Police say they pulled over Jessie Shelton Caudill in Escatawpa after an officer noticed the man failed to dim his bright lights while driving through a residential area with other vehicles. Officers then arrested Caudill after he failed a series of field sobriety tests.
Police took the man to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center to be booked. It was while Caudill was being processed that other officers discovered 19 prescription painkillers hidden in his shoes. Officers say they found 19 Opana (otherwise known as osymorphone) pills. Opana is a prescription drug that is similar to morphine and is prescribed to help combat moderate to severe pain.
While Caudill’s DUI was serious enough, the addition of the drug charges could end up putting the man away for a very long time. Mississippi law states that if Caudill is convicted, he could be sent to prison for between 4 and 16 years and face a potential $250,000 fine.
Prescription medications are powerful, dangerous, potentially addictive and heavily regulated substances. Even though the drugs come from a pharmacy, they are still controlled substances that can lead to serious legal trouble for anyone found to have have them absent doctors’ orders. If the police believe a person gained possession over prescription narcotics through the use of fraud, deceit, or forgery, then prosecutors will be very aggressive in pushing for jail time as punishment.
Drug charges are serious business, as Caudill’s case demonstrates, and should never be taken lightly. Trafficking, distribution, manufacture and possession of illegal substances carry severe penalties that not only follow you around for the rest of your life but jeopardize your freedom. It’s for this reason that having a skilled Mississippi drug crime attorney in your corner is so important. Even very minor crimes like possession of drug paraphernalia can damage your future.
Source: “Jessie Caudill arrested on DUI charge, drug charges added after pills found hidden in shoes,” published at GulfLive.com.
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