Judge Cassell laments, but imposes, harsh mandatory sentence

In a remarkable (and remarkably long) opinion, Utah US District Judge Paul Cassell today imposed a 55-year mandatory minimum sentence on Weldon Angelos, a 24-year-old music executive convicted of marijuana dealing a related firearms offenses.  Judge Cassell called the sentence he feld oblidged to impose “unjust, cruel and even irrational,” but he ultimately concluded that he “must reject Mr. Angelos’ constitutional challenges.”

More (a lot more) later if and when I have access to a computer that works.

UPDATE: Limited connectivity means I can only tonight provide a link to the opinion here, as well as links here and here to some of the early press coverage.