Quick question for you about drug possession. My son who is a freshman at a college in Boston was recently arrested while carrying a small amount of cocaine (He says he bought it for friend who wanted it for her party). My wife and I are wondering if we should spend our money (which we can afford) to hire an attorney to help him defend against these charges or let him deal with the issue on his own. We are disgusted by his poor judgement, but his in not about teaching him a lesson. He is very sorry and understands his mistake. I was just wondering if, in your opinion, given the tiny amount of drugs involved if we are better off letting him deal with the matter on his own, as he wants to do. He says he made the mess and he will clean it up. In other words, is hiring a top notch defender going to make any difference or will he end up with the same type of plea bargain? Thanks.
Submitted by MTheberge on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 09:25
Defending against drug possession in MA
Yes! Drug possession charges and convictions can effect your son's life for many years to come. While there are many dedicated and talented public defenders, hiring an attorney will ensure that your son's case is the only case he is handling in court that day, instead of the typical crushing workload our state requires of its' public defenders. In addition to attacking the Commonwealth's case through a pre-trial motion to suppress or trial your attorney should investigate a number of alternative dispositions to minimize the effect these charges will have on your sons life. Deal with whatever discipline you feel is appropriate privately and hire a great attorney to fight the charges in court. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Attorney Kevin Gaughen Jr.
DISCLAIMER: This answer is provided in response to a "hypothetical" question and provided for general, informational purposes and does not create an attorney/client relationship. The information presented is not legal advice and may change based additional information and research. It is recommended that you speak to an attorney to discuss your specific legal issues. This is not intended to constitute legal advertising or solicitation, but rather to educate.
Criminal defense
I strongly agree with Attorney Gaughen. At this stage in your son's life, I would say the overriding concern should be keeping his criminal record and history as clean as possible so, in a few years, when he is looking for a job, this unfortunate incident will not haunt him. If you can afford a top-notch attorney, that is the route you should take. Even if your son offers some resistance, you should guide him toward this option as best you can.
Automatic License Suspension for Drug Possession
If your son is convicted of possession of cocaine, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will automatically suspend his license or right to operate in Massachusetts for one (1) year. Many people do not realize this.
You can find out by following this link:
http://www.suspendedlicensehelp.com/mass-dui-suspensions-drug-related.asp