What To Do After Being Arrested For Drug Possession in Texas
Some Super Helpful advice from a former Texas state prosecutor
1. Remain calm and polite
You won’t do yourself any favors if you get visibly upset or angry with law enforcement. Assume everything you do and say is being recorded. (It probably is!)
2. Do not make any statements to police and ask to speak to a lawyer
And then stop talking! You have a Constitutional right to remain silent. Use it! Anything you say can and will be used against you! You’ve heard this before on TV and movies, and it’s true. The prosecutors will try and twist anything and everything you say to police to help prove their case against you. In addition, a jury can never hear that you invoked your right to an attorney. It is important to remain silent after asking for a lawyer. If a person starts talking again after invoking their 5th amendment rights, the law says they have waived their right to remain silent.
3. Do not consent to the search of your home, vehicle, or cell phone
Do not fall for “if you don’t consent to this search, then we will just get a warrant.” Just remain silent after saying no. They can get a warrant if there is probable cause, but there is no sense in doing their job for them. In addition, if they do not properly apply for the search warrant, or don’t get a warrant, anything they discover as a result of the search may be able to be suppressed through a Motion to Suppress Evidence by your attorney.
4. Be aware that your social media accounts can be used against you!
In today’s world, prosecutors regularly will look up people’s social media profiles looking for evidence of drug use, drug dealing, gang affiliation, weapons, and other circumstantial evidence that you have committed a crime. We all are guilty of sharing too much information on the internet. Don’t let it cause you to be found guilty of a drug charge.
5. Hire an experienced drug crimes lawyer today
If you’ve been arrested or made aware of a narcotics investigation, you should hire an experienced drug crimes lawyer immediately. Drug charges have numerous long term consequences, including a permanent felony conviction on your record, fines, asset seizure and forfeiture, loss of job, expulsion from school, and suspension of your driver’s license. Your best bet in beating the case is an aggressive lawyer on your side.
