On March 19, Houston police arrested a 40-year-old mother on suspicion of manufacturing and providing controlled substances and alcohol to a teen who died in May 2014 in a hotel after her prom. Her son had already been charged with aggravated assault related to the death of his girlfriend. According to a grand jury indictment, his mother allegedly gave and offered to sell the teen girl hydrocodone on the night of the prom. The woman’s court date was set for March 23, and her son was required to appear in court on March 31.
The morning following prom night, the 17-year-old girlfriend of the teen boy was found dead at a hotel, where they went after the prom. Responders from the Houston Fire Department pronounced her dead at the scene.
According to testimony from the teen boy, he and his girlfriend drank alcohol and took hydrocodone on their prom night and engaged in consensual acts of sex, which included choking. The son told police that he woke up the next day to find her dead. The mother allegedly helped him to dress his girlfriend and sought medical assistance. Autopsy results showed neck injuries.
Certain drug charges, such as those faced by the mother described above, can be more difficult to challenge when other factors are involved, such as the death of a victim. In many cases, the amount and type of drugs recovered will be a factor. Like many states, Texas imposes harsh penalties on those who are convicted of drug manufacturing and distribution. Sometimes, a criminal defense attorney can be able to negotiate an agreement with the prosecutor that would involve pleading guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for the dismissal of more serious charges.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “Mom Arrested and Charged in Prom Night Death That Included Sex, Drugs and Alcohol,” Carol Christian, March 20, 2015.