A 29-year-old Illinois woman was taken into custody on Nov. 23 for allegedly possessing drugs and carrying an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. The incident occurred during a roadside safety checkpoint in Joliet on the 400 block of West Jefferson Street.
According to the Joliet Police Department, a black Jeep Cherokee approached the checkpoint at around 10:50 p.m. When officers spoke with the vehicle’s driver, they saw a liquor bottle sitting beside the left leg of the defendant, who was riding in the front passenger seat. They asked her to hand them the bottle, and she complied. Officers then asked both the driver and the defendant to exit the vehicle so they could search it. During the ensuing search, they allegedly discovered a small container of marijuana. The defendant was asked if she had any other drugs in her possession, and she handed over a baggie of cocaine.
The defendant, who lives on the 1500 block of South Chicago Street in Joliet, was arrested and transported to the Will County Jail for processing. She was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and scheduled to appear at a bail hearing on Nov. 25.
Getting arrested for drug possession can be a frightening and confusing experience. However, defendants don’t have to face drug charges alone. A defense attorney could review a case and make sure the defendant understands all of his or her legal options. For example, in some cases, it may be advisable to fight the charges in court and try to win an acquittal. In others, an attorney might recommend negotiating a plea deal that allows the defendant to plead guilty to less serious charges, which could lead to a lighter sentence.