If you have been charged with possession of or trafficking in a controlled substance in Texas, you need experienced and aggressive legal counsel. A conviction or a guilty plea, whether on a felony or misdemeanor charge, can affect your employment or school prospects or your ability to obtain housing. In some cases, you may also face substantial fines and even jail time. Any drug possession conviction or guilty plea will usually also result in a six-month driver’s license suspension.
Potential Defenses to Drug Charges
First, the drug itself must naturally be illegal. As such, any medication for which you have a valid prescription isn’t covered. The prosecution must also prove that you had possession. Possession can be actual (for example, the drugs were in your pocket) or “constructive” (you share a home where drugs are found). Perhaps you honestly didn’t know that what you were keeping for a friend was illegal drugs.
Because of this proof requirement, bringing out any facts that cast a reasonable doubt on whether you had possession or possessed a particular quantity can turn what looks like a certain conviction into an acquittal.
An experienced drug charge defense attorney will explore these and other potential defenses with you.
We have multiple offices across Texas to best serve you.
STAR Program
In some cases, it may be possible to enter the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) “drug court” program. If you are eligible and successfully complete the program, you may have the original charges against you dismissed. You also may file to have the fact that charges were filed expunged from your record.
Drug Charges Are Serious Business
Despite the recent relaxation trend in some states, under Texas law possession of any amount of an illicit drug remains illegal. Punishments for possession of various types of drugs are specified in accordance with a series of “penalty groups”. The penalties range from a misdemeanor charge for possession of a small amount of marijuana up to 99 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of significant amounts of “harder” drugs such as heroin and other opium derivatives, opioids and methamphetamine. To obtain the best possible outcome, you need to have experienced and aggressive legal representation. Call the law offices of George Napier at (713) 470-4097 today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.