Anti Federalist
11-15-2012, 08:30 PM
Drug charges against Bon Jovi's daughter dropped
http://www.uticaod.com/features/x1978602763/Drug-charges-against-Bon-Jovis-daughter-dropped
All drug charges against the two Hamilton College students — including rocker Jon Bon Jovi's daughter Stephanie R. Bongiovi, 19 — have been dismissed, according to the Oneida County District Attorney's Office.
This is due to a Sept.18, 2011, state law amendment that states a witness who seeks help for a victim of a drug or alcohol overdose cannot be prosecuted for the possession of heroin weighing less than 8 ounces or possession of any amount of marijuana. In this case, that was Ian Grant, 21, of New Jersey, who also had his charges dropped, officials said.
The overdose victim also cannot be prosecuted. In this case, that was Bongiovi.
District Attorney Scott McNamara said he and three assistant attorneys had been working since the charges were put in place Wednesday to prove if this law could be in affect. Enough evidence was gathered by Thursday to dismiss charges, he said.
“We needed to make sure we had all the facts,” he said. “We looked at it, and it all fits under the law.”
Some of those facts included:
* The quantity of the drugs found on the scene.
* Who made the original call to police.
* If there was any intent to sell the drugs.
Once the case was determined to fall under this law, McNamara said there was no real choice but to dismiss the charges. He said that his choice had nothing to do with who the teens were.
“By law, they have immunity. I can’t prosecute them even if I wanted to,” he said. “To proceed would be highly inappropriate and highly unethical, and would jeopardize my opportunity to practice in the future.”
McNamara said that the Kirkland Police Department could not be criminally prosecuted for charging the two teens, but he could not say whether or not civil charges could be made.
Kirkland police said the case remains an open investigation as to the origin of the drugs.
The case originated early Wednesday morning when the Kirkland Police Department responded to the Dunham Dorm at Hamilton College to assist the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance with a report of an unresponsive female who had allegedly overdosed on heroin. That ended up being Bongiovi.
She eventually was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and also for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Grant originally was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Both are from New Jersey.
Hamilton College had no comment Thursday.
http://www.uticaod.com/features/x1978602763/Drug-charges-against-Bon-Jovis-daughter-dropped
All drug charges against the two Hamilton College students — including rocker Jon Bon Jovi's daughter Stephanie R. Bongiovi, 19 — have been dismissed, according to the Oneida County District Attorney's Office.
This is due to a Sept.18, 2011, state law amendment that states a witness who seeks help for a victim of a drug or alcohol overdose cannot be prosecuted for the possession of heroin weighing less than 8 ounces or possession of any amount of marijuana. In this case, that was Ian Grant, 21, of New Jersey, who also had his charges dropped, officials said.
The overdose victim also cannot be prosecuted. In this case, that was Bongiovi.
District Attorney Scott McNamara said he and three assistant attorneys had been working since the charges were put in place Wednesday to prove if this law could be in affect. Enough evidence was gathered by Thursday to dismiss charges, he said.
“We needed to make sure we had all the facts,” he said. “We looked at it, and it all fits under the law.”
Some of those facts included:
* The quantity of the drugs found on the scene.
* Who made the original call to police.
* If there was any intent to sell the drugs.
Once the case was determined to fall under this law, McNamara said there was no real choice but to dismiss the charges. He said that his choice had nothing to do with who the teens were.
“By law, they have immunity. I can’t prosecute them even if I wanted to,” he said. “To proceed would be highly inappropriate and highly unethical, and would jeopardize my opportunity to practice in the future.”
McNamara said that the Kirkland Police Department could not be criminally prosecuted for charging the two teens, but he could not say whether or not civil charges could be made.
Kirkland police said the case remains an open investigation as to the origin of the drugs.
The case originated early Wednesday morning when the Kirkland Police Department responded to the Dunham Dorm at Hamilton College to assist the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance with a report of an unresponsive female who had allegedly overdosed on heroin. That ended up being Bongiovi.
She eventually was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and also for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Grant originally was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Both are from New Jersey.
Hamilton College had no comment Thursday.