Florida police say that a traffic stop led to an arrest and serious criminal allegations for Jabar Gaffney, the former professional wide receiver. He posted a $7,000 bond for the slew of drug charges filed against him shortly after being taken into custody. Among the allegations includes a felony charge for transporting illegal paraphernalia.
An officer apparently initiated the traffic stop after he noticed Gaffney having trouble staying in his own lane and that the window tint on the vehicle was darker than the law permits. The attending police officer supposedly had sufficient cause to conduct a search of the vehicle, in which he found marijuana as well as related drug paraphernalia. Exactly what type of paraphernalia was found was not disclosed.
Two of Gaffney’s charges are misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, respectively. Gaffney allegedly had over six grams of marijuana either on his person or in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. His single felony charge was filed for the transportation of drug paraphernalia in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.
When illegal drugs are believed to be involved, Florida state law treats both misdemeanors and felonies as serious offenses. Drug charges have the ability to permanently alter the course of a person’s future, possibly excluding them from viable employment opportunities or setting them on a rocky path for the remainder of their life. Defendants who hope to minimize the impact of these charges typically begin defense preparations in as timely a manner as possible. Ultimately, dedicating time explicitly to the preparation and construction of a solid defense foundation is an excellent strategy for achieving the most favorable outcome possible from the criminal court process.