My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio
Here are some quick facts of the case:
so my significant other just got charged with drug abuse/possession of marijuana.
he was in a parking lot when bars were closing and when our towns policemen check to see if the business doors were locked. A cop noticed three guys in a car and decided to go up to the car and ask what they were doing, must have seen the pipe/or smelled it and then searched the car. each one of them had a bag on them (probably about 1/8th each)
After doing some research and not understanding why it wasn't 100 dollar fine and considered a minor mis., since ohio law states that as a punishment. We found out in our town (where there is a mayors court) if you have less then 200 grams on you, the charge is a 3rd degree misdemeanor, instead of the state law of 100 fine and ticket, and its considered a minor misdemeanor.
from what i have learned: mayors court is a no records court, so it does not go on your record. However the other friend with them teaches and they were wondering if that will revoke his license
nobody in the car wants to lose their license for 6 months, they got a lawyer that had the case transferred to the county municipal court.
-This being said will the judge follow the law of mayors courts code by keeping the charges at a 3rd degree mis.? or will he apply the county laws and lower the charges to minor mis?
another part of the story is he already has a drug abuse/and parahinillia charge from the mayors court over 3 years ago ( his punishment for this was 6 months suspended license and fines).
-Will this show up at the current county hearing since it went through the mayors court system?
-i am just wondering if they will see his prior and he will get worse punishment because of this?
If anyone has any advice or information about mayors court and how it works, and if the county judge will see his prior since he was found guilty in the mayors court.
sorry if i did poorly at explaining this, feel free to ask more specific questions to be able to answer my questions well!

