If police find drugs in a shared space like a vehicle, a locker or a dorm room, everyone will be a suspect even if you know for a fact that the drugs are not yours. But how can you go about proving that those illegal drugs are not yours? In today’s blog, we share some tips for proving that uncovered contraband is not yours.
Proving Innocence When Drugs Are Found
The good news when it comes to drug possession charges is that you do not need to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are innocent, you only need to prove that reasonable doubt exists. So how can you go about proving this reasonable doubt? While it will come down to the specific facts of your case, some ways to cast doubt over your guilt and position yourself well at trial include:
1. Hire A Lawyer – A lawyer will be your best avenue to beating criminal drug possession charges. Even if you’re sure of your innocence, you probably don’t have a lot of familiarity building a case and presenting it in a court room. If you can’t articulate your story well, the judge may simply opt to convict. Let a professional lawyer be your voice and use all their tools to build a strong case that clearly establishes reasonable doubt.
2. Witness Testimony – If anyone else can speak to your innocence, let your lawyer get a statement from them and see if they’ll be able to testify in court. Even if they can’t prove your innocence, if they can confirm that others had access to the area where the drugs were found or can help establish an alibi, it can make all the difference with your case.
3. Putting Pressure On Others – A lawyer can also help to put pressure on other individuals involved in the case so that the truth comes out. For example, let’s say that you were driving in a vehicle with four other people and drugs were found. Nobody may want to point fingers at first, but your lawyer can talk with all involved and see if people will be willing to change their story or provide more information privately that could help your case.
4. Record Review – Your lawyer can also take a closer look at your criminal history and build a case that possession is out of character given your lack of criminal past. Every little detail matters, and showing that drug possession would be completely out of left field for an honor student without a criminal past can help cast doubt over your guilt.
5. Video Evidence – Finally, sometimes video evidence can help cast question over your guilt. If video shows someone going into your locker or picking up your backpack, it can provide an alternate theory as to how the drugs came into your possession.
Again, establishing reasonable doubt will really come down to the specifics of your individual case, but the best way to ensure the facts come out and reasonable doubt is established is by working with a lawyer. Let us help you get pesky drug possession charges dropped so they don’t impact your life for years to come. For help with a drug charge or similar criminal issue, give Appelman Law Firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
