SpaghettiOs or Meth? Why Police “Training and Experience” Can Ruin Your Life

By: John Guidry

Modern technology has blessed us with the ability to question law enforcement in more ways than ever before. We no longer need to “take their word for it.” Video cameras are on every cell phone. DNA exonerates the innocent years later. But what happens when the police do not use technology? What happens when they rely solely on their “Training and Experience”?

Translation: When an officer says, “Based on my training and experience,” it often means:

• “I am about to make something up.”
• “I have no evidence to support what I’m about to say.”

Did the police arrest you based on a “hunch” or a roadside guess?

Guesses aren’t evidence. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Case: Ashley Huff (The SpaghettiOs Felon)

The lack of investigation in drug cases is at epidemic levels. Arrest now, ask questions later. The taxpayers will pick up the bill. This brings us to the case of Ashley Huff.

The Stop: Ashley was arrested after permitting a search of her car.

• The Evidence: Police found a spoon in her purse with a “clear, crystal-like substance” on it.
• The Reaction: The officers claimed Ashley became “nervous” (the classic police pretext). To them, it was a slam-dunk felony: She was cooking meth.

The Defense: Ashley explained to the officers that she was simply eating SpaghettiOs with the spoon.

• The Police Response: They laughed. Based on their “Training and Experience,” it was Methamphetamine. They arrested her on the spot.

The System Failure: Jail for Sauce

If you thought the police were the only ones to blame, wait until you hear what the court system did.

1. Mandatory Counseling: Before she was even convicted, the court ordered Ashley to seek drug counseling. (Innocent until proven guilty?)
2. Rearrested: Ashley couldn’t make all the appointments, so she was re-arrested and spent over a month in jail.

The Result: She sat in a cage for weeks. She lost her job. Her reputation was destroyed. The Lab Report: Eventually, the lab results came back. It was spaghetti sauce.

The lab couldn’t confirm if it was specifically SpaghettiOs (I’m not sure even the factory can prove that chemically), but it certainly wasn’t meth.

The “Residue” Trap

The bottom line is this: Law enforcement shouldn’t be allowed to arrest on drug residue cases without investigating first.

• The Reality: Just about anything can look like drug residue. The cash in your pocket has cocaine trace on it. A tobacco pipe is assumed to be a crack pipe.
• The Legal Hook: In residue cases, the State must prove Knowledge.
  • If you didn’t know the residue was there (or thought it was sauce), you aren’t guilty.
  • Without a confession, how can the State prove you knew about a microscopic speck?

John’s 2026 Update: The $2 Field Test Kit

Note: In 2014, Ashley battled a hunch. In 2026, we battle “Science” that costs $2.

1. The “Field Test” False Positives In 2026, officers use cheap chemical field test kits (like NIK tests) at the roadside.

• The Problem: These kits are notoriously unreliable. They turn blue (positive for meth/cocaine) for dozens of legal substances, including donut glaze, drywall dust, bird poop, and Hershey’s chocolate.
• The Defense: If an officer says, “It tested positive,” we demand to know which test was used. We argue that these tests are presumptive, not confirmatory, and should not be the basis for a felony arrest without a lab confirmation.

2. The Fentanyl Panic Today, if an officer sees a spoon with residue, they don’t just arrest you; they call a Hazmat team because of Fentanyl fears.

• The Danger: Because Fentanyl is deadly in small doses, juries are terrified.
• The Strategy: We fight the “Visual Identification.” An officer cannot tell the difference between Fentanyl powder and powdered sugar by looking at it. We force them to admit that their “training and experience” does not give them microscopic vision.

3. “Knowledge” is Still Key In Florida, “Lack of Knowledge” is an affirmative defense.

• Our Argument: Just like Ashley Huff, if you honestly believed the item was innocent (sauce, dirt, dust), you lacked the Criminal Intent required for a conviction. We use your statements at the scene (captured on Body Cam) to prove you were telling the truth from minute one.

Don’t Let Their “Experience” Become Your Conviction

If the officer “knows” it’s drugs, but the lab hasn’t proved it, do not plead guilty. Ashley Huff was right, and the police were wrong.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s send it to the lab.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.