BUFFALO, N.Y. — A mother and son who claim a Buffalo police officer offered to reduce the charges against them if they agreed to appear in a movie about opioid abuse will continue to face drug possession charges.

Mark Sacha, attorney for Robin Sagliani and her son, Robert, tried to get their drug possession charges dropped in Buffalo City Court Friday morning.

The charges stem from an incident in December 2016 when the Saglianis were pulled over by Buffalo Police Officer Liz Baker.

Police say Robin and Robert Sagliani had heroin and marijuana in their possession at the time and, when Baker tried to remove drugs from Robert Sagliani’s mouth, he became physical with her.

In addition to the drug possession charges, Robert Sagliani faces charges of resisting arrest and assault.

Sacha said his clients were later approached by Baker, who told them their charges would be dropped if they participated in a movie about the opioid crisis the city was filming.

They further claim they used real drugs during the section of the film in which they appeared.

Sacha said his clients are victims of the system.

“Let me tell you something,” he said. “Politics is more important. When it comes down to these things, she’s fungible. Poor Robin is somebody that can be used and abused.”

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn questioned the accusations, saying only he would have the authority to make that kind of agreement and denying any such offer was made.

“I have no physical evidence or no proof beyond her testimony that real drugs were ever used in this movie,” Flynn said.

Robert Sagliani is in a drug rehab program in Pennsylvania and did not appear in court Friday.

The pair are due back on November 2nd.