Guiding You Through The Legal Process

Traffic stop morphs into drug charges for Ohio couple

On Behalf of | Jun 6, 2017 | Alcohol and Drug Crimes

If you drive north of Cincinnati for about three hours, you will come to Plain Township, outside of Canton. We read recently of an arrest there that began as so many arrests do: with a seemingly routine traffic stop.

In this case, a 60-year-old man was stopped shortly after midnight as he was driving near his home. The police officer wrote in his arrest report that the man had failed to maintain his lane while driving. What began as a traffic stop soon turned into a search and then an arrest on felony drug charges and more.

The law enforcement officer said that when he pulled the man’s vehicle over, he could smell marijuana. In the ensuing search of the vehicle, cops found marijuana, seven packets of a white rock-like substance and a substance that appeared to be a crystal rock.

Officers then searched the man’s nearby home, finding additional marijuana, as well as methamphetamine. They also found a loaded firearm at the residence, plus a minor child and the man’s wife, 45.

He now faces several felonies, including aggravated drug trafficking (the seven packets in his car appeared to have been packaged for sale), aggravated drug possession, possession of a weapon as a convicted felon and child endangerment. He also faces a misdemeanor drug possession charge and several traffic violations.

His wife also faces felony charges: aggravated drug possession, possessing a weapon as a felon, child endangerment and cocaine possession. She also had a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession charge filed against her.

What began as a traffic stop has now morphed into felonies that can mean years behind bars in an Ohio prison for each of them. Those in similar situations can speak to a Cincinnati criminal defense attorney experienced in drug defense.