Four people from the Athens area have been arrested after police responded to a domestic situation at a residence and found drugs after they entered the residence. The four are now facing various drug charges.

Although police cannot enter your home under some pretext and then get you in trouble for drugs they found when they should not have been snooping, those rules do not apply if the drugs are in "plain view" (i.e. left sitting out where anyone can see them). The rationale is that if the drugs are clearly visible, then it would be irrational for police not to do anything about them; the "plain view" doctrine, however, stops short of giving officers and incentive to root around in your belongings when they should not be.

The plain view doctrine supposedly came into play in this case. The police entered the residence to respond to the domestic violence and saw evidence of drug use. The Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force was called. Its officers obtained a warrant to search the home and an SUV parked out front.

The officers reported that they found marijuana, digital scales, 28 grams of methamphetamine and "drug distribution paraphernalia."

The defendants are:

•· A 21-year-old Nicholson woman who is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

•· A 25-year-old Cartez man who is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

•· A 45-year-old Athens man who is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and simple battery.

•· A23-year-old Nicholson man who is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Source: The Athens Banner-Herald, "Domestic call ends in drugs, arrests," March 20, 2012