A Wisconsin woman has been charged with drug possession following an incident that occurred while chaperoning her young daughter’s field trip. According to the criminal complaint, the 28-year-old woman was in possession of several plastic bags containing heroin, hypodermic needles, and other drug paraphernalia.
The woman was reportedly a chaperone on her 7-year-old daughter’s school field trip at the time. Although she currently has no criminal record, she could face up to three-and-a-half years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
Another woman who was also chaperoning the trip allegedly found the woman lying on the floor of a bathroom at Pioneer Village in the Town of Saukville. The other chaperone told police that the woman was lying next to her purse as well as hypodermic needles and a glass tube with burn marks on it.
When her purse was searched, other drug paraphernalia items were allegedly discovered. These included alcohol pads, a lighter, a metal spoon with burn marks, rubber tubing and plastic containers containing sterile water.
The defendant says that she did not take any drugs while on the field trip. However, she did admit to a sheriff’s deputy that she had taken both heroin and OxyContin the previous day in celebration of her birthday.
After being taken to the hospital, the woman was arrested and charged with one count of narcotic drug possession, which is a felony. She was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.
There is always a lot at stake when it comes to drug-related criminal charges. Even though evidence may seem incontrovertible, it is important for a defendant to understand his or her rights and options before talking to investigators. Anyone accused of a drug crime should speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney to ensure that they are treated fairly and can make informed decisions about their defense.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “Mother charged with possessing heroin on school trip,” Don Behm, Oct. 10, 2011