Hiding Drugs to Avoid
Police Discovery in Utah
News
stories occasionally surface talking about people who have been caught
by police while trying to flush illegal
drugs
down a toilet. In addition to the environmental, health, and safety
issues connected with the improper disposal of drugs, there are
potentially serious legal consequences for
illegal possession of drugs or controlled substances with additional penalties if police catch a person trying to hide or destroy evidence.
If
you are facing prosecution for a drug offense or other crime in Utah,
obtaining the assistance of an
experienced
criminal defense
lawyer
can be the best way to avoid the most serious consequences of a
criminal conviction. Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal attorney Stephen
Howard has successfully defended clients facing some of the most
serious crimes on the books in Utah.
Contact
us today to arrange for a
confidential consultation.
Flushing Drugs - Hiding Drugs
Criminal Charges for Obstruction of Justice in Utah Drug Cases

In cases where a person is accused of flushing drugs down a toilet or
otherwise trying to conceal or destroy drugs, a criminal charge for
obstruction of justice may be filed. But the mere destruction of drugs
is not, by itself, sufficient to support an obstruction charge.
Criminal
charges for obstruction of justice generally involve actions intended
to hinder, prevent, or delay a criminal investigation, arrest, or
prosecution. If a person is attempting to destroy drugs because the
person recognizes that the drugs are dangerous and potentially harmful
(e.g., could seriously injure or kill a child who accidentally ingested
the drugs), then the person's actions may qualify for an "
innocent
possession" defense. But if the person is trying to destroy
the drugs to avoid being caught by police, then an obstruction of
justice charge may be appropriately filed.
In many cases involving obstruction of justice charges, it is often the
defendant's state of mind or
mens
rea that can be the critical element in the
case. Two
people, engaging in identical conduct, could be variously found guilty
and not guilty based on differences in their mental state at the time
they engaged in the conduct.
Penalties for Flushing Drugs
If a person is charged with obstruction of justice for flushing drugs
down a toilet, likely charges can range from a second degree
felony
(up
to 15 years in prison) to a class A
misdemeanor
(up to 365 days in
jail). The level of the offense can vary based on what the underlying
criminal activity was, what the person did to hide evidence, hinder an
investigation, etc., whether a
weapon
was involved, and many other
factors.
If you have found yourself in possession of drugs or evidence of
some other criminal act, it is important to obtain the assistance and
advice of
an experienced criminal defense attorney before deciding what actions
to take. The
penalties
for a mistake can be serious.
Finding a Utah Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt
Lake

Based
in Salt Lake City,
criminal defense attorney
Stephen Howard has
successfully protected his clients' rights in thousands of serious
felony and misdemeanor cases. He has a
track
record of achieving real
results.
Contact us today to
arrange for a confidential initial consultation.
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