For most women, learning they are pregnant is a trigger for planning. Pregnant women usually think about how they want their pregnancy to go. They might think about the labor they want. They might envision their child's birth. Most women don't go into a pregnancy with the thought of having to face drug charges during their pregnancy. Sadly, one woman in Maryland who is five months pregnant is having to do just that.
The woman was one of nine people who was arrested recently in two drug busts. In the two recent busts, authorities claim to have recovered heroin, cocaine, marijuana and cash.
One of the people arrested faces up to 200 years in prison for his current charges. He has 13 prior convictions.
These busts come in the midst of a heroin crisis in the state. In Frederick County alone, there have been 83 heroin overdoses that were reported this year. Of those, 23 were fatal.
The busts were a joint operation between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. All told, there have been more than 90 people charged in the county in the past year as a result of the joint operation.
The pregnant woman has a lot at stake now. She has to think about how to handle her defense, not only for herself but also for her unborn baby. She has the right to present a defense just like anyone else who is facing drug charges in Maryland. Understanding charges, learning about possible plea deals and determining how to present a defense can help defendants as they move through the criminal justice system.
Source: ABC 7, "Pregnant woman among 90 arrested in massive Frederick County drug crackdown" John Gonzales, Dec. 02, 2014