A routine traffic stop can quickly escalate into a serious legal matter. A law enforcement officer may pull you over for various reasons—a suspected traffic violation, erratic driving, or even without an observable cause. After forming a suspicion, the officer may search your vehicle or person. If that search finds recreational drugs, controlled substances, opioids, or drug paraphernalia, the officer may arrest you and take you to jail. If this situation happened to you, you are not alone and deserve to have your rights protected.
If law enforcement arrested you for drug-related offenses, a knowledgeable Fort Pierce drug lawyer from The Law Offices of Robert David Malove could help with your case. Our tenacious criminal defense attorneys could provide a viable legal defense against drug charges, protect your rights, and represent you throughout the legal process. Our team is available to discuss your options.
What Are the Drug Offense Categories?
The state’s definition of drug crimes spans several offenses. These include:
- Drug possession: This applies if you have controlled substances without lawful permission, such as prescription opioids and all forms of hard drugs
- Drug trafficking: This applies if you sell and distribute illicit drugs locally (within the boundaries of a city or state) or federally (across state lines)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia: Officers may arrest you if you are found with drug paraphernalia, such as needles, bongs, smoke pipes, or items used for the ingestion of hard drugs, and do not provide a valid reason for owning those items
- Prescription fraud or opioid shopping: Filling the same prescription at multiple pharmacies or convincing doctors to write prescriptions for unneeded medications could lead to prescription fraud charges
- Manufacturing of illicit drugs: The production of hard drugs with the intent to distribute or sell is an arrestable offense
Charges often fall into one or more of these categories, and law enforcement agents who conduct the arrest will specify the basis. With help from our seasoned drug defense attorneys in Fort Pierce, you could contest these charges in court.
Penalties for Drug Convictions
The consequences of a guilty verdict for drug offenses could be quite severe. The possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana carries a $1,000 minimum fine and up to one year in prison.
If over 20 grams, the charge could be a felony with a possible $5,000 fine and a five-year jail term. The same penalty applies to possession of controlled substances such as cocaine and heroin, but the threshold is less than 10 grams.
If the controlled substance weighs more than 10 grams, penalties may include a $10,000 fine and up to 30 years imprisonment. Drug trafficking, manufacturing, and intent to distribute may carry sentences from 15 years to life imprisonment. Our Fort Pierce attorneys are familiar with the penalties of substance-related charges and could represent you accordingly.
Contact a Fort Pierce Attorney for Help With Drug Charges
Punishment for drug charges varies with the circumstances of arrest, available evidence, the prosecution’s willingness to negotiate, and the judge’s inclination. This is why you need a knowledgeable Fort Pierce drug lawyer defending your interests.
At The Law Offices of Robert David Malove, our defense attorneys could help you protect your rights, argue your innocence, and defend yourself in court. Contact us to discuss your case and explore legal options.