For those of you familiar with the story, it has come to a great climactic point today. For those of you unfamiliar with it, here's a quick catch up. I was arrested last month for some weed, guns and a powdery substance I probably shouldn't specify, but you can probably guess. The cops wanted me to turn in my dealer and I refused. These guys are Columbians from Miami; they would've killed me. So because I refused, they hit me as hard as possible with three felonies. I am/was a gun owner but a totally non violent one, and they had nothing to do with the drugs. But posession of firearms during the commission of a felony is a pretty serious charge, and the charge that stood to get me in the most trouble.

So I went to court today and my lawyer told me he was going to go ahead and get the case tried today instead of waiting for a bench trial next month. He was the first attorney in the courtroom, and the first attorney up talking to the DA and negotiating my plea. He then came and told me what the DA had offered even before court was in session (I'll tell you that in a minute). The judge came into the court and did roll call and then gave a 40 minute recess while she talked to the other lawyers and let them talk to their clients. My attorney was the ONLY one who had already gotten all this taken care of and just remained in his seat all calm and collected. That's when I knew I had the right guy.

I was the 4th person to go before the judge. I was sworn in, read my rights, and questioned by the court officials. The DA read his new recommendation for my sentence. The judge questioned me, heard what my attorney had to say, and went with the DA's reccommendation. Originally it was two years in prison. My attorney successfully negotiated with the DA under the first offender act to give me 2 years probation, recommended drug rehab (which I'm already in), and a $200 fine...and I get to go on nonreporting probation status after the first year!!!!

I have been given a year of intense probation and fined $2,100 for a dimebag of weed in the past. This time I had 3 felonies. I pled guilty to the drug charges under first offender, and since I had the weapons properly stored, that charge was dismissed. So I still got off of two felonies with basically a year of probation, rehab I needed and was already in anyway, and a fine I could pay with pocket change!!!! And at the end of my probation, I still get all my rights back and this whole nightmare is sealed from my criminal record.

Yeah I got off EASY. But don't get me wrong; I still don't consider it getting off easy. I consider it my last chance to turn my life around. If I violate this probation, I could go to prison for 25 years. I will do everything in my power to see that does not happen. I will finish my rehab and follow it up with after-care, AA, NA, new friends, and whatever else I can do to keep myself off drugs. I will be happy to get my guns/gun rights back, but will have nothing to do with them for the next two years. It may be a rough time, but it will be a rough time as a free man.

i'm very happy for you ez *huggies*

Sounds like you had the wake up call you needed. Hope everything works out for you - that kind of punishment is a whole lot easier to bounce back from then jail time would have been - good luck to you!

You were very lucky. Best of luck to you. Call a friend when you feel the urge to call a dealer.

YAY!!!!
Good for you, now finish your school and get on with life.

a friend who preferably is not a dealer...

AA and NA are not for anybody. They can help bu the whole "reliance on a higher power (God)" thing may drive you right back into the wrong side. Sometimes regular counciling helps if you face the fact you don't walk on water. Take a very deep look before committing to AA and NA! Therapy and treatment need to be tailored to YOU and not to someone else.

Also know that peer pressure is the NUMBER ONE reason why people fail after their own weakness! If you got friends that start to ride you over the straight and narrow they are not your friends.

Best of Luck..

Yeah well my dealer got busted anyway I think, even without my participation. I think he'd rather kill me than talk to me right now.

And I had to dump damn near all my friends to keep myself clean. I have only one or two to call now. But the rehab program is working pretty well for meeting replacements.

Wow what a story... Good luck and Congrats... That was a really big wake up call..

You have friends on here, I'm sure.

Come here and rant about how you're feeling and I'm sure you'll find people to help take your mind off things some.

Brilliant news! Am happy for you pal. Everything still might not be ideal but at least you now have control of your own destiny.

Oh yeah, I totally agree about the AA and NA as I am not a religious person. I rely more on the people there than the 12 steps themselves. And I do have my cognitive therapy to help me through the real problems.

And again, dumped all my friends. Still working on replacing them, but the treatment center is doing a fine job of helping with that. Still pretty lonely, but it will pass. And you guys are the best, always good for support and engouragement and all that good stuff.

I agree with this. More often than not, substance abuse is a symptom not the problem itself.

Yea! I am soooo happy for you. Congrats!

You have a long road ahead of you, but you are making all the right choices.

Very well said.

Well, I'm off to treatment now to see what my counselr has to say about this statement. Will return around 9-10 PM EST. Til then, have fun.

Just stick to the program

Rehab is good for drying out. I had a half gallon of whiskey per day for years. I was call a funtional alcoholic cause if you didn't smell it on me, you would swear that I was sober. Ibenn to 8 rehabs over the years and it did no good. I wasn't ready to quit. Them one morning I fell ans shattered my whole left side and shoulder. Laid there all day cause I couldn't get up. The wife stopped in twice and laughed and left. Took 5 people to pick me up in to the ambulace. That was Aug. 1st, 2005. Left the hospital the end of Aug. and didn't remember any of it. Went on dyalais for 4 monthd cause the kidney's shut down fron the narcotics they gave me. Said I wouldn't live a year. I got mad and threw away the medicine and was off treatment in 3wks. I haven't had a drop since the morning of Aug.1swt, 2005. It is what you set your mind to do, what you want out of life. Don't relie on others to get you by in those situations. You must fend for yourself. Good luck.

that is great news doll and very lucky. glad everything worked out in your favor.

Congrats, you've got an opportunity to turn your life around.

do whatever it takes to stay clean.

Best wishes.