Former SPCO cellist held on pot charge in Oregon
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A former cellist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has been arrested in Oregon on charges of marijuana possession and distribution.
David Huckaby, 33, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Klamath County Circuit Court. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $10,000.
Huckaby was reportedly stopped for speeding Friday near Bly, Ore. Officers looked in his trunk and allegedly found more than 100 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of a quarter-million dollars.
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Huckaby performed several seasons with the SPCO. The Musicians of the SPCO announced his departure on Facebook in July 2014:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the resignation of cellist, David Huckaby. We will miss him, and wish him well in his future pursuits."
According to the musicians, Huckaby joined the orchestra in the 2009-2010 season, and announced in 2013 that he would be taking a leave of absence. He resigned the following year.
Oregon has legalized marijuana possession for personal use. The amount allegedly found in Huckaby's car far exceeds the ounce that a user is allowed on his or her person.
Huckaby, originally from Atlanta, holds a master's degree from the Juilliard School. With violinist Sunmi Chang, he played a duet on Classical MPR in 2009. And as a high school senior, he appeared on the NPR program "From the Top."