There is no question that Philadelphia residents should face legal consequences if they are convicted of committing a serious drug crime that could have jeopardized the safety of the community. However, not all drug crimes are alike, and sometimes these crimes are committed after simple, honest mistakes.

In these types of cases, it is just as important for individuals to make sure that their rights are aggressively defended in order to possibly have one's charges dropped or reduced. Aggressively defending one's case could also help to minimize the penalties one may face if he or she is convicted.

This week, a coroner from central Pennsylvania agreed to resign from his job after he was charged with illegal possession of prescription drugs. The man's lawyer said that the coroner will plead guilty to the charge after acknowledging that he made a mistake.

According to a police affidavit, Cumberland County officials received an anonymous tip that the coroner had taken a bottle of prescription drugs in someone else's name during a death investigation. While investigating the anonymous tip, police searched the man's office and discovered a bottle of prescription drugs that were not prescribed to the coroner.

On Wednesday, the 51-year-old man was charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance. The charge is a misdemeanor.

The man's attorney stated that the coroner made a mistake and took the drugs for his own use when he should have destroyed the pills. The attorney claims that the coroner took the drugs during the death investigation because he had a prescription for the same drugs. The attorney stated that the man does not have a drug addiction.

Source: The Herald-Mail, "Pa. coroner faces drug charge, plans to resign from job," Jan. 5, 2012