Can I be charged of drug possession if my friend took the blame for me?

My friends and I were riding around and the driver ran a red light. There was weed in the car in my possession. The police pulled us over and smelled it in the car. My friend took the blame even though it was in my possession and was arrested and charged. The police never took any of my information and I don't live in the state. Can I still be charged?
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Dennis Roberts, a P.C. | Dennis Roberts
Oakland, CA
if it was on your person, yes you can be charged. Worse, your friend can be charged as an accessory. Get lawyers.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Peter F. Goldscheider
Yes, it is not up to your friend to "take the blame". The police can recommend charges as they see fit.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/11/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Nelson & Lawless
Everybody involved or present could be charged, but without your info, they cant do so. If your friend gives you up, they could.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Greenwald, Mayfield & Vigil, LLP
They can still charge you if your friend changes their statement or the police believe based on where the drugs were found that you were the one with control over the substance. The district attorney has 1 year to charge you with a misdemeanor for simple possession. It is probably unlikely if they did not cite you or take your info but it is still possible.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Eric Sterkenburg
If on investigation the police find that there is probable cause to think the weed may be yours then yes you can still be charged.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Joe Dane
I'd think with no information about you and somebody else being charged would make it highly unlikely that you would be charged at this point.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: The Law Offices of Gabriel Dorman
It's unlikely since they did not take any information from you on the date of the incident. If they really wanted to hold you accountable they would have done so that day.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Maureen Furlong Baldwin
Normally when a criminal offense is filed by way of complaint, the police report goes to the DA who decides what charges to file and against whom by reading the report that details the evidence against each person. In some counties, if a ticket is given as opposed to an arrest made, the ticket goes straight to court bypassing the DA. If the marijuana was less than 1 oz, then the offense is only an infraction in the state of CA and that means a ticket. If you are not served with a notice to appear, there was no case filed against you. The DA can amend to add an additional person in court if it seems appropriate per the evidence.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Jeff Yeh
Yes but very unlikely. If they didn't even take your info, the only way they can get it is from your friend. Prosecutors usually don't believe whatever defendants say, so you are okay.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Thomas F. Mueller
Yes you can but it would be unlikely at this point. The D.A. will probably not consider the case serious enough to go through the trouble of starting it up

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Wallin & Klarich: A Law Corporation
You could be charged but if you are not contacted by the police in the future you are probably "out of the woods". However, definitely do not speak to anyone about this case other than your lawyer from this date forth.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Tracey S. Sang
If your friend claimed the MJ and was arrested and charged for it then you're probably off the hook unless the friend turns on you. Pretty nice friend to take the fall for that - seems a little odd!

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/10/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

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