Pre-trial motions in the Oconee Courtroom

A Georgia man whose car was stopped on I-85 in Oconee for speeding a year and a half ago wound up charged with drug offenses.  This afternoon Atlanta area resident Anousack Thanonglit heads to trial at the Oconee Courthouse, charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.  In pre-trial testimony this morning, officer Kevin Rholetter said he stopped Thanonglit after estimating the man’s Audi car was traveling 80 miles an hour on I-85 in the vicinity of exit 2.  But Rholetter said as he approached the car, he smelled marijuana.  At issue with the defense this morning was whether Rholetter should have read Thanonglit the Miranda warning.  Judge Lawton McIntosh prepared for this morning’s motions to suppress evidence by reading case documents and looking at the officer’s dash cam video.