Hearing Set for Former San Leandro Cop Charged in Felony Drug Case

A preliminary hearing date has been set for a former San Leandro detective c with a felony for allegedly being in possession of more than a pound of marijuana.

A spokeswoman for the Alameda County District Attorney's office said a preliminary hearing for ex San Leandro narcotics detective Jason Fredriksson of Danville has been scheduled for Dec. 6.

The hearing would probably be held in Hayward Superior Court, but no judge has been picked, said DA spokesperson Teresa Drenick.

At a preliminary hearing, prosecution and defense attorneys try to convince a judge whether sufficient evidence exists to bring a case to trial.

But just because a preliminary hearing has been scheduled doesn't mean there couldn't be a plea bargain or a delay.

when he was charged on May 20 with illegally transporting and furnishing the sale of marijuana. He also waived his right to a speedy trial, Drenick said.

Since then Fredriksson, nicknamed "Big Dirty," has been free on $40,000 bail.

During this time, his attorney and prosecutors have scheduled and continued without action, eight separate pretrial hearings, according to Drenick.

At a pretrial hearing, defense and prosecution attorneys negotiate over various routine legal details, including possible plea bargains. The last such pretrial hearing was Nov. 2. Another is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Drenick had no comment on the likelihood of a plea bargain being struck.

Fredriksson's defense attorney Harry Stern could not be reached for comment.

The Fredriksson case caused a tremendous stir earlier in the year.

According to San Leandro police, the department first learned that Fredriksson might be involved with the illegal sale and distribution of marijuana on March 18, when Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli said she was "personally notified" of the allegations by a San Leandro resident who was not directly involved in the case.

Fredriksson was placed on paid administrative leave March 21, and police searched his Danville home two days later, police said.

Based on their investigation police think that on March 10 Fredriksson provided more than one pound of marijuana to a female informant with whom he had a "personal relationship."

She is a San Leandro resident but is not an employee of the department.

At the time, Fredriksson was married to Sheryll Cofreros Fredriksson, a San Leandro Police dispatcher.

Police do not think she was connected to her husband's alleged activities and Spagnoli said just last week that she is convinced that Fredriksson acted alone.

Jason  force in July.

At the time, his attorney called the pot charges "completely unsubstantiated" and said Fredriksson was resigning because of his "inappropriate relationship" with a female informant.