Charged with Misdemeanor Drug Abuse, in Ohio

[JPVR4]

I am 17 years old and I was just recently charged with misdemeanor drug abuse. A friend and I were sitting in his car on an almost empty street in the back of a neighborhood trying to figure out what we were going to do. A police car pulls behind us, he walks up, asks what we are doing and for our IDs. I currently have a suspended license, thus I had to provide him with my social and such. The officer asks to search the car. My friend steps out and is searched first, in his pocket is a very small bag of marijuana. I am asked to step out next and am searched. I have nothing on me.

After they have completed their search I am placed in the back of a patrol car and told what I am being charged with and why. Apparently there was a very small bud of marijuana on the floor board of where I was sitting, the passenger seat, that I did not know about. In the glove box they also found a bowl which I was unaware of. Two of the three officers who were there continually called me a f***ing liar amongst other things that are blatantly rude. I did resist nor did I hold back information.

The officer who first arrived and approached the car said that he could smell marijuana the second he walked up which I find to be particularly intriguing seeing how there had been no marijuana smoked at all. I am going to take a drug test, which I am positive will show up clean, to take to court.

What can I do to lessen the potential punishment for the charges? I understand there is no possibility of having it dropped, however I did nothing wrong.

[aaron]

Sure there's a possibility of having it dropped. If you're insistent upon rolling over and playing dead, you should also look into first offender sentencing, assuming you don't have priors. Consult a local criminal defense lawyer.

[kist]

Yes like Aaron said it can be dropped. But only if you step up to the plate and do what you need to do. Don't let them scare you or make you cop a plea - go for a win.

[JPVR4]

Sure there's a possibility of having it dropped. If you're insistent upon rolling over and playing dead, you should also look into first offender sentencing, assuming you don't have priors. Consult a local criminal defense lawyer.

I spoke with an attorney yesterday. She said that she will be able to work positively with my case. I am taking the initiative to do a drug test tomorrow, which I am positive will show up clean. It is my feeling that by doing this willingly it well help my case. Aside from a couple speeding tickets, there is nothing on my record.

I did not allow the officers on scene to scare me into anything, I understand bits of the law as well as my rights as a citizen. I would, however, like to know if there is any formal complaint process about police officers. Just because you have a badge, that should not allow you to mistreat any individual. As I stated before, I did not resist nor did I withhold information.

To provide some examples of how I was treated, these are some of the things that were said to me.

-"You are a f***ing liar" This was said several times.

-"Cops hate liars, so why are you lying, you know what...don't even answer that because I know you are a f***ing liar"

-"Do you think you are pretty smart...because I know you're not smart"

Those are just a few examples.

[JPVR4]

Yes like Aaron said it can be dropped. But only if you step up to the plate and do what you need to do. Don't let them scare you or make you cop a plea - go for a win.

I am uncertain about the outlines of miranda rights, but these officers attempted to pressure me into confessing something that was untrue. They were asking me incriminating questions, weren't satisfied with the answers I provided, and continued to swear at me as well as degrade me.