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What the “911 Good Samaritan Law” means for you…

Illegal drug use can change a family or friendship forever!

None of us make it through life without some scars.  Some wounds will never quite heal. Losing a friend or family member to the lifestyle of drug abuse has to be one of life’s most difficult wounds to heal — especially if the death was preventable.

Which is one reason why the 2014 death of Cynthia Byersmith’s son Craig is so tragic.

Surrounded by people at a party in Missouri,  no one was willing to call 911 when Craig aspirated his own vomit due to a heroin overdose in 2014.   Why? The partygoers knew they would be busted because drugs and drug paraphenalia were present at the party.

According to the Springfield News-Leader reporter Jackie Rehwald,  Beyersmith believes her son Craig may have died needlessly.  If someone had called 911 promptly or given Craig the opiod overdose antidote Narcan, quite possibly his life could have been saved.

Sadly, they chose to let their “friend” die rather than suffer jail time (although they may still be in jail at this time). Why?  Even a simple heroin possession charge in Missouri is a Class C felony.

What does a Class C felony mean to you?

It includes a potentional penalty of seven long years in jail and heavy fines.  If you get the minimum sentence of probation, you will need to complete a  drug treatment program, according to FindLaw.com.  http://statelaws.findlaw.com/missouri-law/missouri-heroin-laws.html

In real life, finding a good job is a slim chance with a Class C felony on your records.

In real life, you may have to move back in with Mom and Dad,  a kind friend, or face being homeless and jobless.

Real life can be very difficult to face!   Still, what could be worse than facing the haunting memory that you let someone die because you were afraid to call 911?

In August of 2017, the 911 Good Samaritan Law went into effect in Missouri. This law does not encourge drug use. Instead, it provides a way to cry for help if you or friends you are with have made poor choices involving drug possession.

How does this law intended to help in a situation like Craig’s? According to the News-Leader article here are some ways this new law helps.  http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2017/08/26/new-law-offers-some-legal-protection

  • For someone who calls 911 to report drug overdose emergencies, they will not be charged with drug possession or paraphenalia charges.
  • If someone administers Narcane to an overdose victim, then immediately calls 911 for help for the victim, they will not be charged with a crime.

The 911 Good Samaritan Law also applies not just to opiods but to any controlled substance, including alcohol.

Parents, do I hear a sigh of relief? Be aware! Be informed. Know your rights.

This allows for something we all need at one time or another:  a second chance at life.

If you or someone you love is facing drug charges in Missouri, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney!  You need a second chance, too — the best possible outcome!

Facing drug charges? Get a free initial legal consultaton. Find out how you or a loved one can get affordable, quality legal defense.  Get your second chance by calling The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC. 636-244-3737

http://steimel-law.com/criminal-defense.html

This website is designed for general information only. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

 

 

 

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Marijuana charges? Facing big time for a small crime?

BIG time for a small crime is a reality for the residents of Missouri!

“It’s a pattern I’ve seen over and over again!” Sweat poured down his ebony forehead as the elderly prison chaplain pumped his fist in the air.

“Young people in prison doing BIG time for a small crime. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time! They make a stupid mistake. Then they enter prison as a young person. Either they never leave, or they come back over and over again as a hardened criminal. It’s a life no one really wants!”

Maybe that’s you. Perhaps you are facing marijuana or drug charges in the state of Missouri. You simply had a joint in your possession. In a moment of weakness, you decided to sell the joint in your possession to a friend.

You thought you needed the money that badly. You arranged a meeting place, perhaps. What you didn’t pay attention to was that you were just around the corner from subsidized housing.

It’s one of the worst  possible places to get busted in Missouri! Life as you know it is about to be over. Why? Did you know that selling drugs within 2,000 feet of a school or subsidized housing is a Class A felony?  http://statelaws.findlaw.com/missouri-law/missouri-marijuana-laws.html

What does a Class A felony mean for you?

The minimum sentence is ten years in prison. You could be stuck there for a lifetime if the judge decides to throw the book at you.

You hopefully have plans for your life! At the very least you have hopes and dreams. Maybe you already have a family and home of your own.

Just imagine your friends and family spending the next ten years only seeing you in a prison jumpsuit when they find time to visit!

Possibly picture your children visiting you there! How will this affect their lives and their self-confidence?

Maybe you are facing smaller drug charges. Even a small marijuana possession charge carries serious, life-changing consequences for Missouri residents. Why?

Minimum prison sentences are mandatory in Missouri!

Say you have just an ounce of marijuana (cannabis) in your possession. That’s a pretty small amount. The minimum sentence is one year in prison! Three hundred and sixty-five looong days in the clink!

Try to picture yourself getting a decent job with a year of prison on your record. Most employers won’t even take a second look at your resume! NO job means practically no life. What a huge price to pay for a little bit of weed!

Now’s the time to own your mistakes and fight for the best possible outcome for your future. It’s your life and happiness at stake! You need a criminal defense lawyer today who cares about your tomorrows!

Nathan A. Steimel, an experienced Missouri criminal defense attorney, will give you a free initial consultation. You will get a fair evaluation of your likely outcome based on your charges. He will fight vigorously for your rights in court!

It’s only fair that a small crime should receive the least amount of time!

http://steimel-law.com/criminal-defense.html

Call The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC today to fight for your best possible future! (636)244-3737

This website is designed for general information only. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.