On Feb. 20, it was reported that Ohio authorities seized drugs, a gun and cash in a home raid. According to the director of the task force in charge of the raid, the search warrant was served at a home located in the 9000 block of Elkton Road in Lisbon.
The authorities seized a number of different drugs, including approximately 2 grams of heroin, 200 grams of cocaine and 137 grams of marijuana. The seized drugs reportedly had a street total of more than $22,500. Additionally, authorities seized drug packaging materials, drug paraphernalia, approximately $3,500 in cash and a .380 pistol. A woman was taken into police custody on multiple drug charges, including felony drug possession. Authorities stated that further charges against the accused woman were pending.
In the state of Ohio, possession of cocaine and the sale or trafficking of cocaine is illegal. The punishments for felony drug possession can range anywhere from a minimum of six months in jail with a maximum $2,500 fine to a maximum of 11 years in jail and a maximum of $20,000 in fines.
There are certain defenses that a criminal law attorney may utilize to defend their client against the charges. For example, if there was evidence that the authorities obtained an illegal search warrant or searched a piece of property without permission from the owner, the attorney may potentially argue that their client’s rights were violated. If this argument is successful, the evidence found during the seizure could become admissible in court. Additionally, if the home or property belonged to someone else, an attorney could potentially argue that the drugs did not belong to the accused person.
Source: Findlaw.com, “Drug Possession Defenses,” March 4, 2015
Source: WKBN, “Drugs, cash and gun found during Lisbon raid,” Feb. 20, 2015