Tomlinson Sentenced to Prison For Selling Dope

— Abel Noah Tomlinson, a political activist, former third-party candidate for Congress and noted tree-climber, was sentenced to prison Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of delivery of marijuana.

Tomlinson, 32, pleaded guilty to the pot charges in Washington County Circuit Court and also had a prior sentence stemming from the sale of psilocybin mushrooms revoked.

Tomlinson
Tomlinson

Tomlinson was sentenced to 20 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 12 years suspended, leaving eight years to serve.

Fayetteville police arrested Tomlinson in August after a nine-month investigation into the trafficking of LSD and marijuana by the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force. Tomlinson sold LSD and marijuana to a confidential informant, according to police.

In October 2010, Tomlinson was sentenced to five years probation, 250 hours public service and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of selling psilocybin mushrooms. He also agreed to complete a six-month rehab program.

Tomlinson was pounded in unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate in 2008 and the Arkansas Legislature in 2010.

Tomlinson was a Green Party candidate for Congress against 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers. He lost by a 3-to-1 margin.

Tomlinson is a write-in independent candidate against Greg Leding, Democratic candidate for State House District 92.

Tomlinson was an organizer of Occupy movements in Northwest Arkansas but probably gained the most attention when he blocked traffic on College Avenue with his car and climbed a tree in front of the Washington County Courthouse in October 2010.

Once up the tree, Tomlinson delivered a rambling, profanity-laced statement about the war on drugs. Tomlinson removed his coat, tie and shirt. Tomlinson eventually fell part-way down the tree, where waiting police officers grabbed and arrested him.

Tomlinson pleaded guilty in Fayetteville District Court to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was fined $145 and costs for disorderly conduct, $700 and costs for resisting arrest and given a 30-day jail sentence, which was suspended.

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