Got "busted" with marijuana...

[weflyhigh]

I bought a new bowl the other day and I went with two friends to smoke it outside. We sat on the curb behind our dorm and packed it then lit up the first hit (me)...
I passed the bowl after a very mild hit and moments later a bike cop comes riding up to us from the darkness a far distance away
My friend placed the bowl behind him and the cop stopped and asked what we were doing. I think we replied nothing and then he asked what he saw light up. The first thing I could think was to say that we were smoking a black and mild, which a case of was in my pocket. He asked where it was and I said I had finished it and tossed it. This conversation was like two seconds...

Us, being idiots, had a ZipLock bag in front of us with literally a tenth of a gram in it (yes like nothing, but still visible)
He shined his light on it, at which point we were screwed/obvious what we were doing. He shined the light all around us and saw the piece, grabbed that along with the bag.


He then called for backup and another cop arrived. They took our license numbers, campus ID numbers, SSNs, phone numbers, and asked the other two kids their weights.

The bike cop said he saw me smoking the bowl and that we could all be held for possession since we were within arms reach of it.

He pulled me aside first and asked my involvement. I was really unsure if I should have said anything or what... I kinda said that it wasn't my weed but that the clean new bowl was mine (I was kinda dodging the question, asking a lot of questions of my mine like punishment and stuff)
I then went back to the curb and my other friend (who hid the bowl behind him) was pulled aside. Apparently he claimed full possession of it, so that we would not face any charges (it originally was his weed) because that it what the cop told him... The third kid did not get questioned I don't think

The cop gave us his card with the case number on it, said he would call when anything happened. He said they would mail something to our home address, and inform us when doing so.
Then they just let us go.


OKAY so now my questions:
What should I do in this situation?
I have heard before that if you get an underage or something you should call the police officer the next day and like talk to him/apologize?

What legal trouble am I looking at? Is this like peeeeermanent? Will I put this on every application for the rest of my life?
Am I going to get in any trouble even if my friend did take all of the blame? How will that all work out?
What are the possible outcomes?

EDIT: Currently in PA if that matters

UPDATE1 (3 days later):
Just an update, the cop hasn't contacted me or my friend that took the blame yet

Think we should call and ask about our case (he gave us the like report number on his card) or just ignore it and wait or what?

UPDATE2 (December now):
A few weeks ago, my friend who "took the blame" got contacted by the courthouse/police and went and got a mugshot and scheduled a court date
Then me and my friend got contacted by our school's Judicial Affairs
I made a meeting with them and they asked me about the day and I told a story

Then I got the punishment:
I have to write an essay about what I learned from the experience
I got a disciplinary warning (no probation, even)

I hope my other friend doesn't get in too much law trouble, though.. we'll just wait and see

 

[MichaelD]

Nice username.

You should hire a lawyer. You'll most likely be charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. The problem is that it's DRUGS. There are plenty of misdem's; urinating in public for instance or littering. The latter is easily explainable to a potential employer. The drugs are not.

A lawyer can have the charges reduced to something less offensive and less future-injuring...possibly even thrown out. You can't do it on your own unfortunately.

 

[imported_Devine]

obligatory you're retarded for smoking in public post

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: weflyhigh
I bought a new bowl the other day and I went with two friends to smoke it outside. We sat on the curb behind our dorm and packed it then lit up

[...a bunch of pointless blah, blah...]

uh, yeah dude.

you deserved it. Don't be so stupid next time, seriously.

BTW, paraphenalia is often a worse offense than is possession of herb.

 

[FleshLight]

Next time blaze it up on a private patio or balcony. Why would you toke it in public?

 

[dbk]

I'm assuming that since you live in dorms that you're on campus. Never do that on campus. Go off campus to a friend's apt or something.

 

[weflyhigh]

I never said I was not an idiot or that I didn't deserve it... or ask how to prevent the same situation in the future or ask how much of an idiot I am

I'm just wondering what to do now/have the questions above answered

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, and if it's a young campus bike cop, he's probably just jerking your chain.

Just go smoke another bowl and forget about it altogether.

 

[George P Burdell]

1. Don't post info about it on the internet. Exercise your right to shut the hell up.
2. Tell your family first.
3. Get a lawyer.

 

[weflyhigh]

Nah it wasn't a campus cop, it was a legit cop and like 5 other cops came (only one other actually stopped for more than 2 seconds though)

I'm only posting on the internet to try to get some advice or something

How much are lawyers? Should I call the law firm or whatever and ask to make an appointment? Will that cost money?

How much is like legal stuff from the cops gonna cost? Will I have to go to court and all that? It didn't seem too serious... like I know people that get underages get like citations or something, we didnt get anything they just got our information...

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
1. Don't post info about it on the internet. Exercise your right to shut the hell up.
2. Tell your family first.
3. Get a lawyer.

 

[FallenHero]

pwned

 

[weflyhigh]

cool thanks

 

[MrCodeDude]

If you're going to college on your parent's dime, you should be talking to them. Depending on how bored the cop/judicial system is, this probably isn't something you can sweet talk your way out of.

A lawyer might provide a free consult, if you're in a college town, there should be a couple firms dedicated to fighting stupid college-like offenses: alcohol, weed, streaking, trespassing etc. Call them and see what they say.

My friend was caught with a little less than an ounce (which is dangerously close to the "intent to sell" felony limit) on him at a friend's college and aside from spending a night in jail and having his parent's drive 3 hours to bail him out, nothing ever came of it. Either it was never prosecuted or he had a good lawyer that got it knocked down to community service or something. Hasn't affected him in his job search either, he's gotten internships at Intel and Cisco the past two years.

This is in California though, where I think people in general are more lax about weed.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: weflyhigh
I bought a new bowl the other day and I went with two friends to smoke it outside. We sat on the curb behind our dorm and packed it then lit up the first hit (me)...
I passed the bowl after a very mild hit and moments later a bike cop comes riding up to us from the darkness a far distance away
My friend placed the bowl behind him and the cop stopped and asked what we were doing. I think we replied nothing and then he asked what he saw light up. The first thing I could think was to say that we were smoking a black and mild, which a case of was in my pocket. He asked where it was and I said I had finished it and tossed it. This conversation was like two seconds...

Us, being idiots, had a ZipLock bag in front of us with literally a tenth of a gram in it (yes like nothing, but still visible)
He shined his light on it, at which point we were screwed/obvious what we were doing. He shined the light all around us and saw the piece, grabbed that along with the bag.


He then called for backup and another cop arrived. They took our license numbers, campus ID numbers, SSNs, phone numbers, and asked the other two kids their weights.

The bike cop said he saw me smoking the bowl and that we could all be held for possession since we were within arms reach of it.

He pulled me aside first and asked my involvement. I was really unsure if I should have said anything or what... I kinda said that it wasn't my weed but that the clean new bowl was mine (I was kinda dodging the question, asking a lot of questions of my mine like punishment and stuff)
I then went back to the curb and my other friend (who hid the bowl behind him) was pulled aside. Apparently he claimed full possession of it, so that we would not face any charges (it originally was his weed) because that it what the cop told him... The third kid did not get questioned I don't think

The cop gave us his card with the case number on it, said he would call when anything happened. He said they would mail something to our home address, and inform us when doing so.
Then they just let us go.


OKAY so now my questions:
What should I do in this situation?
I have heard before that if you get an underage or something you should call the police officer the next day and like talk to him/apologize?

What legal trouble am I looking at? Is this like peeeeermanent? Will I put this on every application for the rest of my life?
Am I going to get in any trouble even if my friend did take all of the blame? How will that all work out?
What are the possible outcomes?

EDIT: Currently in PA if that matters

cool.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Wow, you're screwed. It will show up every time an employer does a background check, it will keep your credit score in the low 400s, it will prevent you from ever working in the public sector, you will be unable to claim social security and you will be blacklisted from flying.

Honestly, it's pot. You're in college. It means, and I want to make this absolutely clear, not a goddamned thing. It will not stick with you, it will not get you kicked out of school or anything... You may face some immediate repercussions, but they will be mild and serve to remind you to be more careful about using drugs in public. You'll be fine.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy

Honestly, it's pot. You're in college. It means, and I want to make this absolutely clear, not a goddamned thing. It will not stick with you, it will not get you kicked out of school or anything... You may face some immediate repercussions, but they will be mild and serve to remind you to be more careful about using drugs in public. You'll be fine.

WRONG. IF it goes to court and IF they charge him with possession of a controlled substance, it will stay with him for life. He is over 18 and an adult.

How the hell am I so sure? B/C in the 1980's I got arrested for ONE JOINT and was charged with misdem' possession of a controlled substance. I was fingerprinted and photographed. When I went to court the judge dismissed it b/c it was a first offense and I had no previous record at all. Dismissed; no fine, no community service. And guess what? More than 20 years later it's STILL on my permanent record and shows up every time someone does a background check on me. Believe me, as a responsible, tax paying, clean living (since the 80's) adult it SUCKS having to explain my youthful indescretion every freaking time I apply for a job.

If he gets charged, he will need a lawyer.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy

Honestly, it's pot. You're in college. It means, and I want to make this absolutely clear, not a goddamned thing. It will not stick with you, it will not get you kicked out of school or anything... You may face some immediate repercussions, but they will be mild and serve to remind you to be more careful about using drugs in public. You'll be fine.

WRONG. IF it goes to court and IF they charge him with possession of a controlled substance, it will stay with him for life. He is over 18 and an adult.

How the hell am I so sure? B/C in the 1980's I got arrested for ONE JOINT and was charged with misdem' possession of a controlled substance. I was fingerprinted and photographed. When I went to court the judge dismissed it b/c it was a first offense and I had no previous record at all. Dismissed; no fine, no community service. And guess what? More than 20 years later it's STILL on my permanent record and shows up every time someone does a background check on me. Believe me, as a responsible, tax paying, clean living (since the 80's) adult it SUCKS having to explain my youthful indescretion every freaking time I apply for a job.

If he gets charged, he will need a lawyer.

And every job you've applied to cares and asks for an explanation?
What kind of jobs have you applied for?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: astroidea

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy

Honestly, it's pot. You're in college. It means, and I want to make this absolutely clear, not a goddamned thing. It will not stick with you, it will not get you kicked out of school or anything... You may face some immediate repercussions, but they will be mild and serve to remind you to be more careful about using drugs in public. You'll be fine.

WRONG. IF it goes to court and IF they charge him with possession of a controlled substance, it will stay with him for life. He is over 18 and an adult.

How the hell am I so sure? B/C in the 1980's I got arrested for ONE JOINT and was charged with misdem' possession of a controlled substance. I was fingerprinted and photographed. When I went to court the judge dismissed it b/c it was a first offense and I had no previous record at all. Dismissed; no fine, no community service. And guess what? More than 20 years later it's STILL on my permanent record and shows up every time someone does a background check on me. Believe me, as a responsible, tax paying, clean living (since the 80's) adult it SUCKS having to explain my youthful indescretion every freaking time I apply for a job.

If he gets charged, he will need a lawyer.

And every job you've applied to cares and asks for an explanation?
What kind of jobs have you applied for?

Jobs that require a criminal background check, obviously. Not all people on this board are 18 and work at WalMart. If you want to work in the Aerospace industry in IT, a background check is mandatory. And, depending on what you're working on, you may need a DoD security clearance of varying levels. GUARANTEED your drug arrest will come back to haunt you during that interview.

 

[yhelothar]

OK, so aside from your high security clearance aerospace IT job, how many other jobs that require a criminal background check would care if you were caught with a 10th of a gram during your college years?
Just wondering since you make it seem like if you don't want to work at wallyworld or a mcjob, you're gonna be majorly screwed with the 10th of a gram misdemeanor posession charge on your record.

 

[MichaelD]

Some employers might not care at all; you're right about that. But some absolutely will. For example:

Any police department
Probably fire dept too
Military
Sensitive positions at any large company

While you may get your foot in the door b/c of college degree, practical experience or both, promotions to higher positions may require a background check. These days a lot of companies frown upon any kind of drug record/involvement.

While it's true that most people "did drugs" when they were younger, only an unfortunate few actually got arrested for it. That shit follows you for life. I still regret my behavior more than 20 years later. But I can't change the past...I try to help people now.

If the local police decide to press wtih a case against the OP for possession, a lawyer is his only possible way out. I got very lucky that the judge dismissed it...in fact, he was pissed at the cop for wasting his time for one joint. But even though it was totally dismissed, the record that I got arrested for it will always be there.

 

[DaTT]

Move to Canada

 

[skace]

Isn't it funny how cops can turn a complete non-event into the crisis of a lifetime? Had that cop not showed up, you would have finished your weed, gone back inside and gone to sleep happy. But because of that one factor, you now got shit to deal with and more stress than you bargained for.

My roommate used to smoke inside the dorm room, also we smoked in the woods behind our dorm. It seemed like a smart idea at the time. Then one time we walked out of the woods with a cop car sitting right there. I'm glad he never questioned us, it must have looked pretty stupid, why would some college kids even be in the woods? It's not like there was a hiking trail there or anything. Doing it on the corner though, that is dense.

And as per what MichaelD stated, if your job requires a background check it doesn't matter if you got caught or not. They will want you to put down every instance that you did an illegal substance regardless of who saw it. And if you choose to lie, you do so with the knowledge that they can put you under a lie detector test, which they most likely won't do unless something else ever occurs. But still, when I got my clearance, I put down the illegal substances I had used even though I was never caught.

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: astroidea
OK, so aside from your high security clearance aerospace IT job, how many other jobs that require a criminal background check would care if you were caught with a 10th of a gram during your college years?
Just wondering since you make it seem like if you don't want to work at wallyworld or a mcjob, you're gonna be majorly screwed with the 10th of a gram misdemeanor posession charge on your record.

i work for wachovia bank, by SEC rule, i got a background check. i'm in network, but since it is in securities side of the business, i imagine even the helpdesk have to get one.

i don't think HR care about drug usage here.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
1. Don't post info about it on the internet. Exercise your right to shut the hell up.
2. Tell your family first.
3. Get a lawyer.