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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Marion County lowers incarceration costs for man jailed in 2011 marijuana possession conviction

The Marion County Board of County commissioners approved a request to lower the incarceration fees for a business owner who was jailed in 2011 on a marijuana possession charge. 

Commissioners voted to approve payment actual time served in the county jail by Anthony Young. Young was arrested and sentenced to 90 days in jail in 2011 for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. He spent a total of 85 days in the county jail. At the time of his arrest he was living in Silver Springs. 

Commissioners voted to lower the lien to $4,250 in order to match the time that Young served (85 days).  

The county imposes an incarceration fee of $50 for each day served in the jail, which brought Young’s total civil restitution to $4,500. Over the past decade, the lien has accrued interest, raising the amount to $6,917.74. 

Before commissioners voted to approve the reduction, commissioner Carl Zalak III asked if the board should just “waive this one.” 

Chairman Jeff Gold and Commissioner Kathy Bryant were quick to offer defenses against waiving this, or any, incarceration fees. 

“In my personal opinion, we should continue them,” said Gold in reference to incarceration fees. He believes the fees are a way to “recover tax payer money” and suggested that the requests required the use of resources.

“It does take our staff time, it does take the clerk’s office time,” said Gold. 

Bryant made reference to “several” residents that have come before the commission to offer payment of civil restitution liens. 

Zalak agreed that the fees should “stay on.” 

In June, the county reduced the lien on a 75-year-old man after he said he was dying of cancer and had four months to get his affairs in order. The lien, which was for a DUI almost a decade prior, totaled nearly $20,000 and was reduced to $4,250.

According to county records, the County Attorney received the request from Young to release the Civil Restitution Lien on July 27. The lien was recorded on June 22, 2011.

Young, who has paid all other associated court costs and is a business owner in Daytona Beach, said the lien is a hindrance to his future business and home ownership opportunities.