Felony Drug Possession: How Damaging Is a Felony Arrest Record to CPA Eligibility?
Question by That: How damaging is a felony arrest record to CPA eligibility?
Hello all. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I only ask that you reserve judgment, and approach any response with the intent to offer useful advice. I’ll also ask you to please forgive my longwinded post, but I’m trying to offer as much detail as possible so as to avoid receiving info with which I’m already familiar.
The reason I’m posting on this site is to try and get some meaningful responses from people regarding the subject of a prior criminal record, and the challenges that this may impose on one’s ability to obtain a CPA license.
To be specific, I’m NOT talking about speeding tickets, petty misdemeanor charges, shoplifting when you were underage, or even DUI’s, etc., such as I’ve seen in other posts/forums. From what I understand, these sorts of charges are not severe enough to frustrate the AICPA’s definition of moral turpitude.
I am currently seeking licensure in the state of Florida. I have had more than my fair share of trouble, for which I make no excuses. But I’ve gotten past that point in my life. I have never served time in a correctional facility, outside of sitting in county jail awaiting bail, and my actions and conduct since my last brush (2 years ago) with the law are clearly indicative of a change. In early 2008, I was arrested for felony drug “constructive possession” charge, as well as felony “burglary of an unoccupied conveyance or structure.” It’s my contention that these “descriptions” of my crimes do not accurately portray the events as transpired. But you can decide that for yourself:
(I got caught in a car with a friend who was chopping up some cocaine, and I got drunk and threw a cinderblock through a van window)
I understand I’ll have an opportunity to disclose this viewpoint in documents accompanying my application; however, I’d like the opinion of some of you who may have been in similar circumstances or are intimately familiar with the challenges individuals such as myself may face while pursuing licensure following such mistakes.
To be clear, I was NOT and never have been convicted of any felony charges. Adjudication was withheld for each felony charge, meaning I am NOT a convicted felon. This became official when I successfully completed my probation.
I have however been convicted of DUI in the past, and maybe misdemeanor possession of marijuana 10+ years ago (final disposition uncertain according to jurisdictional court’s records). Additionally, I have a trespassing arrest and a disorderly conduct arrest that resulted in withheld adjudication upon final disposition. I understand that these must all be disclosed in the explanation section of my application.
For those of you who DO NOT have any experience or knowledge in acquiring a license with comparable hindrances, I respectfully request you refrain from sharing unproductive comments. To the rest of you who may have some useful insight as to my circumstances: can I overcome the possibility that these transgressions may preclude my licensure as a CPA?
Best answer:
Answer by PooPooLaTrash
You need to ask the CPA licensing board in your state of residence. Some are more reasonable than others. Needless to say, an arrest will show up when they check your background before you are granted a license. Whether or not the mere arrest would be enough to preclude you from sitting for the CPA exam is up to the board.
I did find some information specific to Florida here: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/cpa/documents/Endorsement_application_package.pdf
It says “Have you ever been convicted of a crime, found guilty or entered a pleas of guilty or nolo contendre to, even if you received a withhold of adjudication?” If you check the box (which you should), you have to complete form 0050-1, which can be found here: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/dbpr/le_portal/dbpr-0050-1.pdf
Then, it will be up to the board.
I would like to add that I am not a CPA, but my husband is as well as an attorney. I am a registered nurse with a license to practice in three states. I do not have a criminal record, however from working with other personnel, it is obvious that some state licensing boards are more liberal than others in granting licensure for those with less than perfect records.
What do you think? Answer below!
Felony Drug Possession: CVU students arrested in marijuana sale case
Two Champlain Valley Union High School students have been arrested on felony drug charges after a recovered stolen cellphone included a text message about selling marijuana, Hinesburg Community Police said Tuesday.
Read more on The Burlington Free Press
Felony Drug Possession: Martin County felony arrests: June 8, 2011
Martin County felony arrest report for June 8.
Read more on Stuart News
Felony Drug Possession: When Does It Stop? Jay, Joe & Michelle Tell Truth on Illegal Entry.
An alarming trend today is for officers to NOT have warrants when they force entry into one’s home based only on the smell of marijuana and impossible lies about what they can see from outside a doorway (or even inside one after an illegal entry has been forced). Warrants are given after the fact (again illegal). In the Concordia Foundation’s on-going search to understand how to keep so called “enforcement” at bay and focused on what should be our human rights to freedom and security in our own home, Paula Gloria takes a camera into the home of Jay Debberman and his father, Joe Barton to illustrate what could happen to anyone especially if you are an activist – they are out to get you. However it doesn’t HAVE to be this way. Here are two people, Joe and Jay who have been speaking up for a long time for the many hundreds of thousands in jail today. Without citizen outrage and action we cannot support today’s fragile due process and equal protection to insure equal participation for all, even the poor (which all religions say need protection) so the rich and powerful (and their minions) do not gobble up the rest of society presently seen in the form of persecution against pot smokers. Pot today but what tomorrow? Maybe you like your food raw – like unpasteurized milk. Watch out! (“I smell raw milk in the refrigerator, you are all under arrest and where did you hide the cow?”)! In other words: WHEN DOES IT END? Today it ends in prison for many and could be us tomorrow unless …
Find More Felony Drug Possession Information…
@celeriacmarcus there is no end until we stand up and claim our rights…unclaimed rights do no one any good but a right claimed by one insures them for all. Taking a plea means you give up your rights – and you give up for all. It is honorable to regain your dignity by winning in court. Listen to my recent posts on Carl Miller and playlists on Jean Keating.
Why they bother these people again???? Seems like there is no end to this.
@The911Shaman why smoke a joint when it destroys 90% of the medical value?
@paulagloria
“very few people really belong in? cages….with good education none.”
Except murderers and child killers. No I don’t think these guys deserve this, but come on! When does the sloppiness end with Joe and Jay?
Smoke a joint already
@paulagloria
Do you get high from tomatoes? Tomatoes are not INTOXICATING PSYCHOACTIVE MARIJUANA. You don’t even smoke pot. How would you know the difference between a pot high and a tomato juice. Tomatoes are a fruit. Not a vegetable plant. Marijuana is illegal. Evn in legal states. The Feds won’t make it legal.
@The911Shaman wow you must be having a pretty terrible day. Cops are people, non cops are people….very few people really belong in cages….with good education none.
That’s not me with the thumbs down. I didn’t vote. I can’t chose sides. All I can do is call it as it is.
Stop the denial.
Save yourselves. be invisible with the pot. Stop making it a priority to heal, not harm.
Be tactful.
Perhaps you should stop drawing attention to Joe about pot, and stop putting your friends in deliberate jeopardy with scumbag law enforcement.
I hate cops.
The legalization of marijuana is a no-win situation. It will always be illegal, along with coke and heroin.
@paulagloria
I agree.
I think it was a deliberate set-up by ball-busting cops. Cops are assholes. That’s what they do. Bust and arrest. Joe and Jay had a responsibility to cover their asses. They got careless and got busted Again.
When will Joe and Jay learn to SHUT UP and not draw attention to their activities with pot which is illegal? I think the cop was cunning even if he was wrong. he played chess and Jay got check mate. Busted fair and square. It’s a game to cops. You are in denial.
@The911Shaman “Drug dealers have no respect for? their neighbors associating with known criminals.”
The biggest criminals in this case are the prosecutors covering for the police and the judge covering for the prosecutor. What is a little pot compared to conspiracy to steal and to be able to do so by stripping the right to privacy. Remember the proposed medical marijuana law said the supply of pot would come from busts! Present law does NOT allow the smell of pot as probable cause. Look it up
@The911Shaman What is the matter with dealing pot? That is why I asked you the question about tomatoes…why can a tomato be sold by a farmer but not a pot plant? I don’t ask this lightly, the courts are admiralty courts based in commercial law. Being “law-abiding” is in truth supporting monopoly held by whoever controls the police. In CA Gerard had a court order to get his pot back from the police from a judge who SAW the medicinal effect. Pharmaceutical companies”deal” the most dangerous
I think the Concordia Foundation should start an employment or better yet capital ownership program for cops who can’t stand having to be unconstitutional in their work and are looking for a more life supporting way to support themselves.. What are the chances my work is being used by U.R.G.E.N.T. to train cops to be aware of the power of public opinion? Any cop who wants to leave this disdainful job is a friend of mine and welcome on my show any day.
Why are you advertising where to buy pot on youtube? When you advertise where to buy pot on youtube and Communist TV like MNN, you are probably getting these guys busted with the public notoriety. You are probably the reason your friends in the pot biz you promote on TV and youtube are getting harassed and arrested, which is a boon to law enforcement. I bet cops are watching and laughing at how careless you all are. You’re not helping any dealer of marijuana. You’re getting them busted. Why?
Your friends in the pot biz are sloppy aren’t too bright. They self-incriminate themselves by being careless. Like pedophiles – they love to attract negative attention to themselves because they are drunk on the compulsion to show off their addiction in public bringing them in direct contact with law enforcement. That’s how you bust dealers. Go for the ones in the spotlight. Hippies are easy targets for the cops. Drug dealers have no respect for their neighbors associating with known criminals.
@The911Shaman so you believe that this plant is different from a tomatoe plant for example? Did u know that there are proposals to make all garden illegal because of unsanitary growing conditions? Talk about dumb and dumber…at the time the cannabis prohibition started farmers didn’t even know it meant hemp until they had to pay taxes on it. It was known you could never make a plant illegal (at that time) so they taxed it to death until decades demonized the plant & the experience it produces
Usually when I hear a knock at the door I always ask “Who is it?”
“Jay” opening the door of his home to a nosy cop containing 2 pounds of marijuana and 26 plants, I would think “Jay” would have at least half a brain to know to “hide” everything” first, spray some AIR FRESHINER in the house and mask the odors and pot smoke.
How dumb can you get if you’re a pot dealer? They’ve been in the business so long and been a guest of the police lock-up… DUH?
They asked to get busted.
as of March 28th we have 3 likes and 5 dislikes…..hum–m-m-m who but illegal cops would thumbs down the need for proper warrants? Love how all my first postings race up immediately being viewed by those who want to know how to prepare their abusive to the rights of freedom loving people court cases. How do you deal with lying cops but much worse the prosecutors and judges covering for them?
Dig the trend:
Cops will next be saying:
“I smell raw milk in the refrigerator, you are all under arrest and where did you hide the cow?”
Stand up for? rights while you can. Support cannabis groups that free the prisoners, end the prohibition and stop the persecution.
It’s a “win” for the cop. He has the group on his side. If you like status you have to be at war with low status. It means you do what you can do to hurt other people and get money. That’s how i learned it when i was a small child just starting school. and it’s the reason i’m not a solid citizen and believer today. Normally status people game for a living and that is what all the dishonesty is about as juxtaposed to a shitload of rules and laws. Don’t worry, the suit jobs will rape you..