Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Maryland
I am a minor and was recently caught dealing drugs. I regret ever going near drugs, but its to late now for that. They let me go without arresting me as they see how naive I am and that I ultimately regret my actions. They say I still need to go in front of a judge with possible repercussions of my acts. This is not my concern. My iPhone had information on many illegal things. Things I never did or would have ever done. I in my spare time would research all of these things and copy information on how to do these things and get away with them. I signed up for illegal websites were I gathered information from the websites as a hobby. I was planning on dealing drugs through one of the sites. Are all of the things on my phone able to be used against me. They confiscated my phone and are going to use it as evidence. I understand the bad things I have done and regret them, but I know that I have made my own bed with this one. Is the fact that in my phone I speak as if I was a person who committed all of these crimes which I never would think of, able to be used against me?
As a side note, my girlfriend who is 16 years old,(as am I), sent me naked pictures via text. Can either of us get in trouble for that.
If you answer my question it would provide relief for me. I have not been able to sleep more than an hour for the past few days and I am more afraid now then I have ever been of anything. If the outcome of this whole experience is that I get off, I will never look in the direction of such things again. I have already put into motion the things that will make me able to go back to school and live a successful life as a upstanding member of society. I just hope one day when I have kids, my experiences will help guide them in the right direction, as I now have been by my own error. I pray I am not jailed for my acts, but understand I am very deserving.
I told the detective who spoke to me about the pictures and they didn't seem to care about them. He completely dismissed it. Although at the time I dont believe I mentioned the person in said pictures was under-age.
I was also told over and over again I am not going to Jail. In fact I was told I most likely will have to take class's on drugs, but that is all. One other detective told me It is very possible I will be dealing with hard time depending on what they uncover from my phone.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
Everything on your phone can be reviewed. They have probable cause and can search it at will. Whether or not the police will is a prediction I cannot make.
Your naked pictures are pornography. Possession child porn is a serious crime - felony level for each picture. The production of child porn is also a serious crime - felony level for each picture. Again, whether or not the police will prosecute is not within our ability to predict.
As to the rest of your post - where you brag about committing crimes that you did not commit, that is more gray. In most cases, if you say you have committed a crime, the police will believe you.
Never take legal advice from the police officers that are arresting you. You need legal counsel and quickly. You have given the police a treasure trove of information to use against you.
I don't see where you mention your parents' reaction to your activities. If you are hoping you can get through this without involving them, you are incorrect.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
I have not herd anything from the police. I have tried contacting the detective in charge of the Narco unit who gave me his card to no avail. Does this mean they aren't going after me. Zero contact in a weeks time since they came and took the drugs out of my house. Is it possible the cop really believed how afraid I was and that I will never do something like this again? I clearly learned my lesson and will never go near anything illegal again. I am afraid to get my drivers license now because what if I do something illegal? Even a minor traffic violation. I have become extremely paranoid. I have basically reformed my life. I have applied for a few jobs and am going on the straight path. If the cop see's this and that I am true is it possible that I wont even have to go in front of a judge. Any help is appreciated as a week later I still have not slept more than a few hours and fear the worst.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
I suspect that the delay has more to do with waiting for results from the crime lab, confirming the nature of the drugs in your possession, and perhaps the investigation of some of the "many illegal things" revealed by the content of your phone.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
Getting a job isn't going to change the criminal charges.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
Quote:
Quoting
mark123456
I have not herd anything from the police. I have tried contacting the detective in charge of the Narco unit who gave me his card to no avail. Does this mean they aren't going after me. Zero contact in a weeks time since they came and took the drugs out of my house. Is it possible the cop really believed how afraid I was and that I will never do something like this again? I clearly learned my lesson and will never go near anything illegal again. I am afraid to get my drivers license now because what if I do something illegal? Even a minor traffic violation. I have become extremely paranoid. I have basically reformed my life. I have applied for a few jobs and am going on the straight path. If the cop see's this and that I am true is it possible that I wont even have to go in front of a judge. Any help is appreciated as a week later I still have not slept more than a few hours and fear the worst.
I won't be able to give you peace.
I agree with the other posters...you didn't say how much you were caught dealing and the type, but I would doubt they will rely on your inborn sense of good and evil to punish you. You see, the police (and courts and, for that matter, society) believe that if you truly did have an effective moral compass that you wouldn't have been dealing drugs to other children in the first place.
But, I digress. In my experience, the only reason you are on the straight and narrow now is because you are scared out of your mind. Every day, that fear will lessen a bit. In three months or so, you will be right back to where you were before you got caught... dealing poison to children. The police and the courts know this and they know a more harsh penalty should be enforced if there is enough evidence.
That evidence would be your phone and the drugs they took from you.
Plan on being arrested. I don't see where you have told your parents yet. I am guessing that means you haven't. I would recommend you do so ESPECIALLY if the cop calls you back to become a confidential informer - A situation that you have about a 50/50 chance of finding yourself in.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
It was done when my parents reported me to the police and had them searched my room. In my room they found about 5 ounces of packaged marijuana. I confessed to myself planning on dealing. I never dealt any substance. I was planning on it it, but it never happened. Either way, what can I expect as a 16 year old with a clean record? What will realistically happen? Saying that I will be arrested is pretty vague to me. Will I do time? Will I just be required to go to a drug class?
Thanks for your answers even though you see me as the scum of society. Whether anyone believes it or not, people make mistakes. As a young person I still have the opportunity to learn from said mistakes so that my life as an adult will be good.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
You're off to juvenile court?
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
You can expect a variety of things, but we don't know the judge or prosecutor in your area. Your parents do need to get a lawyer for you. And they'll be paying a lot of money for whatever punishment you get.
Court costs and fines.
Drug classes. Possibly rehab.
Community Service.
Supervised probation with random drug testing. Strict curfew (by the court, not the parents).
Juvenile detention.
You can expect that your drivers license will be suspended, or a delay in getting it.
You may find you won't be participating in extracurricular activities at school, or it may even affect your chance at college financial aid/scholarships.
I would get a McJob but don't count on it having an impact on your sentence.
Re: Minor Caught Selling Drugs, Illegal Content on Smart Phone
Just for the record, you didn't make a mistake. A mistake is falling and dropping your phone. A mistake is tripping on the sidewalk and falling down.
You made a conscious effort and plan to sell drugs to children. That took time and organization. That wasn't a mistake.