America has some of the strictest drug laws in the entire world. In the last twenty years, these laws have become ever stronger, fueled by mandatory sentencing laws that can cause first-time drug offenders to spend years or decades behind bars. Tens of thousands of Americans are currently incarcerated for drug-related offenses.
Thankfully, that trend of tougher punishment seems to be reversing somewhat. As we mentioned in a previous post, Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced that federal prosecutors would no longer be pursuing mandatory minimum sentences for first-time, non-violent drug offenders. But that doesn’t mean that drug users will no longer face serious prison time if convicted.
In particular, those accused of drug crimes often have to face many charges, all for the same general activity. Possessing different types of drugs, for example, results in additional charges. Using a telephone while dealing drugs is another offense. Possessing drug paraphernalia, such as a pipe or zipper storage bag, is an additional charge. These charges can quickly add up, leading to serious penalties.
These are the difficulties faced by a Mooresville couple, who are each facing multiple drug-related criminal charges. Police visited their home following a drug complaint. The wife led police to the backyard, where they found a pair a marijuana plants. This triggered a search of the home, where police uncovered pipes, syringes, Diazepam and a handgun.
The wife was given five charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a residence for a controlled substance. The husband is facing six charges, including possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Situations such as this one are extremely serious for the accused. When one is accused of multiple charges, the result could be significant fines and large amounts of jail time. Each charge must be examined and considered individually if one is to arrange a defense against them in a court of law.
Source: WCNC-TV, “Mooresville couple arrested on multiple drug charges” No Author Given, Sep. 24, 2013