On a Roadtrip, <20z. Posession of Marijuana in Texas

[Elparkino]

Texas

Hi everyone.

I'm a 23 Yr old student from Florida. I spent the summer working in Yellowstone National Park, and a friend and I decided to tour the west on our way back to our respective homes on the east coast with the money we had saved.

On our way through the Texas panhandle (Dallam Co., Texas) we were pulled over for doing 73 while passing a truck in a 70mph zone and the officer, obviously suspicious of something, asked to search the car. My friend, who was driving at the time consented and in the trunk in the bottom of one of my bags in a first aid kit he found a partially smoked joint that neither of us knew was there.

I was arrested (my friend and the car were released) and spent the night in jail. In the morning a court date was set and I was bailed out. The bondsman was given $1000 collateral in addition to %10 and gave me the advice that I should be in contact with the prosecutor and the judge about my situation and said it was possible that I could plea over the phone and not have to come back if I explained I can't afford the trip or the time away to go back to Texas to appear in court.

I've seen the 180 days incarceration and up to $2000 fine that's written in the law and that is terrifying. Though, I have no criminal history and have never been arrested in addition to being from across the country.

What am I likely facing?

[blove29]

6 months deferred probation probably. And talk to the Judge about getting this expunged off of your record. Which means employers etc will never be able to see it on your record.

[dave33]

I would say you are facing probation and a fine. I have never heard of being allowed to make a criminal court appearance over the phone. Some prisons do video court, but that's when you are in prison. Maybe Texas is different, I cannot see your bondsman misleading you as far as the court appearance situation goes.