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A former attorney who represented Salt Lake City and its police department for more than a decade pleaded guilty Friday to reduced criminal charges in connection with a clandestine drug operation that he — along with his two adult sons — ran from the family's Sugar House home.
James Wesley Robinson, 51, entered guilty pleas in 3rd District Court to second-degree felony operation of a clandestine lab, second-degree felony drug possession and third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
In exchange for Robinson's plea, Salt Lake County prosecutors reduced the clandestine lab count from a first-degree felony and dropped four other counts of possession of a firearms by a restricted person and a misdemeanor drug possession count.
Prosecutors agreed to recommend Robinson not be sentenced to prison, according to defense attorney Ed Brass. Robinson could have faced a combined term of up to 25 years in prison.
The plea agreement also guarantees that Robinson won't face a federal criminal indictment related to drug manufacturing or drug and firearms possession, court documents say.
Robinson's sons — Alexander Jordan Robinson, 21, and Zachary Ryan Robinson, 19 — also resolved their cases Friday through plea agreements.
Each pleaded guilty to second-degree felony operation of a clandestine lab and third-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute. A third count, a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, was dropped in each case.
The charges carry a possible combined penalty of 20 years in prison, but prosecutors will also recommend that Robinson's sons be sentenced to probation, attorney Loni DeLand, who represents Alexander Robinson, said after the hearing.
If the Robinson brothers successfully complete probation, the charges could be reduced to misdemeanors, DeLand said. And after five years — if they stay out of trouble — they could petition the court to have their records expunged, he said.
All three are set for sentencing Feb. 13 before Judge James Blanch.
The Robinsons were arrested and charged in February after police responded to a report of a burglary at the home and found a makeshift drug lab. The family was accused of making a marijuana byproduct called "Dab" or "Shatter," a caramel-like, concentrated substance produced from raw pot that, according to authorities, sells for more on the street than regular pot.
Officers executing a Feb. 18 search warrant at the home found several pounds of marijuana, dozens of bongs, grinders, pipes, rolling papers, scales and $26,230 in cash, court papers say. In the basement, police found a pressure cooker with Dab in the bottom, as well as glass tubes, a butane torch and numerous cans of butane.
Court papers also say police found guns, bags filled with more than 2½ pounds of marijuana, a temperature controller commonly used in pot cultivation and a box containing "grow lights."
Marijuana, marijuana pipes, Dab and $6,900 in cash were found in Zachary Robinson's bedroom, according to the documents.
Alexander Robinson's bedroom contained marijuana pipes, bongs, Dab, a scale, a vacuum sealer and $2,500 in cash.
Officers also found a 9mm handgun and a vial containing a white substance that field-tested positive for cocaine in their father's bedroom.
James Robinson was fired from his job as a city attorney who handled civil litigation on Feb. 24, six days after police found the drug lab.