21 Feb Search of car leads to possession charges for Maryland man

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Drug Charges on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Recently in Huntingtown, Maryland, a 22-year-old man was arrested after a police officer searched his car. Allegedly, the officer discovered drug paraphernalia as well as what was described as 12 Adderall pills and a single Vyvanse pill.

The arrest was the culmination of a series of events that started when the officer arrived at a residence to arrest another suspect. Upon being arrested, the suspect was informed about an issue with his car’s interior light. The 22-year-old was also at the house and he, along with the arrested suspect and the officer, went out to the car. Once outside, the officer smelled burnt marijuana exuding from the vehicle.

This led the officer to investigate the vehicle where he reportedly discovered the illegal items. The 22-year-old is said to have admitted to smoking marijuana in the car and to owning all of the items in question.

The 22-year-old is looking at a potential four-year jail sentence and over $25,000 in fines if convicted on charges of controlled dangerous substance possession, possession of marijuana and CDS possession-not marijuana.

This case demonstrates how a drug arrest can result from a series of events where an officer has probable cause and then he or she can perform a search of a vehicle. This is why it is important to understand your rights in a search and seizure situation.

Even if an officer does have probable cause and uncovers an illicit substance or piece of paraphernalia, you are under no obligation to offer an explanation or say anything that may prove self-incriminating. You always have the right to have an attorney present during questioning, and if you are arrested, the police must inform you of that right.

If you are ever arrested after a search and seizure of illicit drugs, you may want to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A drug conviction can have a serious impact on your life. However, you have rights and an attorney can investigate the arrest to see if those rights were violated. The attorney could then work on building a case that may have the charges reduced or dismissed.

Source: The BayNet, “Vehicle check leads to drug charges,” Marty Madden, Feb. 9, 2016