An Oklahoma man received a tough sentenced from Cleveland County District Judge Tom Lucas on February 27, after pleading guilty to possession of 18 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute. Lemont Donnell Maytubby, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison and 14 years of probation for the second offense, which follows a 2002 conviction for suspicion of conspiracy to traffic marijuana, for which he served 2 ½ years in prison with three years of probation. If you have been charged with marijuana possession, intent to distribute, or another drug-related criminal offense in Oklahoma, contact our criminal defense attorneys at AMA Law as soon as possible. Having a reputable lawyer on your side can significantly improve your chances of garnering a favorable outcome in your case.
DRUG ARREST MADE DURING ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP
Maytubby was arrested in February 2012 after being pulled over by an officer with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) during a routine traffic stop. According to the report, Maytubby was traveling north on Interstate 35 near West Robinson Street when OHP Trooper Joe Kimmons pulled him over. Kimmons reported observing Maytubby weave twice over the line that separates the center and inside lanes. Although Kimmons said that he initially intended to only issue the driver a warning, he suspected “possible criminal activity” inside of Maytubby’s vehicle after talking to him and reviewing his criminal history. “The entire traffic stop, Mr. Maytubby would not make eye contact with me. Due to my training and experience in dealing with criminal activity and the above indicators, I felt there may be possible criminal activity inside the car,” stated Kimmons in the affidavit.
POLICE DOG ALERTS TROOPERS TO MARIJUANA IN TRUNK
While Kimmons was talking to Maytubby, Norman Police Detective Darin Morgan arrived at the scene and ran his police dog around the car, at which point the dog “alerted to the rear of the car.” Maytubby did not initially consent to the search of his vehicle, but eventually admitted that there was marijuana in the back of the car after Kimmons told him they would be doing a probable cause search. The officers found approximately 18 pounds of marijuana in a black duffel bag under the back seat of the car, individually wrapped in one-pound packages. In court this week, Maytubby told Judge Lucas “it was a one-time deal” and that he was trying to raise money for his family since the family car caught on fire.
CONSULT OUR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FOR LEGAL HELP
Penalties for marijuana possession, which many consider to be unnecessarily harsh, have received a lot of attention lately, as states nationwide propose bills to legalize the drug. In Oklahoma, a House panel this week unanimously supported a bill that would make first and second offenses of marijuana possession in the state a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Unfortunately, under House Bill 1835, cultivation or distribution charges would still be considered felony offenses. If you have been arrested for a serious crime like possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, consult our knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers today for legal help. You may be able to have your drug charges reduced to a lesser offense or possibly even dismissed altogether, and our criminal defense attorneys at AMA Law can help.