Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested Thursday morning after he allegedly attempted to eat a plastic bag filled with marijuana and had a blunt tucked behind his ear.
The 27-year-old man was stopped by an officer around 1 a.m. for apparently committing a traffic violation.
Police claim that after they stopped Dukes, they noticed a small bag of marijuana sitting in his lap. He allegedly tried to stick the bag of marijuana in his mouth.
Police removed the bag from his mouth and placed the man under arrest. After taking the man into custody, police apparently noticed a blunt tucked behind his right ear.
Dukes was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail around 3:30 a.m. and was still being held Thursday morning.
He faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a cancelled, suspended or revoked license. In addition, he was also being held on two Hillsborough County warrants for driving with a suspended knowledge and operating with a suspended or revoked driver’s license.
His bond was set at $4,750.
In the past year, Dukes has been arrested five times, mostly pertaining to charges of driving with a suspended, cancelled or revoked license.
He was accused of hitting his pregnant ex-girlfriend in March 2011.
Past arrests include contempt of court and failing to appear in a case where he owes an ex-wife child support and alimony.
Possession of Marijuana, also known as cannabis, pot or weed, can be a serious crime in Florida. The penalties associated with a possession of marijuana charge depend on the quantity you were arrested with. Possession of Less Than 20 Grams of Marijuana is known as “simple possession” of marijuana and is a misdemeanor offense that carries up to one year in county jail, probation, fines community service and random urine screenings. Additionally, a conviction for possession of marijuana can tarnish your record and make it difficult to find a job. It is also important to note that a conviction for a drug-related crime, including possession of marijuana, could result in a two year suspension of your Florida driver’s license.
If you have been charged with a drug possession crime anywhere in the state of Florida, it is important to consult with a criminal defense attorney right away to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. Whether your possession case involves marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, prescription pills or any other controlled substance, the Florida Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can work on your side to aggressively defend your case. We are trial attorneys that stand ready to attack your charges in a courtroom, should that be necessary.
While it is important to be aware that the final outcome of your case is contingent upon the unique set of circumstances involved, the Florida Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will demand that your legal rights are protected and fight for favorable results on your behalf. Depending on the facts associated with your drug case, our attorneys may be able to negotiate with prosecutors to have the charges stacked against you reduced or even dismissed entirely.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug possession crime in Tampa or throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call our Hillsborough County office at 813-221-3200 or dial us statewide and toll-free at 1-866-608-5529.