According to reports out of Atlanta, a drug raid resulted in a suspect throwing several kilos of methamphetamine out of the window of a high rise.
The raid was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Atlanta Police Department. The suspect, Kelvin James Dark, was the focus of the ongoing investigation. Dark has been accused of smuggling drugs on both domestic and international flights.
When authorities showed up with a search warrant to Dark's residence, he allegedly threw “multiple kilograms of suspected methamphetamine from the balcony.”
Officers were able to recover the drugs from the street below. Dark was arrested on charges of methamphetamine trafficking in Georgia.
As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I can also say that he is probably facing charges of tampering with evidence as well. In today's post, I will outline the law behind the criminal offense of tampering with evidence.
Tampering with Evidence in Georgia
Tampering with evidence in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-10-94 as:
A person commits the crime of tampering with evidence when they knowingly destroy, alter, conceal, or disguise physical evidence. Tampering can also be accomplished by making, devising, preparing, or planting false evidence. The intent of the alteration can be to either prevent the apprehension of a person or to obstruct the prosecution or defense of the accused.
Tampering with evidence can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor crime.
Felony tampering with evidence occurs when a person tampers with evidence during the prosecution of a felony that involves another person. If convicted, they will face a penalty of one to three years in prison.
Tampering with evidence during the prosecution of a serious violent felony involving someone else will also result in the defendant being charged with a felony. Further, the punishment will include a prison term of one and ten years.
However, if the crime was a misdemeanor, then the offender will be charged with a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor charges in Georgia carry penalties of up to one year in jail, up to $1,000 in fines, or both.
Practice Note
If you or a loved one has been arrested in Georgia, contact our offices right away. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help you now.
Comments
There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.
Leave a Comment