Charges dropped against California motorist who told police he was hauling hemp

Cesar D. Jimenez-Preciado told police he was hauling hemp. Police said it field-tested positive for cannabis. Lab results favored Jimenez-Preciado and his charges were dismissed.

The La Salle County State’s Attorney confirmed Monday the California man now is off the hook. Laboratory analysis showed whatever he was hauling came in below the legal threshold for cannabis.

Jimenez-Preciado, 53, of West Covina was granted pre-trial release and allowed to return to California after his lawyer argued that the 2-ton load he hauled Oct. 15 in Peru was hemp, which is legal in Illinois, and which would have field-tested positive for cannabis.

Coal City attorney Jordan Kielian, reached by telephone Monday, confirmed the lab results and the dismissal of his client’s charges.

“We’re happy they did the required testing and determined it was a legal product he was carrying,” Kielian said. “From the beginning we’ve said he wasn’t knowingly committing a crime and the lab has confirmed that. He’s glad to be moving on.”