A 16-year-old Maryland teen has been indicted as an adult for allegedly brining marijuana-infused brownies and a handgun to a school in La Plata. The indictment was handed down by a grand jury on March 22.
Authorities report that a teacher at La Plata High School observed the boy acting in a strange manner and suspected that he was under the influence of drugs. After he was taken from the classroom, his book bag was searched. During the search, a school administrator found a tin of brownies. The teen reportedly admitted that the brownies contained marijuana and that he intended to pass them out to his friends.
The administrator subsequently saw a handgun in a different section of the book bag and called the school resource officer. The teen reportedly admitted that the gun was his, and he was taken into custody at the scene. He subsequently admitted that he had eaten two brownies. The teen is facing seven charges in adult court. However, it is possible that his case may be moved back to juvenile court, depending on his criminal history.
Drug charges can result in serious consequences if convictions are carried out. The penalties for drug offenses are potentially even more severe when there are aggravating factors, including possession with the intention to distribute and carrying a handgun during a drug offense. Someone who is charged with drug crimes may benefit from retaining a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. In the aforementioned case, a lawyer may file a motion to move the case back to juvenile court and work to secure a favorable adjudication on behalf of the client.