11/23/12 - A local judge has ruled that there is a conflict of interest for the attorney representing two women charged with selling synthetic marijuana. That was the ruling earlier this week from 53rd District Court Judge Suzanne Geddis in the case against 41-year-old Ronda Roszak, who owns Smokers Depot on Lawson Drive in Genoa Township. Also charged in the case is the storeâs manager, 27-year-old Melissa Ann Dzierwa of Fowlerville. Both women face a count of delivering or manufacturing a non-narcotic controlled substance. Defense attorney Timothy Corr represents both women, but Judge Geddis ruled that constitutes a conflict of interest because prosecutors have offered a plea deal to one of the defendants in exchange for testifying against the other. Corr previously said there was no conflict because neither woman wanted a plea deal. He has indicated that he plans to appeal the ruling. Corr maintains the company that sold the product to his clients at a tobacco trade show provided a lab test report to them stating that there were no illegal chemicals in it. He also says his clients have passed a polygraph exam whether or not they knew the illegal compound was present in the product. State Police confiscated roughly six pounds of the product during a routine compliance check April 26th. (JK)
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