Prosecutors oppose letting off ex-pot lobbyist

HELENA (AP) — Federal prosecutors oppose a former medical marijuana lobbyist's request to be removed from probation so he can tend to his sick mother without restrictions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thaggard said Thursday in response to Tom Daubert's request that early termination is reserved for rare cases of exceptionally good behavior.

Thaggard says the health of Daubert's 83-year-old mother and his desire to resurrect his consulting career do not justify ending his five-year probation sentence after only one year.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen has not yet ruled on Daubert's request to be released.

Daubert received the sentence in September 2012 after he pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Daubert was one of the founders of a statewide medical marijuana provider that was shuttered amid a statewide crackdown in 2011.