I got too caught up in Miami activities

Your life is an unjust nightmare right now. Let me assure you- you will survive this. The day will come when it's all over, and days will come when you will wake up and be glad you're alive.

You should be allowed to take the medicine you need/want in the privacy of your home, but that's another story.

If a public defender is all you can afford, it's better than nothing. Although risky, one strategy is to take this to trial...refuse to plea bargain on any of the charges. I have read lately about how jury nullification (where a jury recognizes that the defendant is guilty, but for moral or other reasons, refuses to convict) is becoming a serious concern to prosecutors of possession cases. Basically, people have gotten used to the idea that MJ is not crack cocaine and even has benefits. When a jury sees a case like yours, involving possession of a small amount for personal use, they get pissed that the state is spending its resources prosecuting it and refuse to convict. I have read of recent cases in Montana, Arizona, Michigan and Connecticut where this has been publicized.

As I said, it's risky (maybe more so in Mississippi as rural, conservative jurists may be more inclined to apply the rule of law no matter what), but it is definitely worth discussing with your lawyer, public defender or not.

I'm assuming there was no "intent to sell" charge, that your property is not close to a school or public housing and that no contraband was found in your car. Any of those (and probably other) factors might change the analysis...talk to a lawyer!

Good luck and after you've resolved this, consider moving to a more enlightened state.

and offer sympathy.

Hopefully there are knowledgeable DUers from MI here and they'll find this thread.

Think hopeful outcomes, on all horizons.

Thanks for ideas. I'm at work and will
write more later.

Maybe you can get the felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor in exchange for a guilty or nolo plea.

These are just some ideas, don't take it too seriously.

Call around and do free consultations with a few different lawyers to get an idea of what strategies would be possible. Many of them will do free consultations either on the phone or in person. You don't have to tell them you can't pay. Just do some free consults to get info about what is possible. Bring a list of questions with you and take notes.

Call a local law school. Sometimes they have a legal clinic where law students can offer legal help.
Try calling the Mississippi Bar Association to see if they have a referral service. Maybe they can recommend a lawyer or point you to a legal clinic that works according to your income. The public defender could be good too maybe.

Talk to other people in your town who have faced similar problems to find out what they have done.

Ask your lawyers if you can or should request a continuance (postpone the court dates). Sometimes pushing the date back a couple times can give you more time to prepare. I don't know if it helps you get a better plea bargain.

I'm sorry anyone has to go through what you are facing.

They may be able to help you with finding a lawyer. Also they should know about this case, which seems even more fishy than usual.

A public defender is better than nothing, and some of them are truly dedicated inspired individuals. Part of what's going on here is that they seem to be taking advantage in a big way of the fact that you have no legal advice.

So sorry this is happening to you. Please keep us posted.

Here's hoping that you get some more helpful suggestions here. I am so sorry that this happened to you.

The misdemeanors are no biggie. Just a fine if I had pleaded guilty. I can't say I'm guilty for those without damaging defense on the felony. I've talked to a couple of lawyers who mentioned a few reason's why I could probably beat this. There is one lawyer that I really like, who would kick ass, but he is so busy and I don't know if I could afford him. He's a lawyer from California who came here to help after Katrina and stayed. He used to be a public defender, but now isn't. He is very knowledgeable about marijuana laws and such.

I went out in search of answers on getting a public defender. I was told at the courthouse that they won't give public defenders on misdemeanors. They said I could get one for the felony that might work both issues. However, I can't get one for the felony until I am indicted and/or have a court date. Soooo. Do I defend myself on the misdemeanors? I have several reasons to believe it was an illegal search.

I am still trying to get this one lawyer to talk to me but he's always in court and I really don't know if I can afford him or not.

If I am not allowed to see the search warrant, wouldn't that constitute an illegal search?

Those Detectives have done this exactly the way they wanted by design and purpose...
I just hope you get a decent defense as this was unjust and so wrong...

This was taking their training to a whole new level..
Its designed so they may find a crime and property to confiscate and profit from later.. They most likely went after You in this same way...

If you loose your case????
They WIN....
That's the Game they are playing..
Guilt has nothing to do with it either...
This is American Justice today..

Its Bullshit and so Wrong..

He's only working with me on the misdemeanors and is charging me a fee I can afford. We are in limbo with the felony and I will worry when that time comes. I was really afraid I would have to go to court alone and I really needed someone to check into all the iffy parts of the police procedures.