YouLiveAndLearn

About a week ago my friend and I were caught with an 8th bag each and one pipe in my car. I am a Juvenile in Ohio and need some answers. First off the reason I was pulled over was because my headlights were off as I pulled out of BP. The officer walked up to the car and asked "do you know why I pulled you over" I answered and I knew exactly what I had done. He then proceded to ask if I had been drinking and then proceded to search my car. When he found the pipe and marijuana I asked to call my father and let him know what had happened. The officer told me no and took my cell phone and threw me in the back of his car. He then read me my rights. He then threatened to call my school and talk to the coachs of my football team if I did not fully cuoperate. This of course is my biggest worry because the school I attend is a private school and really and honestly is the best thing that has ever happened to me not to mention I love the game of football and if I lose both of those I don't know what I'd do. So of course scared of losing that I talked and gave up a name of someone that I had once bought from. He has yet to file charges and this was my first time offense. The name I said while in the car was that of another Juvenile who they have been after for sometime but can't seem to catch him red-handed. They made me the offer to do a "sting" like operation to "bring this kid down" and they would drop the charges. At first I was all for it considering the circumstances. My father was completely against it and we consulted an attorney and he said that the officer doesn't even have the authority to drop the charges and that they make false promises all the time. Hearing it from both my father and the attorney I decided against that. My dad then proceded to call the officer and try reasoning with him telling him that I am an honor student and I play football and that I really am a good kid who just made an incredibly stupid mistake. The officer said he could do nothing. My real question is what do you think my punishment will be? Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

NOTE: The officer has still yet to file the charges which is really beginning to chap my ass because I'd really like to know whether or not he is going to go through with all this.

troublemaker_42

First off, did you give permission to have the vehicle searched? If so, that was your first mistake. Secondly, you gave up a source....bad move. If you play the game, be prepared to pay the price yourself, and not implicate others just because you had the misfortune of getting caught. If official charges WERE filed, then no, it is up the the prosecuting attorney to drop the charges, and it is no longer in the hands of the officer. Do NOT go along with th sting operation. A misdameanor possession charge is NOT worth it, IMO. Think about it....the person who sold you the weed isn't at fault here. he simply provided you with a service you obviously wanted. Why would you be a part of something that is punishing HIM, when YOU were the one who got caught? Trust me, its NOT a good idea. This coming from someone who was placed in a similiar situation. Of course, I was working for the govt when I got caught. i was told I would immediately lose my job if I didn't cooperate with the sting. Guess what? I was soon unemployed. Was it worth it? YES I still have my dignity and pride. I took my punishment, which consisted of about 600 bucks in fines, and the loss of my job. The way I see it, if I want to go undercover for the cops, I'll get hired by a police Dept and get PAID for what I am doing. I refuse to do it to save my own ass.

StewScum

I 100 percent agree with Trouble maker, you should have released the name of your dealer to save your own ass from a misdameanor drug charge. Also, i wouldnt even call the officer any more, if he doesn't file the charges, then you dont get charged, simple as that. The next time your in a situation like that, and the cops begin to start threatening you or offering you promises, do not believe it. Cops will try to get you to give up information to form a better case against you, not to help you. The moment he read you your right to remain silent, you should have shut your mouth. I am also curious on how he came to search your car, if he didn't ask to search, then i don't see his probable cause to do so anyway. You said you have this private school and this football thing going for you, but it was your decision to take the risk of involving yourself with an illegal activity. If you can't pay the price for what you do, then don't do it anymore.

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Life is like a pot of stew, if you don't stir it up every once and a while, all the scum rises to the top -Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.

Phyxius

Even if you don't give permission to search the car, some officers will say they have probable cause and do it anyway. Can someone give me details on this? What to do if that happens? What actually is probable cause and when, if ever, do they have the right to search a car without permission?

silver_haze

Hmm. I was sure that I posted a retraction for the felony portion of this... I guess maybe my computer fubared. Post corrected; I was WAY off base. What I learned this time was that as long as you were pulled over because you broke the law in some way, the officer can arrest you if he wants. Once you're under arrest, he can legally search your car regardless of your wishes.
Also, I got laughed at by my sister the L-2. What a day.

Just cleaned this one up so the board wouldn't be cluttered with my mistakes, because that one was about three million pages long and full of useless information that apparently came out of someone's patootie.

My only remaining piece of advice boils down to this: if there's going to be weed in your life, you'd better know what you're going to do if the wrong people find out about it.

Your best resources are norml.org and people experienced in this like Niteshift and K9.

Today's lesson: I shouldn't post while sober.
silver

YouLiveAndLearn

The person I gave up is not even a "dealer" per say he is more of a delivery boy. Like I mentioned the cops have known for a long time about this kid I wasn't the first to bring it to their attention. I had already decided against the "sting" or whatever because it was plain stupid the more I thought about it.

troublemaker_42

No matter where he is on the heirarchy of dealing, it was flat out wrong to bring his name into it unnecessarily. Like I said, he was doing you a favor, and this is the kind of thing he gets in return? Sure, the cops may have had their suspicions before this incident, but you gave them even more concrete evidence. Besides, its common for police to assure you they already had concerns about this person. In my case, they showed me a big file with my dealer's name on it, saying they already have had many people mention his name, so I wouldn't be doing anything wrong if I went ahead and made a controlled buy from him. You were wrong to bring him into it, its as simple as that. being scared or intimidated was no reason to rat someone else out. Where did it get you? You are still facing the same potential charges. This in no way helped you, and I wouldn't feel differently even if the charges were dropped. When you enter the world of illegal substances, you take a risk, wether you like it or not. That risk should be your own, not the person who supplied you. By mentioning this guy's name, you put him at a very real risk of PRISON time, where you were more than likely facing probation and/or a moderate fine. Is that in any way shape or form right? I think not.

40sAndRawlins

The very worse thing that can happen to you at this point, if they still go and press charges, unless you get an asshole judge, is level 1-2 probation for first time offenders.
I from MA, and i know quite abit about the sheriffs department. You can get away with actually quite a bit, a while back i got put on level 1 probation for stealing they put me on drug tests (on level 1 i know stupid, but it was courts orders) and havent passed one since then.

....btw...
Where i grew up snitches dont live long

Coolguy

Oh! If that's true then it's perfectly okay!

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troublemaker_42

Yup, its ok if you narc on someone the police may already be suspicious of....I can''t believe you didn't know that part of the "Smokers Code of Ethics" Coolguy! Some people just don't get it I guess......