What to do before giving an officer tips about crimes in return the officer will helping with my own current charges?
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What to do before giving an officer tips about crimes in return the officer will helping with my own current charges?
I was pulled over in MDabout a month ago and gave consent for searching my body and car because I was unaware I could say no. The officer found marijuana and asked if there was anything else he should know about. I told him I had paraphernalia in the trunk which he found. I am being charged with both of course. The next day he called me and said if I had any tips about any dealing or other crimes and were to give them to him that he would help my own personal charges of possession and paraphernalia being that I had a clean record. I have info but how should I prepare to tell? What precautionary steps should I take? Should I speak with a criminal law attorney? In Baltimore County, MD.
Asked on September 13, 2011 under Criminal Law, Maryland
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written in your question, it seems that the arresting officer is seeking to have you act as an informant to provide information about other drug dealings or other crimes in exchange for the possibility of reduced or dismissed charges from your arrest since you apparently have never been in trouble with the law before.
If you are considering providing such information to law enforcement in exchange for reduced charges or a dismissal of those against you, you need to retain a criminal defense attorney to assist you in the negotiations for any deal that may be struck concerning the charges against you so that if you do provide the requested information you receive from the prosecution what was promised.
Good luck.
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