A federal jury in Columbus denied a man's claim that he lost his job after he and his wife were arrested and charged with growing marijuana based on deputies' allegedly false statements in support of a search warrant—charges that were eventually dropped against him, and reduced to possession of more than one ounce against his wife.

Hall Booth Smith partner Kenneth Jones, who defended the deputies with associate Russell Britt, said there was no question that there was sufficient probable cause for the warrant. But, even if there wasn't, he said plaintiff Robert “Bobby” Wright Jr.'s firing from his job as treasurer of Columbus' venerable W.C. Bradley Co. was not due to his arrest.

“Bobby was not terminated because he was arrested,” said Jones. “It was because he did not tell them he was arrested.”