The recent arrest of a man here in Maryland for multiple offenses, including marijuana possession, may have a profound impact upon his life. Many people in this country have been arrested for various crimes relating to drug usage or distribution. However, just because drug charges are relatively common doesn’t mean that the criminal justice system is any more lenient on those accused. This may be exactly what this man experiences if he is convicted of his accused crimes.
Authorities say that the arrest happened on a recent early morning. Officers on foot claim they saw the man and another person in the back seat of a car. The police approached the vehicle, asking the people inside about a smell they say they could detect. The officers say that the two people gave them a bag of what appeared to be marijuana. When police asked the two occupants to step out of the car, one of them allegedly ran off into a grove of trees.
The second person did not attempt to flee, according to police and apparently complied with the officers’ requests. Upon searching the vehicle, police say they found a loaded handgun along with an additional clip. This was enough for police to obtain an arrest warrant for the individual who fled, and officers arrested that man just a few days later. He has been charged with multiple offenses, including possessing more than 10 grams of marijuana and possessing a loaded handgun in his vehicle. Police have not disclosed whether the person who remained in the car and cooperated with authorities has been or will be charged with any crimes.
The accused man could end up serving significant time in jail if he is convicted, but that may not be all. Getting arrested and convicted of drug crimes here in Maryland often has far-reaching consequences in a person’s life, especially if the person is facing additional charges. The most effective means of reducing the impact on an accused person’s life may be working with a criminal defense attorney. Everyone is presumed innocent until, and only if, proven guilty in court and beyond a reasonable doubt.