Honolulu police officer Michael Steven Chu blames his girlfriend for getting him involved in growing and selling marijuana.
"She was the one and I was helping her," he said Thursday in U.S. District Court.
Chu pleaded guilty to conspiring to cultivate 48 marijuana plants and to possess with intent to distribute 49 pounds of processed marijuana.
His girlfriend, Athena Sui Lee, pleaded guilty Tuesday.
They each face a maximum five-year prison term when they are sentenced later this year. Chu’s sentencing is scheduled for December, while Lee’s is in November.
Police found marijuana growing indoors at Lee’s Kapiolani Boulevard apartment on April 6 and another indoor growing operation in Chu’s Mililani home on April 7.
They had also intercepted a shipment of 14 pounds of marijuana addressed to Chu’s former residence, an apartment on Young Street, in July 2011; a FedEx parcel addressed to Lee’s apartment containing seven live and one dead juvenile or starter marijuana plants on April 6; and a shipment of 30.9 pounds of marijuana from California on April 10.
Lee admitted arranging all three shipments.
Chu said that at first he tried to stop Lee from selling marijuana, but she did it anyway. That got her into trouble and she needed money. So Chu said he had Lee and her child move in with him.
He said Lee sent for the juvenile marijuana plants even after he told her not to do it.
Chu said he helped Lee grow marijuana, but only up to the limit allowed by their medical marijuana cards. He said it was a compromise to discourage Lee from importing the marijuana.
Hawaii’s medical marijuana law allows a person, certified by a physician, to possess up to a certain amount of marijuana to treat a debilitating condition.
There is no medical marijuana provision in federal law.
When U.S. District Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway told Chu that the number of plants police found in his home and Lee’s apartment exceeded the seven plants per card holder allowed under Hawaii law for him, Lee and both of Lee’s parents, Chu said he didn’t count the sprouts that died.
Chu said he intended to sell the marijuana and use some for his back.
The Honolulu Police Department says Chu is on unpaid leave.
His lawyer, Sean Coutain, said Chu can return to work Wednesday if the court amends the conditions of his release on bond, which now require him to remain at home.
If he does return to work, HPD says Chu will be placed on restricted duty.
He will no longer qualify to be a police officer after he is sentenced because as a convicted felon, he would be prohibited from possessing a firearm.
