An 18-year-old East Bridgewater resident with a history of run-ins with police now faces drug charges, on top of vandalism charges that were brought against him only a week earlier. According to the Quincy Patriot-Ledger, the East Bridgewater school resource officer was patrolling the school parking lot when he saw what appeared to be evidence of marijuana in Gershom Grossman's car. Grossman, a student at the high school, was summoned to the vehicle after School Resource Officer Mark Harvey notified school officials and brought Detective Michael Jenkins to the scene. As an Brockton, Massachusetts drug possession criminal defense attorney, I was very interested in the Patriot-Ledger's description of how police handled this situation.
Harvey said that they questioned Grossman about a pipe and what looked like marijuana seeds in the car. Harvey said that Grossman admitted to smoking pot before school and said that there was more pot in his car. He gave police permission to search his car and directed them to look in the glove box to find the marijuana. Grossman was arrested on the spot for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana in a school zone, and theft of a book from the school library. As a Quincy drug crimes defense lawyer, I note that conviction on the charge of possession of marijuana in a school zone carries mandatory minimum sentencing of two years' jail time.
According to the Boston Globe, Grossman has been described by police as being unable to "stay out of trouble" and continuing "to be involved in increasingly more destructive behavior." While Grossman does not have a criminal record, he had been a "frequent nuisance in town," said the Globe, and had been involved in larcenies, shoplifting, and malicious destruction of property incidents. When he was arrested on marijuana charges, Grossman was already facing charges of malicious damage to a motor vehicle and using a motor vehicle without authority, brought only a week earlier. According to the Boston Globe, Grossman was one of four teenagers arrested for vandalizing a house and causing $45,000 worth of damage while the house's owners were on vacation in Europe.
The Globe reported that Grossman's parents had resolved the earlier incidents in which Grossman had been involved. But for the marijuana charges, Grossman would be wise to seek a Massachusetts drug possession attorney like Michael DelSignore, who has a record of success in getting drug possession cases dismissed. The penalties for conviction on the charges that Grossman faces are too serious to take a chance on. In addition to two years for possession in a school zone, Grossman faces another 2.5 years for possession with intent to distribute. However, "intent to distribute" is difficult to prove and often charged on the basis of details like how the drug was packaged. An experienced Massachusetts drug possession defense attorney can often use this weakness to negotiate the charge down to simple possession, which drops it from a felony to a misdemeanor. For a first possession offense involving marijuana, a conviction generally means probation, not jail.
Attorney Michael DelSignore has the experience and knowledge of the law to prepare a strong defense for clients facing drug possession and distribution charges. If you are facing such charges, please call our office for a free consultation to learn about the options you have available for your defense, and protect your freedom and your future. Call today at (781) 686-5924, or send an email to set up an appointment.
