The U.S. Mail promises delivery regardless of the weather conditions, and this applies even in Alaska where winter weather can be very unforgiving. Interfering with the U.S. Mail delivery in any instance is considered a crime, including removing and opening mail from another person’s mailbox without their consent. A person accused of such a crime would be entitled to a criminal defense.
A recent incident was discovered by an off-duty officer in the early hours of the morning. The officer pulled over a vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. and reportedly found the occupants of the vehicle with several pieces of opened mail that did not belong to them. According to the investigation, the items contained significant financial information.
Two people were detained in the incident. One of the individuals was reportedly facing charges in a previous case of theft and fraud. In addition, it was alleged that the vehicle the men were riding in had an invalid registration. Both men were charged with mail tampering and also for possession of illegal drugs that were reportedly found in the vehicle.
There are rules and procedures that must be followed when searching a vehicle that has been pulled over. A person in Alaska who is accused of a crime based on evidence collected during the search of a vehicle may benefit from the counsel of a criminal defense attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can review the facts of the case and help to ensure that the rights of the accused are protected throughout the criminal justice process.
