Police pulled over a 33-year-old high school teacher Monday for a traffic stop shortly before 11 a.m. and observed a plastic bag in his mouth after talking to him. The man allegedly refused to cooperate with police by showing them what was in his mouth so he was shot with a Taser stun gun, which supposedly caused him to spit out five individual bags containing marijuana, the weight totaling 4.7 grams.
The man is an 11th and 12th grade teacher at Bartow High School, assigned to teach International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement students. He was on probation for reckless driving involving alcohol and is now charged with possession of marijuana, violation of probation, and resisting an officer without force or violence.
A conviction for any drug-related offense, such as possession of marijuana, will result in an immediate and automatic two year suspension of your Florida driver’s license. This is done regardless of whether your arrest was driving-related. Also known as weed, cannabis or pot, marijuana possession of any amount in Florida is a crime resulting in misdemeanor or felony charges. Marijuana possession of less than 20 grams, equivalent to one ounce, is a first degree misdemeanor. Possession of anything more than 20 grams is a third degree felony.
A conviction for a misdemeanor possession charge carries a combination of penalties of one year in jail, one year probation or a fine up to $1,000. If convicted of a felony possession of marijuana, the crime is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years probation or a fine up to $5,000.
If you have been arrested for possession of marijuana in the state of Florida, contact the Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys at the Law Offices of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call 813-221-3200 or 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).