Pennsylvania authorities cited two men for drug charges on April 2 following a traffic stop in Perry Township. Local police said they seized various items, including marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia and an as-yet unidentified white powdery substance. The alleged offenders were a 35-year-old man and a 21-year-old man.
The driver was accused of possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor, while the passenger was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, also a minor misdemeanor. The paraphernalia in question was a glass pipe found in a shoe. Police were waiting on U.S. Route 62 for a tan van with three men inside and Pennsylvania license plates. A man in the area had reported that three men in such a van were purporting to sell home entertainment systems door to door that were actually empty boxes.
When police looked in the van, they saw that there was equipment in the boxes being sold, but also claimed to smell the odor of marijuana. After the driver and two passengers were asked to step outside the vehicle for a search, the drugs and paraphernalia were found. Authorities said that they found the items, including $700 in cash, in a backpack in a concealed compartment of the van. Only two of the three van occupants were charged.
People facing drug charges in Pennsylvania could be at risk of life-altering consequences, including costly fines, mandatory probation check-ins and even jail or prison time. Convictions can mean a loss of a license or even a job as well as a permanent criminal record.
However, a criminal defense lawyer can help an alleged offender. For example, legal counsel could challenge police actions such as improper or illegal searches.