Asked 3/21/2016 – Big Spring, TX

I was pulled over for having smoked out headlights. When state trooper approached the car he said it had a strong smell of marijuana. He told me to step out he searched the car without my consent when he was done he found no more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams of a controlled substance cocaine. I realized after he was done there was a dead skunk in front of my car hence the strong odor. I didn’t mention this to him or took pics since I got arrested he didn’t read me my rights till I was in his car and he didn’t read them clearly but I said I understood. His dash cam should of caught the dead skunk on tape I was took to jail and given a 2500 bond

Answer

You are charged with a felony. If you are found guilty, you could go to prison for several years. You need to retain an attorney to hopefully help prevent that, especially if you are under the mistaken belief that somehow a dead skunk will get your drug case dismissed. You did not address the officer’s reason for the search, the smell of marijuana. HAD YOU SMOKED IN YOUR CAR ? Just you didn’t notice any smell or do not believe an officer COULD have smelled anything does not mean the officer did not smell anything