Article content In 2004, burglary was only considered a violent offence if there was proof that violence had occurred. Russell served about eight and a half years for the burglaries and was released in 2014. In 2015, he was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Though firearms are legal to carry in the state, Russell’s previous conviction barred him from owning a gun. He served two years for the charge. In 2017, Russell was charged with cannabis possession. Under state law, possession of 30 to 250 grams of cannabis can lead to a three-year prison sentence, a US$3,000 ($3,630) fine, or both, AP reports. The decision was not unanimous, with several dissenting judges arguing that the court should make exemptions to the three-strikes law.