Auto-SummaryThe author of this post recounts a harrowing experience of being stopped at a US-Mexico border patrol checkpoint in Texas, where a drug-sniffing dog indicated the presence of contraband in their car. The agent searched the vehicle and found a small amount of marijuana and a jar of hash, leading to a felony charge. The author was taken to the Sierra Blanca, Texas jail, a small facility with a notorious reputation for locking up people for life for marijuana offenses. Despite being a citizen, the author was held for 29 hours and had to pay a significant bond to be released. The post raises questions about the fairness of the system, particularly in a town where the jail is leased to a private company and the guards are reportedly underpaid. The author is seeking advice from others who may have had similar experiences in Sierra Blanca, wondering if they need a lawyer to have the charges dropped or reduced.
IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, DO NOT GET WITHIN 100 MILES OF THE MEXICO BOARDER. THEY WILL STOP YOU. THEY WILL FIND YOUR STUFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE WHITE AND A CITIZEN. THEY HAVE DRUG SNIFFING DOGS.
Was wondering if anyone here has had an overnight stay in the Sierra Blanca, Tx jail for felony hash possession and how it turned out. I was caught by a drug sniffing dog at the I-10 Boarder Patrol checkpoint. From googling, I guess your under their authority if your within 100 miles of the boarder.
So here's my story...
I was leaving the LBC to Kentucky 4/18. It was during all the floodings, so I-40 had a massive storm just sitting there... I decided to go I-10. I drove 16 hours and was about to stop for the night. As I was going along I-10 looking for a good place to stay signs started popping up saying Boarder Patrol Inspection Ahead. There were all these cameras and nonsense on the side of the road. All cars to the left, all trucks to the right. I wasn't too worried. We have agriculture stops in CA, thought it was like that. As I got closer I noticed there were dogs sniffing all the cars and trucks. I started to sweat. As the dog went around my car, I noticed him acting funny. Fuck! As I got up to the B.P. agent, gave him my i.d. and told him where I was going, he said I needed to pull over for a secondary inspection. Fuck!!
I parked my car and got out like the agents told me. They said the dog had indicated I either had someone hidden in my car or drugs. (BTW, how does a dog tell the difference between a passenger and a stow-a-way?). They asked if I had either in my car, I replied no. Since they dog had indicated I had one of the two, they didn't need my permission to search my car.
The agent took his dog into my car and found my jar with about 3 1/2oz, plus my pipes and travel smoke. The agents asked why I had lied about having something in my car, and I said...Well, if I had told you would we be in different circumstances? They replied no.
So as they took me into the station, I saw they were tearing apart my car (luggage and all). They asked if I had anything else, which I had about 5g butane hash I had made and told them about. They finger printed me, took my picture and what not. As I was waiting there on the bench, one of the guys took my pot out with his dog to play with him. He brought it back in and said what a good job he did finding it and all. Then he took out my butane hash. He came back in and said the dog didn't respond to it. I guess the butane process hid the smell? I was all like, fuck, I should have kept my mouth closed.
The agents didn't want anything to do with me. I was a citizen, so they called ICE (immigration) to see if they wanted me. ICE didn't want me. So then they asked the sheriff, who was in the station, if he wanted me. Of course he wanted me. People were being brought in left and right for pot. They were also being given a ticket and let go. I guess if you have under 4oz, they will ticket you for the misdemeanor and you show up for court later. BUT... if you have over that or hash (BTW Texas considers hash to be a Schedule 1 Opium Derivative.. ie. FELONY), off to jail you go. So I got taken to Sierra Blanca, Tx jail. It's a town of 600 people. The deputy gave me the tour of the town.
As soon as you walk into the jail, it smells of bud. That was cruel. There I was locked up, wanted a "j", could smell it, but couldn't smoke it. UGH! I didn't know wtf was really happening. I was in a cell by myself for 6 hours because they needed all the paperwork to book me. I couldn't have my phone call. Really, I cried a little that night. Every time I would push the call button for the guard, the would answer "Bueno!, Bueno!" I wouldn't answer them back until they said hello.
When I got booked (BTW I was never given my free phone call), they asked if I could handle spicy foods. Odd question. Well, breakfast, lunch and dinner all had jalapenos. My booty was a burning.
After booking I was put in a cell with 6 other guys. Talked to this kid in there my own age from Louisiana and a 70 y/o black guy from Mobile, AL most of the time. They were both in their for hash. Everyone else spoke little English.
Talking to the guards, we found out they only made minimum wage. I guess the city leases the jail to a private company.
It was an ordeal, but I guess the judge that had to set our bonds was in meeting all day and wasn't going to show up. She finally showed up after 5:00, but they were like, we can't take your bail, it's after 5. They got permission to take our bail. Ok, what about my car. We'll, it's after 5, you'll have to stay the night and get it out of impound the next day. Fuck! Well, I guess they got permission to get it out, which was $268 w/ towing charge.
The judge sets my bail for felony hash at $6500 and the pot for $4500. I had to pay 10% ($1100) plus $30 paperwork fee plus $500 fee to the bonds-lady, plus $268 for my car. I had a lot of cash on me, (the jail took thier part, and gave the rest back as a check) and covered all but $100, so at 9:30p.m. on 4/20!!!!!! I was at an atm getting the rest of my bond money. I spent a little over 29 hours in custody.
On the way out, we asked the guards why it smelled so much of pot in there. They responded that the evidence room was just full of it. I asked if they get a lot of business from the I-10 checkpoint, which they said they did.
My bonds-lady said to get a lawyer and they will drop the charges and I'll just be paying fines. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this? Is this true? And if it's true do I really need a lawyer? (Only found info about Yuma, Az. It's a reduction to $400 fee and you can file a set-aside, really don't need a lawyer. But this happened to me in TX. I have dabbled in the law. I was charged for felony cultivation, represented myself, got the charges dropped in the interest of justice, turned around and sued the police department myself, settled the lawsuit for $40k week before trial...myself.)
Tell me your experiences, Sierra Blanca, Tx. Is it really as bad as it sounds. I know they lock people away for life for pot there, but in this town, I think it's all about them wanting your money.
Yes, this is the same jail Willie Nelson was in last year for 6oz. No, I didn't know about his story until I got arrested and started researching, which sucks ass. If I had only known....
Edited by Southern_Mush (05/27/11 06:42 PM)
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Thanks for the story.