Sometimes, getting pulled over in a traffic stop in Louisiana is merely an inconvenience. An officer may issue some type of warning and send a motorist on his or her way. In other situations, such as one that recently occurred in Morehouse, traffic stops can quickly turn into serious criminal defense situations if the attending officer suspects a drug-related crime has been committed.
A 59-year-old man was behind the wheel when police pulled him over in a traffic stop. At some point, police say they found illegal drugs in the man’s possession. They reportedly obtained multiple search warrants, which exacerbated the situation and has placed the man’s freedom at risk.
Officers claim they seized several motor vehicles, $70,000 in cash and narcotic drugs they estimate to be worth at least $200,000 on the street. The man now faces a slew of serious drug charges. He’s in jail with a bond set at $387,000. The man’s arrest follows a massive drug investigation that has been ongoing in the same parish for months.
Aggressive criminal defense is often needed to mitigate such circumstances. Even if a conviction is handed down in court, a seasoned Louisiana defense attorney may be able to convince the court to issue a lighter sentence that the maximum allowed by law. In such situations, things often get worse before they get better; however, every defendant has a right to build as strong a defense as possible to fight any and all charges against him or her in court. Typically, the best way to do that is to allow an experienced attorney to act on one’s behalf.
Source: thenewsstar.com, “Morehouse sheriff seizes $200k in drugs, $70k in cash“, Ashley Mott, July 14, 2017
