Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

did not know meth paraphernalia was hidden under the bed

My friend rented a room for a homeless person who had no ID. My friend has a history of renting motel rooms to drink in as he's not allowed to drink where he rents. He decided to stay the night after renting the room and drink. He went across the street to purchase beer and a hot dog. He came back to the room and there was a knock at the door. He answered. It was the police and they said they had a tip a fugitive was in that room. My friend said they could come in and look as he had nothing to hide in the fact he was not a fugitive. The video shows no evidence of meth material when they first go in but it does show it after they find it under the bed. The homeless person has given a statement that the materials belonged to him and has made that statement to others. My friend is still in jail even in light of this statement. Can you give me any advice? Thank you.


Asked on 5/03/05, 6:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: did not know meth paraphernalia was hidden under the bed

Your friend had better secure very competent criminal defense counsel to represent him in this matter and very quickly, if he has not already done so.

The incident which you've described again illustrates the utter folly of consenting to police searches of one's private spaces whether they be located in one's vehicle or, as in this particular instance, in one's living quarters.

Under no circumstances would I ever agree to such a search no matter how confident I was that

there was nothing for the police to find as you can find yourself not merely surprised, but absolutely dismayed, at what a police officer can manage to turn up as a result of such a search.

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Answered on 5/03/05, 7:41 pm


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