What to do ifI committed 3 felonies whileI was drugged?
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What to do ifI committed 3 felonies whileI was drugged?
I was drinking with friends at a bar and blacked out. At first I thought it was me being an idiot. However at the police station I only blew a .13 and it was a complete blackout. I’ve talked with the ER and poison control and they said that ruffees would only stay in my system for 24 hours. So if I was drugged would I be responsible for these actions?
Asked on October 31, 2011 under Criminal Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
If the drugs were given to you against your will and/or without your knowledge, you may have a defense to criminal charges--you would not have had the necessary criminal intent, or mens rea, to commit the crimes. But this would require something like the drugs being slipped into your drink while you were not looking. If you were in any way aware that you were taking them, even if you were unsure of the effect or misinformed as to how long they'd be in effect, then that would still be considered you having voluntary taken them. And voluntary intoxication or voluntary entrance into a drugged state is not a defense to criminal charges.
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