’t get on here and complian that kory hint you in his car while drunk had no insurance or license and then beat the crap out of you.
Well let’s face it, with all those charges against him and the amount of marijuana involved, he probably became an informant. I didn’t read anywhere that he was convicted of assault, so i’m not sure where the “beat the crap out of you on a Friday night” thing came from. I agree that people who operate motor vehicles while impaired are a danger, but I don’t agree that marijuana and psilocybn inherently make you a danger to society. It’s not a given that everyone in this society drives cars, and if they do it’s not a certainty they do so while under the influence of mushrooms or marijuana.
Society could cure the hypocrisy and double-standard it lives under, if it would only outlaw alcohol and some prescription drugs. I wouldn’t have as big of a problem if that occurred. But they don’t, and so the hypocritical lie lives on.
Definitely a snitch
Well first of all, psilocybn and marijuana are NOT methamphetamine, crack, or cocaine, so at least this kid deals with naturally occurring substances. Perhaps he did become an informant, perhaps not. It’s possible that Judge Weiland reads my philosophy here on NIT and is doing the right thing by not adding this person to the collection of non-violent drug crime prison inmates in the Iowa penal colony. So for that I commend her. People need to understand that psilocybn occurs naturally in wild mushrooms, and marijuana is a plant that grows wild in the forests when not being sought out for destruction by misguided forces in law enforcement. Hats off to Mrs. Weiland.
I am not sure she reads this, but I highly doubt she would ever take your advice.
You’d be surprised Observer. Wisdom is wisdom. Doesn’t matter where it comes from.
I agree Peter. Glad to see someone with intelligence speaking out about what should be right. People havr been using mushrooms for hundreds of years.
Thanks Melissa, but try THOUSANDS of years. Same for marijuana.
Why would, or should she take advice from a drughead?
I’m not a “drughead”. I’m a human being.
Again with the mental masturbation about marijuana and more of your rants banged out while high. If you are into such naturaly occurring things why not drink your on pee? I’m sure in your mind, that should be just fine because its naturally occurring as well.
Let me know if tastes like Tang.
Hemp and high grade marijuana are natural. Humans discovered the benefits just as we discovered fire and the wheel. Decriminalization would actually create jobs and develop, reinvigorate technologies that rely heavily on depleting our natural resources.
Humans have developed tons of pharmaceutical drugs with terrible side effects. Beer, although it is natural occuring, is yeast crap. It really shouldn’t be an issue. marijuana and hemp are naturally grown, naturally occuring, non toxic, non poisonous, that should already be available at your local farmer’s market or co-op. Support your local Farmer’s Co-op. You notice organic label in the grocery store is always higher price, next to the mass produced and harvested items are loaded with pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers? It’s Capitolism.
I think this is a shame. He should get the full amount of time. I don’t care about his age is or who he is or why he did what he did I would just like to see the people who sell drugs to people put away for their crimes and better facilities for treatment and prevention of drug users.
I think this just shows us that we are allowing judges, and lawyers don’t take this problem serious.
Its not just him that gets off light on thisthe type of crime it is also repeat defenders of Mason City and Cerror Gordo county.
Sorry about the bad grammar! Was kinda upset when typing.
You should be upset for your wrongheaded views…that’s what you should be upset for. Why would you care if this person was selling mushrooms or marijuana? How does that effect you? If your kids are trying to buy mushrooms or marijuana, then I guess you didn’t run such a great household as you think huh? People like you that get all hot and bothered by the choices other people make as to what they do with their bodies, shows us that you have some strange, neurotic need to control other people. How about you just worry about your own life and don’t worry what this kid does with his life. The moment his use of substances effects you in some adverse manner, then we’ll listen to your calls to “put him away”. Go back and play with your creepy dolls.
The law is the law and what is the purpose of the laws if we do not reinforce them.
Mason City does have a problem with drugs and I for one am tired of this happening.
And don’t be so ignorant when it doesn’t already effect all of us adversely. I bet we have all known at lest one person in our lives that has been affected by addiction and if you know what addiction does to people it is even worse when it is a loved one.
Keep the drugs off the streets and have treatment for people who use.
The people who I know of that are involved with drugs have problems with their personality and lives anyway. The drugs amplify what’s already corrupt to begin with. I refuse to let drugs be the scapegoat for people with serious character flaws. There was one guy I knew who used to talk so much about his love for cocaine, and would wear it around like a badge of honor, but then said that it destroyed his life. I say “No, your problems were already yours, and you placed it all on cocaine…for better or for worse.” Another guy I know that was big into weed, meth, crack, and was a serious alcoholic, was a self-centered prick whether he was on drugs or not. The drugs and alcohol just amplified what was already bad.
I’m not talking about the aspect of it amplifying negative personality traits in people. I’m talking about the physical and mental addiction of drugs. The affects it does have on people and the families of countless people that it does affect due to the ripple effect on society.
Dollshine
we probly do all know someone that is affected by drugs. We make those choices to do drugs. It was there choice to make the buy and spend there last dollar they can help it. They can choose to stop. Don’t give the speech now oh well there addicted it’s still a choice. Now I said before I liked to see more then two days but not long prision sentance. He is just a young man yet.
I’m sticking to my original statement when I say that I do not care what his age is. He is grown adult due to his age and when adults make discisions they have adult repercussions.
Yes people do make the choice to do drugs the 1st time but everytime after that the addiction forms and then it is no longer becomes a choice. Addiction is a relationship with ones self that makes it hard to function without what ever substance you are or might be addicted to. Pot probably isn’t as bad of an addictive drug, but would most of the people on here be saying the same thing if his charge was for meth, or crack?
Side not: I’m not making a speech I’m just trying to communicate effectively.
Judge Weiland is worthless. She definetely prefers the male defendants in her courtroom, and females do not have a chance. I, for one, would like to see her removed. Does anyone know if this is possible other than waiting for a re-election?
they just dont decide to not charge you with anything for no reason hes a snitch in one way or another
A good kid? Really? Good kids are not out dealing pot for a living. A good “kid” is holding a full time job and not causing problems.
Shhhh, don’t tell Peter this, he thinks in his make believe world that everyone is good, even if they violate the law. If they want a drug using community, they should go out and build one.
I think Guinea Bissau would be perfect for them. Nice warm weather year round. They could sit on the beach all year and get stoned or high, or what ever they do.
Cerro Gordo county is always letting people get away with crimes. To be honest I think we should be more worried about Meth dealers and all the gun shots and ‘gang activity’ happening around town. This kid doesn’t have an extensive record and made a mistake. Think of all the pedofiles who get off scott free all the time, maybe we should focus on them?
One word comes to mind, “SNITCH”
He’s not a snitch and he’s a good kid so get a life and quit hating on people you don’t know.
Another future Dustin Honken! Sentences like this is WHY we have so many dealers in MC. Not to mention so many unsolved crimes/murder in MC!