Q: As passenger in a vehicle should I be held accountable for something that was found in the vehicle during a traffic stop
I was getting a ride from acquaintance . I was sitting front passenger seat of a mini van.
I just got into the vehicle not only two miles down the road the cop pulls him over for making an illegal turn. The vehicle ended up being searched and the cops found a bag carrying illegal substances in it . In the back part of the van. Everybody denied knowing anything about the bag and the cops charged me the passenger with possession and gave me ownership of the bag.
What do I do
A:
The simple answer to your question is to have a consultation with a lawyer and eventually hire a private defense firm to represent you.
This is very important because it is very common that situations like this happen and you are going to want private attention with a lawyer who is there to represent you. In these situations, it is likely that the police found something that they were able to associate with you, which is why you were charged. The drug possession laws are very loose in the sense that it is easy to charge someone with a crime as long as you are within the proximity of the item in question. That may seem very unfair, but that is the reality of the Arizona justice system and is why you need to hire a private Arizona lawyer.
Zachary Divelbiss agrees with this answer
A: Look up the term "constructive possession" to get an idea of what you're up against and then hire a local criminal defense attorney. If you think can't afford it then swallow your pride and ask a family member to help. A case like this can ruin your future. It's too important to take a chance with court-appointed counsel.
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