A drug charge can be upped to a federal crime if the drug crime happened on federal property, crossed state lines, or involved a federal agency (like DEA). A federal crime conviction is much more serious than a state crime.
Drug crime charges are the most common offenses in the U.S.
Over forty-five percent of the nation’s prison population were put there because of them.
The “war on drugs” has put more people behind bars than any other criminal initiative in history, including those that deal with violent crimes. And unfortunately, these offenses are also the most heavily penalized. If you’re facing drug charges, you could end up spending the rest of your life in prison, lose custody of your children, and pay thousands of dollars in fines.
Speaking with a criminal defense lawyer with years of experience handling drug crimes is the best chance of getting your charges dismissed or reduced. The criminal defense attorneys at Lemley Law Partners are prepared to challenge the evidence against you and protect you against a drug crime conviction.
Controlled substances are drugs with a high potential for abuse and addiction, including prescription drugs. The government heavily controls these substances, and having unlawful possession of a controlled substance can land you in jail.
There are five categories, or schedules, of controlled substances:
These classifications matter because they can determine the severity of your charges. Naturally, the more dangerous the drug, the more severe the charges. Other things can also determine how severe your drug charge is, including whether you were in just possession or whether you were caught trafficking drugs.
Our law firm can handle all types of drug-related charges, including:
The charges against you are classified as misdemeanors and felonies. While both types of offenses are penalized, felony charges are more severe. These charges are further broken down into classes (A, B, C, etc.).
Currently, Arkansas imposes the following penalties for misdemeanor and felony drug crimes in the state.
Misdemeanor drug charge penalties are made up of three classes (Class A, Class B, and Class C). A Class A misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. A Class B misdemeanor carries up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines, while a Class C carries up to 30 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.
Felony drug charge penalties are more severe than misdemeanors and are broken into five classes:
When you are convicted of a drug charge, you pay the price well beyond the criminal penalties. A drug charge is an offense that sticks with you, affecting every aspect of your life.
You can lose personal privileges like:
A Cabot drug charges lawyer can help you protect your freedom and personal liberties by defending you in your case.
The criminal defense attorneys at Kevin Lemley law firm are prepared to help you fight. Whether you’re facing drug possession or drug trafficking charges, we’re here to help.
A drug arrest doesn’t make you automatically guilty. As in any other criminal proceeding, the prosecution must prove you are guilty without a shadow of a doubt. They’ll try to do so by using evidence, eyewitness testimony, and investigating.
Our attorneys can defend you against drug allegations by providing a strong legal defense to have your charges dropped or reduced. Here are a few defenses that may apply.
You are protected by law against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S Constitution. Unless 1) there is probable cause, 2) you gave consent, or 3) the search is part of a lawful arrest, the search may be deemed unlawful and evidence, therefore, inadmissible in court.
An entrapment defense claims that you were coerced into the crime. Rather than dispute the charges, you are stating that you were baited into committing a crime you wouldn’t have otherwise. This defense may apply if your case involved an undercover cop or confidential informant.
If you weren’t aware that the drugs were in your possession, you might be able to use an unwitting possession defense. For example, if you borrowed someone else’s car or coat, our attorneys can help you show evidence that you didn’t know about the drugs.
If this is your first arrest, you’re likely confused about what’s to come.
Here’s a general overview of what you can expect:
Investigation > Arrest > First Appearance > Pretrial Hearing > Trial or Plea Agreement > Appeal
Our attorneys can walk you through the process and prepare you for court appearances.
301 North Center Street, Suite 301
Lonoke, AR 72086
Phone: (501) 676 2807
101 North Second Street
Cabot, AR 72023
Phone: (501) 843-8908
A drug charge can be upped to a federal crime if the drug crime happened on federal property, crossed state lines, or involved a federal agency (like DEA). A federal crime conviction is much more serious than a state crime.
Certain aggravating factors can increase the severity of charges for drug crimes from a misdemeanor to a felony.
These factors include:
Drug crime charges – of any kind – can make your life flash before your eyes. If you have charges looming over your head and are unsure how to move forward, it’s time to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Schedule a consultation today with one of the criminal defense attorneys at Lemley Law Partners.