Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

Potential Punishment

Ok, here's the thing recently i was caught smoking pot. I need to know what the possible legal punishment could have been based on the situation, this is for my mom.

Me and a friend were smoking in my brothers back yard, with out his knowledge.

My car was parked at a near by school.

We were at least 100 feet from the school.

The cops were called for suspicious activity(car being at the school at night).

I saw the cop, me and my friends ran to my brothers house as we were running to the house the cop saw us.(he didn't tell us to stop, but claims he did)

We got in the house and hid there, the cops were not allowed in the house.

My mom was called then she called me and i explained what happened.

The cops were trying to get in the house, knocking, pounding etc.

The owner of the house and mom arrived at the same time, the owner talked to the cops, then the cops left.

My mom took me and my friend home and picked my car up from the school in the morning.

What could the cops have charged me with, and what could they have charged my mom with.

I know i could have gotten in trouble for the pot, but i don't know what kind of punishment. I don't think they would charge my mom seeing they left and basically let her take me.


Asked on 5/26/08, 2:14 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Audra Arndt Audra A. Arndt & Associates, PLLC

Re: Potential Punishment

You could have been charged with possession, fleeing and elluding (since you ran), interfering with a police investigation (since you ran, hid and refused to open the door), and could have also caused others to have charges brought upon them, since you were on others' property with drugs. If you had enough on you, or items such as bagggies, you could have been charged with "possession with intent to distribute." Anyone who "hid" you could also have been charged with interfering with the police and/or harboring a criminal or aiding/abetting.

The punishment you would have received depends on exactly what you were charged with, your criminal history, your attitude towards the judge and officers, and whether the judge granted you any leniency and gave you probation. Possession of just a small amount of marijuana is not punishable by jail time, if it is your first offense.

It also depends on if you are a minor or an adult, and even if you are a minor, you could have been charged as an adult. Crimes as an adult carry heavier punishments than when charged as a juvenile.

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Answered on 5/27/08, 8:31 pm


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