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by JKTex
Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:21 pm
Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
Topic: Texas soldier faces legal battle over gun in hospitial
Replies: 261
Views: 42087

Re: Texas soldier faces legal battle over gun in hospitial

E.Marquez wrote:
JKTex wrote:Hopefully that amended charge can't stand on it's own. If it can, he's toast as they don't need a test beyond the officers opinion that he had too much to drink to be carrying.

Unfortunately, it kind of smells like the Officer may have given him a break at the house, and that was his only freebee.
If that was the case ??

What of his not being charged for DUI? (he drove to the Hosp, this was seen and known by several officers)
If he was observed at the house as intoxicated, given a break...yet the officer allowed him to drive, then failed to charge him with DUI after he drove.. what of that?

Conversely..

If the officer did not feel he was impaired to drive, did not charge him with DUI for driving.. is that not in conflict with a later charge of Intoxication in regards to unlawful carry at the Hosp?

IANAL.. so it’s likely I do not understand all the twists and turns such a charge or lack thereof can have.. But I see anomalies in this case I cannot justify in my one mind.
At this point we're speculating for the most part, but if indeed he did drive, did they see him drive? If not, it's a non-issue. However, if they realized the first charge was not good (arrested for that which is not illegal) I believe the amended charge is an easy one for them because they don't need anything more than the Officers opinion that he was impaired to a point he felt he would be a danger to himself or others.

If that's the case, then I hope in legal speak, the charge can't stick if the original was bogus because at that point they have the stink on them that smells like they were going to come up with anything they could to make the arrest seem valid.

Again though, we don't know near enough of the facts.
by JKTex
Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:29 pm
Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
Topic: Texas soldier faces legal battle over gun in hospitial
Replies: 261
Views: 42087

Re: Texas soldier faces legal battle over gun in hospitial

The Annoyed Man wrote:
jmra wrote:Well, it will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

What we know:
1. The police responded to the home (along with medical personnel) for an Alcohol related event.
2. The individual in question admitted that he had at some point earlier consumed Alcohol.
3. The arresting officer stated that he smelled Alcohol on the breath of the individual in question.
4. There is no indication (from the information provided) that any tests were conducted to determine a blood Alcohol content level.
5. The individual is being charged with carry while intoxicated even though apparently no tests were conducted. These tests are typically required in order to prove intoxication for other offenses such as DWI.

So, we may finally have case law that more clearly defines intoxicated/impaired as it applies to CHL. If, as some have stated, Intoxicated carries the same legal meaning for CHL as it does for DWI (.08 I think) then this should be an open and shut case.
The flip side of the coin is the possibility that the court rules that what we have been told by many instructors is in fact correct - that the consumption of any alcohol can constitute an offense.
Well alcohol would explain the arrest. Kind of changes things if it's true.

Yes, IF that's what the initial arrest was, not an amended charge when they realized they didn't have a case based on the initial charge. That said, while the officer telling him not to bring his gun to the hospital means nothing more than a suggestion, it's very possible the LEO did so because he felt Sampson had drank too much. There's no indication of that, and if that were the case, you'd think that would have been the charge up front. The case ought to be kicked to the curb, and the next step is what I usually don't support, but a law suit naming the officer and department for a false (initial charge) arrest (as the amended drinking while carrying should be trashed whether it was true or not)....

Hopefully that amended charge can't stand on it's own. If it can, he's toast as they don't need a test beyond the officers opinion that he had too much to drink to be carrying.

Unfortunately, it kind of smells like the Officer may have given him a break at the house, and that was his only freebee.

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