Under the constitution of the United States, those accused of criminal wrongdoing are supposed to be treated as innocent until proven guilty. This means that people should not face punishments for supposed crimes until they have been found guilty in a court of law. Unfortunately, people are often judged as guilty by members of the community and in the media from the moment criminal accusations surface.
An Oregon couple is facing social and economic repercussions following their arrest on drug charges. This couple was arrested in May after police raided their medical marijuana business that they have owned for the past four years. According to the couple, the business provides marijuana and support for medical marijuana users.
Police say that during the raid they found over $2,700 in cash, 94 marijuana plants, marijuana food products and almost 12 pounds of marijuana. Subsequently, they were arrested -- along with two other individuals -- and charged with selling and growing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school. They also face federal money-laundering and racketeering charges. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are awaiting their criminal proceedings.
However, recently eviction proceedings have been started against the couples' business. The landlord of the building the business rents claims that since they violated drug laws and were late on the rent, they are no longer welcome. The couple claims they were only late on rent after authorities froze the business's assets.
The only way for people, like this couple, to make sure that they are not treated unfairly from the beginning of their criminal case is to mount an aggressive criminal defense. Part of this defense is to protect all of their constitutional rights. By protecting these rights, people can make sure that they do not unfairly face punishments before they are even found guilty.
Source: The Republic, "Medford marijuana advocates charged with drug dealing evicted by landlord," July 3, 2013
