Even when a person charged with a drug crime in Texas is a minor, the consequences can still be dire. Penalties for juvenile offenders are generally lesser than for adults charged with the same crime, but the state takes drug-related offenses very seriously. A young person who has gotten into this kind of trouble needs an experienced juvenile attorney in Tyler, TX for assistance.
Facing the Unexpected
Teenagers tend to be skilled in deceit when they feel they need to be. Parents are often shocked when they discover their child has not only been using illegal mind-altering substances but has been arrested for possession, or worse, selling contraband or intent to sell. In many cases, this young person has not been causing trouble in other aspects of life. They may be getting decent grades in school, participating in extracurricular activities and maintaining friendships with so-called “good” kids.
Drugs in Vehicles
A juvenile attorney in Tyler, TX uses various strategies to help teenagers avoid the most severe penalties associated with conviction. There may be questionable circumstances, such as the defendant having been caught in a car that had illegal drugs inside.
It’s not always easy for the prosecution to prove who actually owned those substances, especially if the car belonged to someone else or more than one person was in the vehicle. Maybe law enforcement officials had to make a judgment call and arrested the person who was sitting closest to the contraband or who owned the vehicle. With the prosecution having to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, this type of arrest can make things difficult for that side.
The Legal Definition of Possession
Having experienced legal representation from a firm such as the Law Firm of Holmes & Moore, PLLC is crucial in these instances. The law views possession as holding a substance even if the person was not technically the owner. Thus, a teenager alone in a car with someone else’s marijuana or other illegal drug can justifiably be charged with possession. Unless the actual owner of the substances confesses, this young person is at significant risk of being sentenced to time in a juvenile detention facility.
