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Hanging out with a bad crowd

By Jeff Terrill

Fort Wayne Reader

2014-12-04

Meet Dan. He dropped out of high school three years ago. He tells people he’s taking college classes. Dan can’t keep a job, but he’s had a bunch of them over the years. Dan isn’t a real person.

Dan’s girlfriend is on felony probation for a fraud conviction. Dan helps her care for her two young daughters. Dan spends about half of his time staying with his girlfriend. Dan also shares an apartment with two friends. One of his roommates is the brother of his girlfriend. Both of his roommates are engaged in a variety of illegal activities.

They break into cars and take cash and other stuff. They sell their own prescription medications on occasion. Dan suspects his roommates are into some bad things.

Dan doesn’t ask a lot of questions. He figures the less he knows the better.

Dan has an older brother who always reminds Dan to make good choices. He tells Dan to choose his friends carefully and to stay away from people who are trouble. Dan assures his brother that he is doing the right thing.

Neither Dan nor his roommates are aware that detectives are investigating them. Law enforcement has received several tips over the last few months that the three roommates are making meth inside the apartment.

Later this month, the detectives will knock on the door of Dan’s apartment. Dan will be the only roommate there. Dan will allow the detectives to look around the apartment. In the closet downstairs, the detectives will find items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamines. They will also find a small box containing a few wallets with driver’s licenses, game consoles, a handgun and other stolen items.

Dan will explain to the officers that he doesn’t know how that stuff got there. Dan will tell the officers that his roommates put the items there.

The detectives will arrest Dan for multiple felonies. Dan’s girlfriend will visit him in jail the following day. Dan will expect her to say that she’s working on bonding him out of jail. Instead, she will tell him how important it is not to implicate his roommates.

Dan’s brother will visit him in jail. He will give Dan an earful. Dan will listen this time.

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Jeff Terrill is a partner/shareholder with the law firm of Arnold Terrill Anzini, P.C. Mr. Terrill represents clients accused of crimes throughout northeast Indiana. You can contact Mr. Terrill with any questions or comments at his office at 260.420.7777 or via email at jterrill@fortwaynedefense.com. Learn more about his firm at www.fortwaynedefense.com. This article expressed opinions and observations of the author, is not intended as legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Please consult a qualified attorney with any legal questions or issues you might have. Thank you