Editor’s note, Feb. 6, 2014: Daniel Zimnikov’s record was expunged by a court order in 2011.
A sophomore charged with unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana in September was sentenced last week to serve six months of probation.
Daniel Zimnikov pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance at a Nov. 22 status hearing, and Judge Stuart Nash imposed an order of probation without adjudication of guilt. This form of probation is available under D.C. law to people found guilty of their first offense.
The court is allowed to not enter a judgment of guilty and defer proceedings by placing the person on probation for no longer than a year.
If Zimnikov completes his probation, which includes alcohol and drug testing, his court records will be expunged.
Zimnikov originally pleaded not guilty Sept. 27 to the charge of possession with intent to distribute. The charge has a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
Claire Morris Clark, Zimnikov’s attorney, said the sophomore is no longer enrolled at GW.
Zimnikov was arrested Sept. 26 after a witness told a Metropolitan Police Department officer around 3:15 a.m. that he had purchased marijuana from Zimnikov, according to court documents.
The unnamed witness provided the MPD officer with Zimnikov’s contact information. An administrative search was performed by GW Housing Programs in Zimnikov’s room that yielded “a large plastic baggie with 11 smaller baggies inside,” according to court documents.
Inside the smaller bags was a “green leafy substance” that tested positive for THC, which is found in marijuana.
During the search, a pipe, grinder, scale, ashtray and two more small plastic bags with a green leafy substance were found, which all tested positive for THC, according to the court documents.
About 65 grams of marijuana total were found in individually packaged plastic bags in the room, according to University Police Department records.
After the search Zimnikov took responsibility for the items found in the search and was arrested for possession with intent to distribute, according to the documents.
