I just got arrested in Texas, what's going to happen to me?

[ShorelineDwarf]

What's up guys? I just got arrested in Valentine's Day for "possession of marijuana in a school zone"; a class A misdemeanor.

I went to jail overnight but my parents bailed me out. I have to go to court for this in March, but this is my first offense. What is likely to happen to me? Probation? If so... usually how long?

Once again, this is my first offensive of any kind, so I'm not sure how the system works. I'm not really worried about anything, I'm just wondering what a fair punishment for my "crime" usually would be.

Thanks guys,
El Dwarf

ShorelineDwarf Reviewed by ShorelineDwarf on 02-19-2008. I just got arrested in Texas, what's going to happen to me? What's up guys? I just got arrested in Valentine's Day for "possession of marijuana in a school zone"; a class A misdemeanor. I went to jail overnight but my parents bailed me out. I have to go to court for this in March, but this is my first offense. What is likely to happen to me? Probation? If so... usually how long? Once again, this is my first offensive of any kind, so I'm not sure how the system works. I'm not really worried about anything, I'm just wondering what a fair Rating: 5

[birdgirl73]

How old are you, Dwarf? That is, are you a juvie or an adult?

Here's the link about state laws from NORML. Click on Texas. Looks like up to one year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine for a class A for the smallest possession amounts. The school zone thing is bad mojo, as you know. You will likely get probation rather than incarceration for a first offense, but the judge can do what he wants on that (within those penalty guidelines shown on the table) and if he thought you were about possession with intent to distribute in that market, well, ouch. You know you need qualified counsel, right? You do. ASAP.
State By State Laws - NORML

Just for the record, what else do you need to do ASAP? Hint: the answer has to do with not carrying weed in your possession anymore. Anywhere. Ever.

[fiddyonefiddy]

yeah in a school zone your fubared. especially in texasss

[ShorelineDwarf]

How old are you, Dwarf? That is, are you a juvie or an adult?

Here's the link about state laws from NORML. Click on Texas. Looks like up to one year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine for a class A for the smallest possession amounts. The school zone thing is bad mojo, as you know. You will likely get probation rather than incarceration for a first offense, but the judge can do what he wants on that (within those penalty guidelines shown on the table) and if he thought you were about possession with intent to distribute in that market, well, ouch. You know you need qualified counsel, right? You do. ASAP.
State By State Laws - NORML

Just for the record, what else do you need to do ASAP? Hint: the answer has to do with not carrying weed in your possession anymore. Anywhere. Ever.

Thanks for the info. ...and btw, I'm 17, which is considered an adult in Texas, which sucks. I'm no old enough to do anything besides go to big boy jail. hah

...and what do you mean by qualified counsel?

[Xyz505]

get a nice lawyer and u will only go to classes or 6 month probation only meybe without supervison

[birdgirl73]

Thanks for the info. ...and btw, I'm 17, which is considered an adult in Texas, which sucks. I'm no old enough to do anything besides go to big boy jail. hah

...and what do you mean by qualified counsel?

It means you need an attorney, Dwarf. Someone who does defense work and can reach out to the municipal court (or the DA if it's county) and make sure you get a fair shake in the proceedings. It's going to cost you or your parents in the vicinity of $1,200 to do that, but that's a better price to pay than the maximum fine and/or penalty. It'll be money well spent. Doesn't have to be a fancy firm lawyer or anyone board-certified. Just has to be someone who's done cannabis citation work before. You can check through that NORML site I linked above and see if you can find some contacts to help guide you in your choice. The yellow pages of the phone book has plenty of listings for just this type of attorney/counselor.

I hate to tell you this, but as a 17-year-old, you're too young to be here. I suspect you know that. I'm going to leave this up so it's available to you to read, but it's my job as a moderator to make this site itself is unavailable to you until you've reached 18. I certainly wish you the very best of luck with your class A misdemeanor.

[thecurious1]

What's up guys? I just got arrested in Valentine's Day for "possession of marijuana in a school zone"; a class A misdemeanor.

I went to jail overnight but my parents bailed me out. I have to go to court for this in March, but this is my first offense. What is likely to happen to me? Probation? If so... usually how long?

Once again, this is my first offensive of any kind, so I'm not sure how the system works. I'm not really worried about anything, I'm just wondering what a fair punishment for my "crime" usually would be.

Thanks guys,
El Dwarf

From NORML's Texas Law site:

* With no prior felony convictions, if convicted of possession of less than one pound of marijuana a judge must impose a sentence of probation with mandatory drug treatment. If no treatment center exists within the jurisdiction, the judge may waive the treatment requirement. They judge can also waive all fines.

My guess is that if you've never been in trouble before and a lawyer can show you're a good student ... involved in extra curricular .... have done community service ... etc etc ...

You might get a slap on the wrist.

The judge might be harsher if it was in a school zone .... Still, if you're a first time offender who has never been in trouble before I would imagine the most you would get is a fine, community service/treatment class... and perhaps probation.

[Herreic68]

Possession:
< 2 oz: up to 180 days: 2,000$
> 2 oz: up to one year; 4,000$
> 4 oz: 180 days-2 years; 10,000$
> 5 lb: 2-10; 10,000$
> 2,000 lb: 5-99; 50,000:thumbsup:

Possession of paraphernalia: 500$

Sale/Delivery:
< .25 oz for no remuneration: up to 180 days; 1,500$
< .25 oz for remuneration: up to one year; 3,000$
> .25 oz 180 days- 2years; 10,000$
> 5 lb 2-20; 10,000$
> 50 lb 5-99; 100,000$
> 2,000 lb 10-99; 100,00$
sale to minor: 2-20; 10,000$

sale within 1,000 ft of school or 300 ft of youth center, public pool, video arcade: penalty doubles

sale of paraphernalia: up to 1 year; 3,000$:wtf:

Spending funds derived from the sale of more than 50 lb is in itself an offense punishable by 5-life or 99 and a fine of 40,000-1,000,000$

Driver's license suspension: 6 months

SOURCE
Boire, Richard Glen. Marijuana Law.Oakland, CA: Ronin Publishing, 1996.

[Euphoric7]

^Wow! What about headshops? Wouldn't they be fined if they even have those in texas?
Above all, those laws disgust me.

[missconspiracy]

It's not paraphernalia if it doesn't have any resin. Clean pipes are tobacco pipes!