A 19-year-old teenager in Texas is currently waiting for prosecutors to present their case before a grand jury in late August. The teenager faces 10 years to life in prison since officers claimed to have found about 1.5 pounds of drugs in his possession. He was taken into custody after a neighbor in Round Rock reportedly smelled smoke and called police. Officers responding to the scene claim to have found the teenager making brownies mixed with hash oil and marijuana.
Officers weighed the brownies and charged the teenager with attempting to distribute and possession of almost 1.5 pounds of drugs. The charge is a first degree felony that carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years to life. Officers also claim to have found $1,600 in cash, a list of potential buyers for the brownies and a substance that allegedly tested positive for THC.
A drug crimes defense lawyer may be able to help the teenager get the charges reduced to a lesser degree felony. His lawyers may challenge the manner in which the weight of the drugs was calculated or how the evidence was seized. If this argument is successful, the defendant’s sentence could be reduced. A lawyer may also be successful in negotiating a plea bargain or a more lenient sentence with the prosecution.
Some lawyers may focus on defending a client against a drug charge by challenging the merits of the investigation or the legality of the search and seizure that led to the arrest. Legal counsel may also be able to get a case dismissed if evidence was mishandled or the defendant’s rights were violated leading up to the arrest. Some lawyers may identify precedent in other cases that could compel a judge or prosecution to lessen the charges against the defendant.
Source: KRMG, “Texas teen faces life in prison for pot brownies”, Russell Mills, August 08, 2014