A Florida woman was charged with new felony drug charges when officials reportedly discovered multiple pills in her possession as she was being booked into the county jail. She was being taken into custody on March 5, after her bond was revoked in connection with previous drug charges. The defendant had been taken into custody in October 2013 on a felony drug possession charge. She was later released on a bond of $20,000.
Officials reportedly discovered that she was in possession of multiple medications that were not prescribed to her. In addition to her earlier charges, she is being charged with felony introduction of contraband into a correctional facility and possession of two different controlled substances without a prescription. She has also been charged with misdemeanor possession of a drug without a prescription and without proper labeling.
The state of Florida takes the issue of illegal drugs very seriously and imposes strict penalties upon conviction. Penalties for a drug conviction may include prison time, fines and probation. In addition, defendants with a history of prior felony convictions may be subject to an enhanced sentence, which may mean increased penalties. Once released from incarceration, many felons struggle with employment and housing issues.
A Florida criminal defense attorney might review a drug possession case and explore defense options with a defendant. In some cases, it might make sense to negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution. Some reasons a defendant may choose a plea bargain is because it avoids a trial and the charges might be reduced. If the charges can be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, a plea deal might make a significant difference in a defendant’s future. Alternatively, if it appears likely that the case may be won at trial, it might make sense to take the case to court.
Source: Florida Newszap, “Okeechobee woman faces new drug charges”, Eric Kopp, March 06, 2014