Former SPCO cellist cleared on pot charges in Oregon
A concert cellist formerly with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has been cleared of marijuana charges in Oregon.
David Huckaby, who resigned from the SPCO in 2014, had been arrested last February after authorities allegedly found 113 pounds of marijuana in his car. A judge in Klamath County, Ore., granted a defense motion to suppress that evidence on grounds that the arresting officer lacked sufficient cause to search Huckaby's vehicle.
In a news release this week, Huckaby's attorney, Phil Studenberg of Klamath Falls, Ore., called the case "a perfect example of what is wrong with the war on drugs. It ruins the lives of talented young people and stigmatizes them for life."
The news of Huckaby's arrest, he said in an interview, "has affected his ability to find work." He said his client is trying to resume his career as a cellist.
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Oregon has legalized pot in small quantities. People may carry up to an ounce for personal use.
Studenberg said police in Oregon often stop cars with out-of-state license plates on minor traffic violations. Huckaby was driving a car with Minnesota plates, and the officer who stopped him grew suspicious.
"They just had a hunch," Studenberg said. "The problem is, the law requires you to articulate the reason for your hunch." The police could not do that to the judge's satisfaction, he added.
Oregon authorities chose not to appeal the judge's decision.
Through his attorney, Huckaby declined an interview request. He joined the SPCO in the 2009-2010 season, took a leave of absence in 2013 and resigned in 2014.
Huckaby earned a master's degree from the Juilliard School. As a high school student, he appeared on the NPR program "From the Top."