What penalties should I expect for possession of narcotics paraphernalia?

Question

I'm 18 years old and I live in Las Vegas. Recently my car was searched by police and a bong was found. I have a court date coming up for possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

I've got the option to waive my appearance for 600 dollars, and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to save the money from court costs and possible probation costs, as well as the penalties I could face if I'm convicted.

If I am convicted, am I facing a slap on the wrist, or probation, community service, etc?

Answer 1

5 years

Answer 2

If you are unemployed or earn under a certain amount of money a month, you may qualify for a public defender.Phone the Public Defenders Office and ask. Also, how grungy was the Bong. Was it "clean?" I mean no residue. If it was clean it's not much of a charge. What's your past record like?

Some lawyers give free consultations, 15 minutes. At any rate, get a lawyer. A public defender won't do as good a job for you, as they are swamped with cases. A PD will want to plead you out right away. First talk to a PD and milk him for info. Then go to a private lawyer who handles drug cases "all" the time. IF your record is clean he may get you off completely or probation for something like reckless driving.

Think about why you were stopped? I mean "really" stopped. We're you speeding? Maybe you'll end up with traffic court.

Good luck. The system sucks and nobody cares about you except maybe some overburdened burned out social worker. Maybe, they will care but they are all case hardened. Case Hardened means that one thinks "everybody" is guilty. Cops are case hardened. If your arrested for something and beat it they still feel you're guilty.



A good lawyer could take care of this within three hours (maybe over the phone with somebody he knows at the District Attorneys office if your record is clean )and that's $200 an hour for three hours. If he does it in 15 minutes over the phone, your six hundred bucks is gone but you'll be off.

Go see one. If you're 18 your parents may be able to help you. Act now! I had something like you've got on my record for years and then had it expunged (erased from my record).

YOU HAD BETTER TAKE CARE OF THIS WITH A LAWYER. SEE ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you should become a lawyer. :-)

Answer 3

Traveler is correct! If you can afford a lawyer you will save yourself alot of grief on down the road, and you are just beginning to live.
With a record of drugs, it will come up every time you ever get pulled over!! You have a broken taillight? When they call in with your license it will show that you were convicted of a drug related offense. The cop won't know that it was a bong.
When you hear that someone has a drug conviction, do you ever think it was because of a bong?
Do you see where I am going with this? It's not worth taking the chance going into a courtroom alone.

Answer 4

Careful here! For 600 bucks you can get a decent lawyer. If you are convicted or plead out you have to remember that you will have a record. When you go to get a job etc in the future it will pop up and be embarassing. Probably cost you the job aswell. Get a lawyer and just the fact that you have one will make most of the case go away. They will probably let you plead out to some sort of misdemeanor like disturbing the peace etc. Be serious about this. That record never goes away and can be a real pain in the a**

Answer 5

Only a misdemeanor and if its your 1st offense you may get probation, community svc. etc. depends on the judges personality. I would plea no contest and pay the man.

Answer 6

run, run to space and never come back, because the day you drop the ticket will be a holy war between Egypt and Australia.

Answer 7

Liberals Hate America and are spineless.

Answer 8

dangerous situation cops shoot people for that .