This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former attorney for Salt Lake City government and his two sons were ordered to stand trial Tuesday on charges accusing them of running a drug operation out of their Sugar House home.
James Wesley Robinson and his two adult sons — 21-year-old Alexander Jordan Robinson and 18-year-old Zachary Ryan Robinson — appeared in court Tuesday just long enough to decline a preliminary hearing where prosecutors would have been required to show there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Often, defendants will waive a preliminary hearing when a plea deal is underway. It was not immediately clear if that was true in this case.
Robinson, 50 — who was fired from his job with Salt Lake City on Feb. 24 — is charged with first-degree felony operation of a clandestine lab, second-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute, second-degree felony drug possession, four third-degree felony counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and one count of class A misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
His sons were each charged with first-degree felony operation of a clandestine lab, second-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute and class A misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors have said the three were making a marijuana byproduct called "Dab" or "Shatter" in a make-shift lab.
According to charging documents, police went to Robinson's Sugar House home on Feb. 18, after a burglary was reported there.
Inside, officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana and saw several bongs and other items of drug paraphernalia strewn about the home, documents state.
In executing a search warrant, police found several pounds of marijuana, dozens of bongs, grinders, pips, rolling papers, scales and $26,230 in cash, charges allege.
Officers also found in multiple locations in the home a caramel-like substance, which field-tested positive for THC, according to court documents.
In the basement, officers found a pressure cooker with Dab in the bottom, as well as glass tubes, a butane torch, and numerous cans of butane.
Police also report having found firearms, several bags containing more than 2½ pounds of marijuana, a temperature controller commonly used in marijuana cultivation and a box containing "grow lights."
According to charges, marijuana, marijuana pipes, Dab and $6,900 in cash were found in Zachary Robinson's bedroom; in Alexander Robinson's bedroom, police found marijuana pipes, bongs, Dab, a scale, a vacuum sealer and $2,500 in cash; in the father's bedroom, police found a 9mm handgun and a vial containing a white substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.
An informant, identified in charging documents as A.D., told police she had purchased marijuana from the two sons on numerous occasions, and that Alexander Robinson had told her they wanted to expand their business.
Possession of a firearm is illegal if the owner also is in possession of illegal drugs.
The Robinsons' home is within 400 feet of Clayton Middle School, which enhances the clandestine lab charges.
Robinson was on paid administrative leave from the time of his arrest on Feb. 18 until he was fired on Feb. 24, said Art Raymond, spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker.
The trio has remained out of custody since the February bust.
They will next appear before 3rd District Judge James Blanch on Oct. 31.
Twitter: @Marissa_Jae