Thursday, July 21, 2011 | 11:58 a.m.
The Nevada Supreme Court today upheld the conviction of an automobile passenger who North Las Vegas Police found to be in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
A three-justice panel of the high court ruled that following a routine traffic stop police had reasonable suspicion that front seat passenger Arturo Torres Cortes was armed and dangerous.
After police struggled to apprehend Cortes they found in his possession 3.3 grams of methamphetamine and a pipe for use of that drug. Cortes had argued that the pat down represented an unreasonable search and seizure, but a jury before Clark County District Judge Linda Bell convicted Cortes of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
He received a suspended prison term of 18 months to three years and was placed on five years' probation.
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