Texas movie fans may have heard that, on July 21, actress Alicia Silverstone’s brother was taken into custody for drug possession during a marijuana raid at a northern California location. The man, age 43, was charged with cultivating and processing marijuana and for possessing marijuana with intent to sell. He was released soon after his $25,000 bond was issued.
Other individuals had reportedly been taken into custody in drug busts that had recently occurred in the same location, with former POW Bowe Bergdahl being one of them. He was reportedly on the same ranch when authorities raided the property and seized more than 180 marijuana plants. Bergdahl claimed that he was simply visiting friends when the raid occurred. At the time the report was released, he was not facing any criminal charges from the raid.
In the state of Texas, the possession or sale of marijuana is illegal, and the consequences for drug offenses can be steep. For example, they can range from 180 days for 7 grams or less and up to 99 years in prison for more than 50 pounds.
There are several ways that an attorney can defend against these types of chargers, although the strategy will likely vary depending on the particular set of circumstances. In some cases, the attorney may argue that the drugs did not belong to the defendant. Legal counsel may also argue that the defendant was not a leading person in the drug operation. In some cases, the attorney can attempt to challenge the validity of the search that led to the seizure of the drugs.
Source: Inside Edition, “Alicia Silverstone’s Brother Arrested for Drug Possession During Raid“, July 27, 2015
Source: Norml.org, “Texas Laws & Penalties“, accessed on July 30, 2015