Anyone who has been involved with the criminal justice system — especially those with little experience or training — likely realizes that it can be complicated and confusing. Because of the high stakes associated with felony charges, most people facing them want an experienced professional on their side as they respond. In fact, two men recently arrested in New York are likely considering their legal options.
The men were reportedly arrested on a day in October. Law enforcement officials reportedly launched an investigation following the overdose of four different people; three of those people died. Though the details are unclear, police say that the arrests happened as a result of wire taps.
Police say that they discovered the two men in an apartment one afternoon with loose powder on the table in front of them. Reports claim that there was a gun, marijuana and 17,000 envelopes containing what police report could be heroine. Six other people were arrested as part of the investigation, and one additional arrest is pending.
Both men are facing multiple felony charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of marijuana, in addition to a misdemeanor charge of criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Regardless of the claims made by law enforcement officers in New York, all those arrested as part of this investigation are presumed innocent, and there must be sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for them to be convicted. This standard, purposefully set high, is often difficult to meet.