Drug Crimes Lawyer Provo, UT
At Pacific Legal Group, our drug crimes lawyer Provo, UT offers knows that one of the most serious offenses you can be charged with in Utah is some type of drug crime. Depending on the type of drug crime you are charged with, you may be facing a misdemeanor or a felony and either of these convictions can completely change your life. You may be wondering what factors influence getting a misdemeanor or a felony and it could be how much of a drug you have on your person, the type of drug, and even where you have the drugs. Interested in learning about how we can help you after you were charged with a drug crime? Reach out to us now.
What kinds of drug crimes are there?
Not all drug crimes are punished equally and it is important to know what kinds of charges are up against you so that your attorney can have the information necessary to fight against them. Your Provo, Utah drug crimes lawyer may be defending you against accusations like:
- Possession. Depending on the type of drug found on your person and the amount, you could be facing fines of less than $2,000 and six months in jail or fines of $10,000 and five years in prison. If you have a certain amount of drugs, the court may accuse you of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them.
- Abusing drugs. You may be charged with drug abuse if you are using illegal drugs or over-using legal prescription drugs. In some instances, a court may allow you to go through a drug rehabilitation or detoxification program instead of going to jail.
- Distribution. Whether you are being accused of possession with the intent to distribute or distribution, Utah will come down very harshly on you. If you are convicted of distributing drugs in a “drug-free zone” (like a public or private school) then you could get hefty fines and life in prison.
Even if this is the first time you have been accused of a drug crime, you do not want to leave your sentencing up to chance. It is always best to arm yourself with an attorney who can defend you and fight against these charges. A conviction can mean the difference between getting off completely, lessening your sentence, or going to prison.
As a drug crimes lawyer Utah residents trust from Pacific Legal Group knows, drug charges have drastically risen in recent years, partly due to law enforcement campaigns that target drug possession charges, and other factors. The term possession is used when someone is aware that they are in possession of a controlled and/or illegal substance. Law enforcement may apprehend you in some way and accuse you of engaging in illegal activity. However, a police officer cannot just search you or your property without a valid reason. There are certain steps law enforcement must take in order to lawfully arrest someone and search their person, home, purse, office, or other property. If you feel like something was not right with how your arrest ensued, you must discuss this with your legal team.
After you have been stopped, searched, and arrested for drug possession, you will be taken to the police station for processing. Once you have been processed, you will be scheduled for an arraignment hearing. You should have been advised of your rights and bail should have been set. If you have the funds or use a bail bondsman, then you can post bail and not be left in jail until your hearing. It is always advised that you refuse to answer questions from law enforcement until you have a lawyer present. By law, those who have been arrested reserve the right to obtain legal counsel, and should not be forced into an interrogation against their will.
Facing drug possession charges is not an easy thing to go through, and it can leave people feeling alone and hopeless for the future. It may seem like there is no way out, especially considering how zealous law enforcement can be in getting someone charged with a crime, however, there are defense strategies that can influence a case verdict. So if you have been accused of having drugs in your possession, then you need aggressive criminal defense representation. Our lawyers can defend your rights and strive to have your charges reduced, or entirely dismissed. Please do not hesitate to contact a Utah drug crimes lawyer now for support.
After consulting with you about your situation, we can decide whether a criminal defense strategy can be used for your case. Examples of drug possession defenses include asserting that the drugs were obtained unlawfully, claiming the drugs actually belonged to someone else, putting pressure on the prosecution to show that the alleged substance is in fact an illicit drug, and more. Remember, just because you have been arrested doesn’t mean that you are guilty. The prosecution will have to show beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. A tenacious Utah lawyer drug crimes team from Pacific Legal Group can make matters difficult for the prosecution by creating a strong defense, therefore weakening their case against you.
Are you interested in seeing how we can help you when you have been charged with a drug crime? Reach out to our drug crimes lawyer in Provo, Utah today from Pacific Legal Group.