A couple nights ago me and my friends were enjoying some herb out of out new bong outside on a bench near my dorm (a semi-hidden area). When right as we finished a bike cop pulled out of nowhere and asked us what we were doen. I straight up said we were smoken pot (i had a 15 inch bong sitting next to me). He then calls a couple more cops. By the time they all got there they started questioning me and my friends and than eventually cuffed me and my friend and took us to the station, the other 2 kids got away with nothen. They ended up fingerprinting us and taken photos and I am currently charged with a Class 4 Felony for possession (i had roughly .2g left on me) and a Class 6 Felony for paraphernalia. My friend got a Class 1 Misdeamoner for paraphernalia (he had my ashcatcher). So basically what I am asking here is any advice in getting the charges dropped. I have no criminal backround, I dont even have a parking ticket. I have no idea what I am supposed to do (no court date given). I was thinking about trying to talk to the arresting cop or someone and doing pre-trial defferment. I basically want to walk in there and say i fucked up and if i can get a second chance. If i can make this work I can get both charges dropped completely and have to take a class on drugs, and probation for like 6 months. Anyone have any experience on this subject or have any advice in what I can do to have these charges dropped and get this over with?
I just perused the Arizona statutes. A first year public defender will be able to get you off the felony charges and down to a ordinance violation. They won't be dropped, but it will get a whole lot better. For future reference, never admit to police that you are smoking pot. Remember your 5th amendment rights. You have the right to remain silent. The burden of proof is on the prosecution.
So should I just wait for a court date or should I try to handle this out of court? I just dont want my family finding out so im trying to take care of this asap
It's you against the state of Arizona... there's no handling it out of court. Your family will probably find out, but part of being an adult is owning up to those types of things. I had to do it. It was no fun, but it happened, and everyone eventually moved on. It wasn't that painful explaining to my family that I got arrested for paraphernalia. They understood I was a college student and things like that would happen, and my parents are REALLY anti pot. I'm not entirely sure how the process works in AZ, but contact the DA's office before your court date and get a public defender. Since you are facing a felony and jail time is an option, you are eligible to receive one (a defender, that is) at no cost. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth. Good luck!
Thanks for all the help! I asked the cop when I was leaving what would probably happen, he said most likely i would pay a small fine and take a class. And the pre-trial stuff I was talking about is actually usable in a case like this! I have heard and read that I can find a lawyer and negotiate a agreement with the courts and have the charges dropped to a misdemeanor or dropped completly with an agreement, im not sure if thats true or not. My friends dad is a lawyer so i plan on talking to him about it.
The outlook isn't all that bad. A friend of mine (in WI) recently got his possession + paraphernalia dropped to littering. Hope should not be lost.
Im not to worried about it, just trying to get it all figured out and tryen to get this to blow by fast so i can get back to herb haha