On Sept. 5, two Tennessee residents were taken into police custody after they were accused of being in possession of large amounts of cocaine and heroin. The individuals were identified as a 31-year-old Nashville woman and her 48-year-old mother.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the younger woman’s Dellway Villa Road residence. During the search, authorities reportedly found three other individuals and an infant. Police recovered nine baggies of cocaine that totaled about 83 grams. They also found 33 grams of heroin in another bag. In addition to the drugs, a ledger containing a record of marijuana sales, a .45 caliber handgun and about $2,270 in cash was recovered.
Both women maintained that the drugs and the gun were not theirs and had been left at the residence by someone else. As a result of what was found during the search, the woman and her mother were both charged with possession of cocaine and heroin near a school. They were also facing weapons charges.
When authorities have reasons to believe that a person is committing drug crimes, they still have to follow specific procedures and have probable cause before they can get a search warrant. If they do not follow these procedures properly, any evidence that is found could be ruled inadmissible at trial. As a result, the prosecution may be willing to negotiate less severe penalties in exchange for a guilty plea. If crucial evidence can be suppressed or the prosecution lacks evidence altogether, a criminal defense attorney could mount a strong strategy that may result in a dismissal of the charges or a reduction in the severity of the consequences.
Source: FOX 17, “Nashville mother and daughter charged with possession of 33 grams heroin, 83 grams cocaine“, Sept. 6, 2017
