A Tennessee grandmother who was babysitting two toddlers is facing felony drug and weapons charges stemming from a July 26 drug raid according to a report from the Memphis Police Department. The 52-year-old Barton Heights woman was taken into custody shortly after officers arrived at her East Rollins Road residence to serve a drug warrant. A records check is said to have revealed that the woman entered a plea agreement in 2013 after being charged with cocaine possession.
Police say that drugs and money were hidden all over the house. Stolen handguns were allegedly found in a nightstand and shoe box, and a search of the kitchen is said to have led to the discovery of opiate pills in a purse and an unidentified yellow powder in a jar. Officers also say that they recovered 24 bags of marijuana, three sets of digital scales and more than $2,000 in cash. Police believe that the money was earned by selling drugs.
The woman is said to have told officers that the money and drugs belonged to her. She faces several charges including marijuana possession with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft of property.
Experienced criminal defense attorneys may recommend that their clients avail themselves of their right to remain silent even when the evidence against them seems overwhelming. The penalties for drug crime convictions can be severe, but proving narcotics charges beyond all reasonable doubt is often challenging for even veteran prosecutors. While spontaneous confessions make life easier for prosecutors, suspects who remain silent give their attorneys a better position from which to conduct plea negotiations.
Source: WREG, “Drug bust nets babysitting grandmother, police say”, Eryn Taylor and Andrew Ellison, July 30, 2018
Source: Action News 5, “Babysitting grandma arrested after drugs, stolen guns seized from home”, Staff report, July 30, 2018
