Olympic Archer Turns Self In on Drug Charge

Olympic gold medalist Justin Huish and his roommate surrendered to authorities Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court on charges they were selling marijuana from their Simi Valley home.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Donald Coleman granted Huish, 25, and 24-year-old Brian Mastrangelo, 48 hours to report to the Simi Valley Police Department for booking on one felony count each of possessing marijuana with intent to sell.

Mastrangelo also faces two counts of possession of a deadly weapon for having a billy club and a shurkin, a martial arts weapon known commonly as a throwing star.

Mastrangelo was booked late Thursday afternoon. Huish has until 2:30 p.m. Saturday to report to police for booking.

Authorities allowed the two suspects to turn themselves in after charges were filed subsequent to the issuance of a police warrant, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Chris Harman. Police were assured by attorneys for the two defendants that arrests were unnecessary and that the two would appear in court.

Coleman allowed the men to remain free until their March 16 arraignment.

Simi Valley police on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for Huish and Mastrangelo after a monthlong investigation.

During a Feb. 15 search of the Simi Valley home that the two men share, police said they found 4.5 ounces of marijuana, 4.2 grams of hashish oil, $23,000 in cash as well as scales, packaging materials and ledgers.

Huish, a champion archer who won two gold medals in 1996, appeared in court nearly an hour after the judge called his case. He spoke only once, answering “yes” when the judge asked if he understood the charge.

Huish’s attorney, Philip Dunn of Westlake, said the Simi Valley High School graduate, who appeared at the school for an anti-drug rally in 1996, was concerned the charge would keep him from competing in the Olympic Games in Sydney later this year.

“Obviously, this is very upsetting for Justin,” Dunn said. “It’s very difficult for him and his family.”

Huish faces up to three years in prison and Mastrangelo faces up to four years.

“Theoretically, [Huish] could get probation,” Harman said, which is the minimum in such cases.

Authorities with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National Archery Assn., the governing body for the sport, said it’s too soon to say whether Huish’s surrender to the felony charge will keep him from competing in the September Olympic Games.

“Ultimately, the disposition of this individual case will [determine] whether he can represent the United States in Sydney,” said U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Moran.

Huish qualified at trials in Chula Vista last year to compete in the 2000 Olympics, but the National Archery Assn. has until Aug. 25 to nominate him officially to the U.S. Olympic team, said association spokesman Bill Kellick.

“We’re currently looking into the issue,” Kellick said. “We don’t know all the effects yet [of the charge]. It wouldn’t be fair to speculate on what penalty would be given to Justin.”

In 1993, Huish was sentenced to three years’ probation and 120 hours of community service after pleading no contest to charges he spray-painted “KKK” on the mailbox and driveway of an African American couple.