CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Four Indiana people are facing felony charges after being caught distributing and trafficking marijuana across state lines. The special crimes unit found 50 pounds of marijuana in July after months of investigation.

Jeffery S. Moore and Larry W. Fagin are facing charges of dealing in marijuana, corrupt business influence and maintaining a common nuisance, and conspiracy to deal in marijuana. Katie L. Lindeman is also charged with corrupt business influence and maintaining a common nuisance and Joshua C. Fleek has been charged with dealing in marijuana, corrupt business influence, and conspiracy to deal in marijuana.

Marijuana Crimes in Indiana

The possession, manufacture, or sale of marijuana in Indiana is regulated by both the state and federal laws. In Indiana, marijuana is considered a schedule 1 substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical value. Types of marijuana-related crimes include the following:

Marijuana Possession

In Indiana, it is illegal to intentionally or knowingly possess marijuana. A person who grows plants is also in violation of the possession law. Penalties are based on the amount of marijuana in a person’s possession and include the following:

• Up to 30 grams: This is a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable by as much as one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Over 30 grams or prior convictions: People found in possession of over 30 grams or have had one or more previous convictions is a Class D felony charge, which is punishable by as much as three years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Distribution and Manufacture

It is against the law to distribute or manufacture marijuana or possess marijuana with the intent to distribute it. Penalties are based on the amount of marijuana distributed or manufactured and are as follows:

• Up to 30 grams: This is a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable with up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Between 30 grams and 10 pounds: This is a Class D felony charge which is punishable with up to three years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• More than 10 pounds: This is also a Class D felony charge which is punishable with up to eight years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Sales that occur in a school zone are considered to be a Class two felony and are punishable with up to eight years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Sales to minors are classified as a Class three felony that is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Second and subsequent violations are Class D felonies and are punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with a marijuana-related crime, it is easy to see how the penalties can be life-altering, especially if the charge is for a felony. With so much at risk, it is imperative to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.

The attorneys at Tanzillo, Stassin, and Babcock, P.C. will review your case and craft the best defense strategy possible. Contact them today to schedule a consultation at their Dyer, Indiana office.

• Written by Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock

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DIVORCE

Few people want to think about divorce. Nevertheless, close to half of all married people will divorce at some point. Only in unusual circumstances does the divorce strike like a bolt out of the blue. Often, married couples can see divorce is on the horizon when arguments about money or other issues increase in frequency. If you think divorce might be in your future, you should meet with a divorce lawyer in Northwest Indiana as soon as possible.

A Lawyer will Help You Understand Your Rights

Spouses have important rights during and after divorce. However, if you are unaware of them, then you will not know how to ask a judge for the following:

• Let you stay in the family home with your children
• Let you use the family car
• Give you temporary child support
• Award you temporary spousal support (alimony) that lasts throughout the duration of the divorce process

Furthermore, you need to understand your rights after the divorce has been finalized. A lawyer can help you think about:

• How you will divide your marital property. This is the property you acquired as a couple, and not the property you brought individually into the marriage.
• How you will divide marital debts. These are joint debts you acquired as a couple. After divorce, one spouse usually takes over a debt.
• How you will divide custody of children. You might want a 50/50 custody arrangement or for one parent to have primary custody with the other getting visitation.
• Whether you will pay or receive child support, and whether you need more than the state formula provides.
• Whether you need alimony to get back on your feet, and for how long.

These issues and others like them require a lawyer’s experience. By meeting with a lawyer, you can begin to think about what you will want out of the marriage and how to go about getting it.

A Lawyer Can Help You Gather Evidence

Divorces can be contested or uncontested. With an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse agree on all major issues like child custody, alimony, and the division of marital property and debts. Uncontested divorces are often ideal but not always possible. Instead, couples might have sharp disagreements in that a judge is needed to resolve.

For example, many couples disagree about child custody, with each spouse wanting to be the primary parent. A judge will decide custody based on the best interests of your children and will look to a variety of factors, such as:

• Each parent’s relationship with the child
• The child’s age and sex
• The children’s wishes
• Each parents’ physical and mental health
• Evidence of domestic violence
• Other factors

If you suspect a child custody fight is possible, you can start collecting evidence as soon as possible, which will make your case stronger.

Meeting with a Lawyer Does Not Commit You to Divorce

Some clients are nervous about meeting with a lawyer because they think it commits them to file for divorce, even if they think the marriage can be saved. To be absolutely clear: You and your spouse will decide if and when to divorce; your lawyer does not make that decision.

By meeting with a lawyer, you can discuss what you want in the event divorce is unavoidable. You are still free to try and salvage your marriage.

Schedule a Meeting to Speak to a Northwest Indiana Divorce Lawyer

Divorces are complicated, and proper planning is essential to make sure you have the divorce you want. Even if you hope to save your marriage, it is best to understand the process and your options ahead of time.

At Tanzillo, Stassin & Babcock, our divorce lawyers have helped many people in Dyer, St. John, and Schererville understand their options. To schedule your free consultation, please call (219) 865-6262.

• Written by Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock

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AUTO ACCIDENTS

Some car accidents result from reckless or dangerous driving such as speeding, swerving, and tailgating. An increasing number of accidents stem from sheer carelessness, especially from drivers who are distracted. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, you should speak with a car accident lawyer in Northwest Indiana right away.

Examples of Distracted Driving

Almost anything can become a distraction that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off the road. All it takes is a split second and a driver can quickly crash into another vehicle or object.

Common distractions include:

• Talking on a cellphone
• Reading or sending a text message
• Reaching for something
• Adjusting controls in the car
• Talking to someone in the car
• Eating
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Applying makeup

Furthermore, drivers can become distracted even when stopped at a red light. As a result, they might fail to note that a pedestrian has entered the crosswalk late or that a vehicle is waiting in the intersection to make a left-hand turn. When the light turns green, the driver can plow into a pedestrian or another vehicle, all because they were too distracted to notice them.

Grisly Statistics

According to the federal government, distracted driving kills almost nine people every day in collisions, and injures another 1,000 people. These numbers worked out to 3,477 distracted driving deaths in 2015 and another 391,000 distracted driving injuries. Almost 10% of all motor vehicle deaths result from distracted driving.

Unfortunately, these numbers only seem to be rising. Distracted driving deaths were about 15% higher in 2015 than in 2010, and there is no evidence that the number is decreasing.

Proving Distracted Driving

If a distracted driver collides with you, you might be able to bring a lawsuit for negligence. However, you will need to show that the driver caused the collision because of their carelessness. Gathering sufficient evidence can be tricky, especially since at-fault drivers are not in the habit of admitting they were talking on the phone or looking in their glove compartment when the accident happened.

However, an experienced car accident lawyer knows how to uncover evidence by doing the following:

• Issuing a subpoena for the driver’s cell phone records, which can show if the driver was engaged in a phone call or sending a text message at the time of the collision
• Finding a surveillance video that shows the driver was distracted before the crash
• Questioning witnesses who might admit that the driver was distracted in the seconds before the collision. These and other methods can uncover evidence that the other driver was negligent, which can help you win your case.

Injured in a Car Crash?

Speak with an Indiana Auto Accident Lawyer Today. Injured motorists need compensation to cover medical bills and replace lost wages. At Tanzillo, Stassin & Babcock, we have fought for countless motorists to get them the compensation they deserve. To start the process, please schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgable attorneys today. Indiana does not give injured motorists an unlimited amount of time to seek compensation, so do not delay.

• Written by Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock

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