Parole Officer Arrested For Receiving Drugs From Parolee

A Denton parole officer was recently charged with receiving hydrocodone pills from a parolee and placed in jail. Investigators reported being tipped off that the parole officer was receiving hydrocodone pills from a parolee. The man had recently arranged an unscheduled meeting with a parolee in the parking lot of the office where the man worked. Investigators, however, watched from a distance. This arrest is reported to be part of an ongoing investigation. This article will examine the type of drugs and charges involved in this case.

What is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is an opioid that is available in several forms including capsules, syrup, and tablets. The drug is manufactured and prescribed to patients to treat pain. Sometimes, hydrocodone is also used to treat severe coughing. Some other medications like Vicodin contain hydrocodone with several other substances. The drug is popular among addicts because it is very addictive in nature, but often results in overdoses. Hydrocodone overdoses involve cold skin, coma, slowed heartbeat, seizures, and in the very worst cases, even fatalities. In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration reclassified hydrocodone as a particularly dangerous substance. Because hydrocodone requires a prescription to be used lawfully, individuals who possess the drug but not a prescription can be considered to have committed a crime.

What is Receiving Property?

Receiving property is a type of theft crime. Theft is the unlawful appropriation of property with intent to permanently deprive the property’s owner. It is frequently said that receiving property contains four elements, which include the following:

  • Property is received.
  • The property was already stolen.
  • The person receiving the property knew the property was stolen.
  • The person receiving the property intended to permanently deprive the property’s owner of the goods.

What Constitutes the Charge of Receiving a Drug?

Receiving property is a theft. Like all theft offenses, the penalties for this crime depend on the value of the property that was taken. In Texas, for committing this offense, one can face fines, prison, and in some cases even restitution to the party whose goods were stolen.

Are There Any Available Defenses to Receiving Property?

There are some defenses to receiving property that talented legal counsel will know to utilize. Some of the strongest defenses that can be raised to receiving property charges include:

  • There was insufficient evidence for the party in question to have known that the property was stolen.
  • A person might have had the honest and mistaken belief that the property in question was not stolen and rightfully belonged to them.
  • The person being charged was involuntarily intoxicated to the point that the person did know that the property in question was stolen.
  • The charged party was not old enough to possess criminal responsibility.
  • The party lacked the capacity to distinguish right from wrong.

Obtain the Assistance of a Strong Texas Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are charged with a drug related crime in Denton or the surrounding area, the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Contact a seasoned criminal defense attorney at Wheeler Law Office today.

(image courtesy of Gerrie van der Walt)