my friend got in trouble on the playa

archaicnostalgia · Post by **archaicnostalgia** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:42 pm

wondering about past cases. lawyers in reno.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:29 am

Trouble? That's a broad category. You probably need to be more specific if you want help. drugs? Sexual Assault?

More trouble than just the stupid tax, heh?

archaicnostalgia · Post by **archaicnostalgia** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:40 am

Drugs. And she was being really careful, in her group of friends. She's a school teacher. I really fear for her and she doesn't make the kind of money for this so she's not really talking ot anyone about it. I am going to help her but I'd like the name of an attorney that has delt with these situations in the past and also do not want to disclose her personal business online. Thankyou for your help!

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:06 pm

Everything I've read around here indicates that possession just warrants a ticket in the neighborhood of $500. Is that not the case here?

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:29 pm

pot is a couple hundred bucks for possesion

copious amounts of pot could come out to thousands

more serious drugs are also felonies that cost thousands

numerous drugs all together or very large quantities could imply intent to distribute which is even more serious

getting caught distributing is even more serious..

without more information based on your posts tone i would say she's fucked and the last place you should be looking for help is an internet bbs

try looking in a phone book or yellowpages.com

stargeezer · Post by **stargeezer** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:31 pm

Forget the fines, that is the least of her worries at this point.

She was a teacher, now she needs a new career as there is not a school around that would touch her. For anything dealing with kids, drugs cannot be on your record. It is a shame she went through all the effort to become a teacher and then blew it.

If there is anyway she can cut a deal to get this off her record, she better look real seriously at it, that is the only hope at this point.

Ingram · Post by **Ingram** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:55 pm

Standard fine is $525 for MJ possession by BLM ranger.

There are Reno attorneys who specialize in this,
but they must be licensed to practice in federal court.

A couple got off in 2005, by claiming entrapment
(one defendant was an attorney). Cases were dismissed.

A record is kept of the citation by the US government,
but as payment is considered equivalent to a "no contest"
plea its debatable if paying the fine amounts to a
"conviction" which must be disclosed on future job applications.
(Consult an attorney, to know for sure).

Ingram · Post by **Ingram** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:05 am

Another alternative is to show up in court for a hearing.
If the BLM officer doesn't show up to prosecute it,
the matter is dismissed. That's not unlikely, if reports are
accurate that BLM officers were brought in from other states
for Burning Man (they may not want to travel a distance back
to Reno, just to represent a citation). But always get legal
advice from an attorney, before making a decision.

stargeezer · Post by **stargeezer** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:00 am

Getting a good lawyer is the most important. I don't mean to be negative, but I would not count on the BLM narcs to be absent. If the BLM wanted to send a message, they will follow it through to the end. They will work with the courts to have each narcs cases held at the same time so they just have to make one more trip. I hope things work out for her.

Cesco · Post by **Cesco** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:55 am

I personally consider it a great tragedy whenever an otherwise innocent and probably good person falls victim to the anti drug inquisitors. Blaming the victim is like blaming a jew in 15th century spain, or going after a midwife for being a witch. Be that as it may, here is a list of NV lawyers from the NORML website. I cannot vouch for any of them, I imagine it will cost at least 10K to get the ball rolling. Good luck, my prayers are with your friend, sometimes it is better to just plea bargain into a treatment type deal and move forward.
http://norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=legal&Group_ID=4550

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:21 am

archaicnostalgia,

Go here http://www.planevada.org/report/main.htm. Explain the situation - especially if your friend thinks the arrest/citation was of a questionable nature. Ask for names of Reno lawyers.

There's been a lot of discussion as of late as to the merits and tactics of the various law enforcement agencies methods and tactics at the event so they should be quite willing to provide a referral.

jbahia · Post by **jbahia** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:45 pm

First of all, you need to know if the district attorney (DA) or city attorney (CA) has accepted her case.
If a DA has gotten it, you have a felony. For the CA, a misdemeanor.
Next, if this was her first offense, a judge can allow her to get DEJ (Defer of Entry Judgement). Then, she'll need to attend some classes and NA for about 5 months.
In the LA area, Bruce Margolin and Anthony Brooklier are the best, in my opinion. Especially the later one.
Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.

Ingram · Post by **Ingram** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:44 pm

See:

www.lawyersforburners.com

changoloco · Post by **changoloco** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:15 pm

Maybe, just maybe, if she is so concerned about a career in education, she shouldn't be using or carrying illegal substances. Don't get me wrong, it sucks for her but, it's her own stupid fault. As a father, I wouldn't want anyone that is educating my child to be involved in illegal drugs at all.

Here's the lesson to be learned here, if you get arrested for drugs, you are probably doing something stupid. I have been arrested and I was doing something very stupid.

Maybe she can be a drug counselor after she finishes her probation?

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:26 pm

changoloco wrote: As a father, I wouldn't want anyone that is educating my child to be involved in illegal drugs at all.

Umm You ever met an English teacher? Or a college professor? lol

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:03 am

changoloco wrote:Maybe, just maybe, if she is so concerned about a career in education, she shouldn't be using or carrying illegal substances. Don't get me wrong, it sucks for her but, it's her own stupid fault. As a father, I wouldn't want anyone that is educating my child to be involved in illegal drugs at all.

Here's the lesson to be learned here, if you get arrested for drugs, you are probably doing something stupid. I have been arrested and I was doing something very stupid.

Maybe she can be a drug counselor after she finishes her probation?

Well, there is an endless supply of passionate, skilled people wanting to teach for the money involved.

Schools always get to pick the best possible teachers, after all.

I saw a teacher fired locally for not disclosing something that legally they weren't obligated to tell anyone.

No ethics involved in our school system at all.
That might concern parents.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:17 am

three year old thread?

wonder if we have some teachers here?

my friend got in trouble on the playa

my friend got in trouble on the playa

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Another alternative

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