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An article appeared last week on Fox 10 News that seemed at the outset fairly typical of drug crimes in the area. It stated that police arrested a suspect “who admitted to stealing to support his meth habit.” But if you read the entire piece, the extent of the problems caused by methamphetamine addiction become apparent. The man’s life apparently consisted of riding his bicycle through residential neighborhoods with burglary tools in his bag, and rifling through storage rooms looking for items to steal. He allegedly was riding the bike with a stolen vacuum perched on his handlebars, which he later deposited at his mother’s home. According to police, when the suspect was questioned about his actions, he stated the he steals about 60 times each week “because he doesn’t have a job.”
We understand that unemployment causes major disruptions in people’s lives. On the other hand, we don’t believe that lack of a job was the cause of the man’s problems. The fact is that feeding an addition is a full-time job in itself, and both the immediate effects of the use of the drug, as well as the need for a constant flow of cash to support it, makes it extremely unlikely that holding a job, or for that matter leading anything approaching a normal life, is possible.
In Arizona, meth holds a special place under the law. A.R.S. 13-901.01, for example provides that in most cases, a person convicted of personal possession or use of drugs is eligible for probation. In these situations, the law affirmatively requires the court to “suspend the imposition or execution of sentence and place the person on probation.” There are only a few exceptions to the mandatory probation provisions of the law. They include, (a) three convictions of drug use or possession; (b) refusal to enter drug treatment; (c) rejection of probation; and (d) where the conviction involved methamphetamine. That’s quite a statement of the legislature’s belief in the dangers of this particular drug, since only meth – not heroin, cocaine, or any other drug – is excepted from the provisions of the statute.
At the Law Offices of David A. Black, we understand how drug addiction can affect your life. If you have been charged with a drug crime, you need an experienced Phoenix drug crimes lawyer. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Law Offices of David A. Black
40 North Central Avenue #1850
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 280-8028
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