Evidence in Richmond Drug Distribution Cases
The Richmond Police Department has an entire team of officers and professionals that they refer to as the “Drug Team”. There are roughly five to seven officers and who primarily investigate, acquire and serve search warrants, make arrests and other tasks related to drug cases.
The Richmond drug team is a specific task force that does nothing but focus on the sale and distribution of narcotics within the City of Richmond, and they take it very seriously. If you are facing charges, contact a defense attorney today to discuss a defense and learn about the necessary evidence in Richmond drug distribution cases.
Evidence Used by the Prosecution
In Richmond, the prosecutors are normally going to use three main things whenever they are trying to prosecute a person for distribution. The first is going to be the drug itself. This includes the drug labs and any other evidence that is directly related. Next, the police are going to have testimony from the police officer or officers who were involved, either undercover or directly, in the operation to catch the individual who was doing the selling. Those officers can testify as to what occurred, what happened, what drugs were involved, where they came from, and any number of related topics.
Finally, the prosecution will likely include testimonial evidence from any confidential informants involved. This is the individual who normally is rigged up with audio and video equipment or just audio equipment, and they are going to be the person who will either try to illegally sell or buy drugs from a person.
The confidential informant is going to be the person who is going in to purchase the drug from the individual that they are ultimately going to be charging with distribution. Altogether then, with evidence in Richmond drug distribution cases, there is going to be testimony from the officers, from the confidential informant, and then the presentation of the drugs and labs based around the drugs.
Elements of a Highly Contested Trial
The main element that is going to be the most contested at trial in a distribution case is going to be the character and the truthfulness of the confidential informant. The drugs are viewed at face value for what they are–either they are drugs or they are not–but the wildcard is going to be the “snitch” meaning the confidential informant (CI). There will be many questions that the CI and prosecution will be expected to answer and prove including:
- Did the CI have reason to lie?
- Why is the CI a CI?
- What were the procedures taken that got the CI wherever the sale was allegedly made?
- Is there audio and video, or is there only audio?
- How was the CI prepped?
- How much is the CI making?
- Is the CI a felon?
- Is the CI looking at the possibility of getting their charges wiped clean for doing this?
- Does the CI have reason to lie?
All of these questions are going to be used to create a cloud of doubt around the individual who actually did the sale and will be used to show the judge or the jury that they have reason to make up a story against the defendant in order to benefit themselves.
How an Attorney Can Help Mitigate Damages
Whenever you are dealing with any of these cases, always remember the burden is on the prosecutor to prove every element of the crime. Anytime a person can put any kind of cloud of doubt over any element of a crime, then a person may ultimately get the charge dismissed or the matter dismissed, because the prosecutors have to prove beyond all reasonable doubt every single element. This is where an experienced attorney can be extremely valuable. Such an attorney will be able to use their knowledge, targeting the weak spots in the case of the prosecution, and working to mitigate the damages for the defendant.
