Some Advice...

First of all, hello all at GC. Im sorry if this is in the wrong section but i figured this would be about the best place to ask something. I need to know if I should fight a possession and paraphernalia charge I got yesterday.

The Story.

Me and My friend were driving home last night to drop me off after chilling at a friends house. My friend asked me if i wanted to roadie a bowl back and I said hell yeah. We pulled over in a street and he packed the bowl and then we started moving again but before he lit it up he accidently kinda ran a stop sign in front of a police cruiser. My friend hands me the freshly packed pipe and tells me to put it under my seat. The cop pulls us over and tells my friend his plates are expired (by 4 days lol) and asks why he ran the stop sign. My friend says that he just didnt notice it in time (and he did try to stop, he kinda rolled thru it though). Then the cop asks why the car smells like marijuana and we try to pull off the whole "we werent smoking but we were around other people who were" but they take my friend out and handcuff him and then do the same with me while they search the car. They ofc find his pipe, the bud, his grinder, and his scale (batteries were out so he didnt get a distribution charge).

Throughout this whole ordeal, I pretty much do not say a word other than "I do not know, not to my knowledge, not my car etc. The cop then asks my if im not going to cooperate with this ongoing investigation he is going to charge me with obstruction of justice along with possesion and para. I continue to observe my right when talking to them and they put me in a second cruiser that had arrived. They probably come over 3 or 4 times now and ask me if i would like to change my story and i refuse. They then tell me that my friend told them that i sold him the bud and that the pipe grinder and scale were mine (This was completely false, he admitted to owning everything in the car to them and said I didnt even know about the pipe). The first cop tells me I am being charged with possesion and paraphanalia.

They take us down to the station and some chick cop reads me my rights and asks me to sign a sheet of paper. I take the paper read it and realize its a consent to make a statement form. I told her I did not consent to make a statement and she goes ballistic on me telling me that I could get charged with distribution and go to jail if i do not cooperate. I tell her again i do not wish to make a statement. They pretty much leave me alone after that, getting mugshot, fingerprints etc. and then they tell me I am being released as they hold my friend for another hour or so.

So my question here is, what are my chances in fighting this in court and is there any obvious violaton of my rights according to my story? I didnt know cops could threaten you with bogus charges to get you to consent to a statement. I know I am new here but I really need your help guys. Thank you soo much in advance.

PS: this was in a suburb of Milwaukee, WI

TLDR: I got a paraphernalia and possession ticket for having a pipe under my seat when my friend even told them it was his.

 

Thank you all for the helpful advice.

Right now I'm considering asking for a public defender and plead not guilty to the charges. I haven't gotten the ticket yet (they are mailing it) but depending on the first court date/ size of fine and other implications on my record (I would rather fight it in court mostly because i cannot have it affecting my financial aid or have to explain it when applying for jobs).

Me and my friend are going to meet up tonight and go over what our options are.