Marijuana charge question

[monroe00]

What is the name of your state? Arizona

My friend was arrested a month and a half ago for possession of marijuana and drug paraphornilia (a marijuana pipe). It was about a gram of marijuana. This was his first offense and he still hasen't received a letter in the mail reguarding a court date or conviction. How long does this usually take? Is there a chance that he got off?

 

[The Occultist]

They have over a year to file charges. Odds are that he wasn't let off as the state of Arizona likes to attempt to scare people straight.

How old is your friend? If he is under the age of 18, my advice may not be completely accurate as Arizona actually gives harsher penalties to minors in a further attempt of "scaring them straight". That being said...

Your friend is in luck. The state of Arizona is lenient and likes to give second chance to first-time offenders of non-violent crimes. When your friend eventually does make his court appearance and is asked how he pleads, if the judge doesn't automatically extend this as an option, your friend, instead of pleading, needs to request a Pretrial Conference. He will be given a new court date. The next time he goes in, he will have a chance to speak with the DA and see what they're willing to offer him, which will most likely be Deferred Prosecution, which includes some fees, a drug course, and a [very] light probation, the successful completion of which will result in the charges being dropped against him.

Your friend needs to learn his lesson and take advantage of the second chance the state will be giving him.

 

[monroe00]

he already consulted a lawyer and he said that the courts will either "push it under the rug" which means they would drop it since it was a minor first time offense or they would send papers in the mail reguarding the diversion program (TASC)... does this sound accurate to all of you"?

 

[The Occultist]

For a first time offense, yes, those do sound like viable outcomes.

Unless it was a very very very tiny amount, I wouldn't count on it being pushed under the rug. It may happen, but it usually doesn't.