The United States Constitution affords people in this country with a variety of different rights. However, some people may not be fully aware of their options and how to assert their rights, especially when involved in a confrontation with law enforcement officers. For example, a woman faces a possession charge after her car was searched by police officers in Texas during a traffic stop.
The incident that led to the charges against the woman reportedly happened on a day in August. According to reports, the 41-year-old woman’s vehicle was stopped on a Texas interstate for a traffic violation. A search of her vehicle followed.
Police claim that they discovered 45 kilograms of cocaine, worth $2.7 million, in the door panels of her vehicle as part of the search. She was recently indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a federal charge. Both local and federal officials are investigating the case.
Despite the accusations against the woman, there are many details about the Texas case that are unclear, including what prompted the traffic stop and why police searched her vehicle. Many people in such a situation may be unaware of the ability to deny permission for law enforcement officers to conduct such a search without a warrant; if a search occurs anyway, the search could be determined to be unlawful. Because of the potential consequences of a conviction of the possession-with-the-intent-to-distribute charge that the woman is facing, she could spend the rest of her life in prison. She will likely want an experienced criminal defense professional to examine all the details of her case, including the events leading up to the search of her vehicle, to ensure that she was treated lawfully throughout.