When law enforcements applies for a search warrant based on the odor of marijuana, they must describe to the magistrate how they know recognize the odor. Things like training, experience, etc., in drug interdiction are critically important to establish probable cause to issue the warrant. What happens when the application is silent on training and […]
Johnston, Polk County, Iowa. What started as an arrest for Operating While Intoxicated progressed to felony offense of Involuntary Manslaughter, but was ultimately resolved with a traffic citation for Failure to Yield Upon a Left-Hand Turn. GRL’s client experienced a roller-coaster ride of emotion following a tragic car accident. Client was initially suspected of being […]
Attorney Matt Lindholm recently had one of the stranger cases of his career when he was hired on to represent a client on a burglary charge. The case was full of many unprecedent twists and turns which required the recusal of the county attorney and transferring the case to another county. At the end of […]
Polk County, Iowa. A GRL client recently got an Operating While Intoxicated charge dismissed following a ruling by the court throwing out the breath test refusal. Attorney Matt Lindholm was able to secure the dismissal for the client after showing that the preliminary breath testing device used in the case did not comply with Iowa’s […]
Frequent visitors to the GRL Law Blog are no doubt familiar with our approach to defending medical marijuana charges. The drug defense lawyers recently raised this reciprocity defense in two separate cases. The first dealt with raw cannabis flower purchased in another state with a valid medical card. The other concerned edibles. In both cases, […]
Boone County, Iowa. A GRL client recently had an operating while intoxicated charge dismissed following a ruling by the court indicating that the stop of the clients vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The client was stopped because the officer believed his license plate light was not illuminated. However, attorney Matt […]
Appanoose County, Iowa- A GRL Law client was charged with Boating While Intoxicated (BWI), Second Offense. A conviction for BWI 2nd offense results in a minimum fine of $1,000, seven days in county jail, completing a substance abuse evaluation and completing all recommended treatment, and a loss of the person’s boating privileges for two years. […]
Wright County, Iowa- A GRL Law client was stopped for alleged erratic driving. Officers requested that she complete field sobriety tests, and the client submitted to that request. The client then submitted to a PBT and was taken to the station for further testing. The client supplied a breath test which was over the legal […]
Today, the magistrate court dismissed charges against a GRL Law client whose dog bit a DMPD officer. The evidence showed the officer attempted to coax our client into the common area of her downtown loft to “discuss” a complaint. However, when she declined, the officer crossed the threshold of the door to arrest her. That’s […]
One of the collateral consequences to a drug conviction is the prohibition against possessing a firearm or ammunition. Even if the charge does not involve a firearm. Did you know that Iowa law tracks federal law when it comes to marijuana and firearms? A drug conviction within the past 365 days will trigger the prohibition. […]
