MARIJUANA TRIAL: Swift found not guilty; jurors shake hands with defendant
01/29/2009, 2:46 pm 
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Dan Churney, [email protected], 815-431-4050
| On Wednesday in La Salle County Circuit Court, several jurors shook hands with an emotional Loren J. Swift after finding him not guilty of a marijuana charge that would have sent him to prison. "I'm so relieved. I've got my life back. I'm so grateful," a teary Swift told reporters outside the courtroom."I'm going to dedicate my life to doing what's right," which he explained meant he was going to get himself reinstated in the Jehovah's Witnesses. The five-woman, seven-man jury deliberated about two hours, giving the verdict at 1:30 p.m. The 59-year-old Swift, of rural Streator, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The state police drug task force arrested him Oct. 26, 2007, at his home, saying they found 25 pounds of marijuana and 50 pounds of marijuana plants. He spent 49 days in custody before posting $10,000 bond. His record included a conviction in 2003 for possession of a small amount of marijuana |