Minor Posession-Marijuana

[jtmac]

West Virginia is the state.

This past weekend I was in an appartment with about 7 people drinking and someone passed around a bowl of marijuana and we smoked it. After we got done smoking and set the bowl down on the table there was a knock on the door. Only the door was cracked open and the police walked on in. Now, I know that this it the major mistake that someone made and I know that some of you may say that with out the door open nothing would have happened, which I understand. The problem I have is that there were 7 people sitting around a table, one bowl and a small baggie of less than a gram of weed in it. The officer told me that since nobody else would take the blame that he was going to ticket me for posession and contraband no one else recieved a ticket and just watched me take the punishment. It was not my weed or contraband but I recieved the ticket. We never discussed anything with the officer about whose it was or anything. I never made and admission to guilt. Now I have to go to court for it and I am facing 600 in fines that as a college student, I just dont have the money for. Is there anyway to plead out of this or am I totally screwed?

 

[Pfaffing85690]

It was your apartment right?

You're screwed.

 

[HomeGuru]

West Virginia is the state.

This past weekend I was in an appartment with about 7 people drinking and someone passed around a bowl of marijuana and we smoked it. Now I have to go to court for it and I am facing 600 in fines that as a college student, I just dont have the money for. Is there anyway to plead out of this or am I totally screwed?

**A: you could plead, "Your Homer, I was just totally stoned man and I promise I did not smoke the bowl, and although I was drunk man, I still knew that it was not my apartment and I am a college student and I don't have $600 bucks to pay the fine man since I used my last dollars buying beer and the pot. And everyone else smoked and drank too. Do you need their names and addresses?"

 

[jtmac]

Thanks everyone for the great help. I know that I screwed up, but I'm not a stoner moron. Thanks for the generalizations and smartass comments, they will be very helpful in court tomorrow. I read some dumb posts that everyone made fun of and I tried to make it so someone would at least give some advice. Thanks.

 

[mykoleary]

I tried to make it so someone would at least give some advice. Thanks.

Here's some advice: stop getting high!! If you smoke up expect to get caught, and don't piss and moan when you do.

BTW - learn how to hide the smell a little bit. You know, incense, air purifiers, bounty rollup tubes, etc...

 

[calatty]

The police don't have the right to just walk into people's apartment unless they have a warrant or someone gave them consent to enter. Unless there is more to the story, you might be able get the evidence suppressed by challenging the legality of their entry As far as the possession charge, as long as you had the ability to exercise control over the weed, which apparently you did, you can be found guilty of possession.

 

[mykoleary]

The police don't have the right to just walk into people's apartment unless they have a warrant or someone gave them consent to enter. Unless there is more to the story, you might be able get the evidence suppressed by challenging the legality of their entry As far as the possession charge, as long as you had the ability to exercise control over the weed, which apparently you did, you can be found guilty of possession.

Or, they smelled pot coming from the apt and did a knock and enter because they had reason to believe announcing their presence could lead to evidence being destroyed...

 

[Xanque]

..........

It sounds like all it was was a misdemeanor charge, if that's the case just pay the fine and don't do anything stupid again. It's doubtful you'll have to serve any time so don't worry yourself so much over what really is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. I am btw, NO lawyer or Law professional. I AM however a FORMER partier who has seen my share of trouble.

 

[drugfree]

i agree with xanque. i know people who have gotten a lot more than a 600 dollar fine, for possesion like that. but if the cop didnt have a search warrant, or any other reason to come in like that mabey you could fight that. or mabey you could plead not guilty and put the blame on your friends. but it is probaly best not to make it a big deal, 600 dollars sucks but at leaast its not jail.