In this case, Jones plays a very significant role in helping the undercover agents to find more information about the practice of selling cocaine by Thompson and Smith. Although he was guilty of committing the offense himself, he is in an agreement with the detectives to the effect that they will not prosecute him to drug charges. To let him free because of the agreement will be a tough call. The best solution would be to file his charges in the city of Wichita. Taking him to the federal court would certainly mean he faces the maximum sentence (Luna, 2013). His situation is similar to plea-bargaining. Because of this, his cooperation warrants a lesser tough punishment. His case should be filed in either Sedgwick County or Wichita.
The case against Smith should be filed in the federal court. Selling drugs in US is a felony which attracts a severe punishment (Culham, 2012). This punishment is only meted by the federal court, hence the reason other courts should be ignored. The evidence available is enough to sustain a conviction. The two purchases the undercover made are sufficient to incriminate him in the federal court.
Thompson commits a major offence in selling cocaine in America. Ideally, this case should be filed in the federal court which has the highest punishments. However, this is risky as there is no concrete evidence to sustain his conviction. Although Jones might be available to testify against Thompson, his criminal record is wanting. Courts have always been reluctant to convict a criminal based on the evidence from a witness that does not have a clean record. The credibility of such witnesses is always questionable, hence a major risk. It therefore seems necessary to file Thompson’s charges in Kansas as opposed to the federal court.
References
Culham, E. (2012). Evidence-based practice and professional credibility. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 65-67.
Luna, E. (2013). The Models of Criminal Procedure. Buffalo Criminal Law Review, 389-535.
