Ex-tribal chief declines comment on pot possession charge

HOGANSBURG — A former St. Regis Mohawk tribal chief who once led an anti-drug march declined to comment on his arrest for allegedly having more than 20 pounds of marijuana.

Philip H. Tarbell, 67, of 663 Route 37, Hogansburg, was charged Saturday with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, state police said. Troopers stopped him about 5:30 p.m. on Route 11 in the Jefferson County town of Adams for having an obscured license plate. They said they subsequently found about 23 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle.

He was arraigned before LeRay Town Justice George E. Mead III and sent to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, Watertown. He later was released on $1,500 bail. It's unknown whether he also was issued a traffic ticket.

Mr. Tarbell is the chief executive of the constitutional government, which in 1999 was stripped of federal recognition as the leadership of the tribe in favor of a three-chief government system. Constitutional backers are appealing the decision.

Mr. Tarbell, who declined to comment on the pending charge Monday, was a leader in the former tribal government.

He was among three people in May 1994 that led a march on Route 37. He helped carry a banner proclaiming "Akwesasne Against Drugs." The men were running for St. Regis Mohawk tribal chief.