When you are charged with a drug crime, you could be nervous about your future or confused about the severity of the penalties. You may feel like every part of the legal process is out to get you.
When you need a criminal defense attorney to help you fight a banned substance charge, you have come to the right place. A Mesa drug lawyer could start resolving your case and protecting your rights.
All illegal narcotics fall between Schedule I-V, with those falling under Schedule 1 having the most negative impact on persons and society. Furthermore, a drug’s assigned schedule is determined based on its negative health impacts, likelihood of addiction, and danger to the public.
Psychedelic drugs fall under Schedule I and include banned substances such as LSD, heroin, and ecstasy. They have no medical benefits, and those who use them are more likely to develop an addiction.
Illegal drugs falling under Schedule II consist of fentanyl, amphetamines, and cocaine. Addiction to these substances can lead to both physical and psychological impairments.
Schedule III narcotics have medical benefits, and users tend not to develop persistent addictions. Anabolic steroids and ketamine are the primary drugs in this category.
Those in Schedule IV are prescription drugs taken legally or illegally—which can both lead to abuse but also have approved medical benefits. Ambien, Xanax, and Valium belong to this group. Schedule V contains cough syrups, which people tend to use to make an intoxicating beverage known as lean. Addiction is not high with Schedule V drugs, and they have FDA-approved medical benefits.
Usually, drugs in Schedule I and II have the most severe penalties. There are instances where law enforcement lists the wrong substance in both their incident and police reports. They can also write the wrong amount of substances allegedly found. Offenses could then elevate from misdemeanors to felonies.
Individuals who believe they were wrongly charged with a drug crime or overly charged because of inaccurate law enforcement statements could seek justice by retaining a drug lawyer in Mesa.
County attorneys usually file drug charges against a person based on the facts in the officer reports, applicable law, and an individual’s criminal history. Controlled substance offenses people could be charged with include:
Based on the nature of the drug charge, a person could face a minimal penalty or a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Penalties also include thousands of dollars in fines, required rehabilitation programs, taking away a person’s right to drive, probation, and lifetime parole. There are also collateral consequences, such as losing a job, custody of children, subsidized housing, and termination of food assistance benefits.
A Mesa controlled substances attorney could negotiate with the county attorney to produce a deal where a person accused of a drug offense could plead to a lesser offense or drop the charges altogether.
Having short, concise, and precise defenses to drug charges is crucial to a desired outcome. Each defense requires an understanding of criminal statutory and case law—as well as experience with legal research, investigation, and negotiation.
Since most drug crimes are intent-based, one defense is providing evidence establishing the person lacked the requisite intent. An attorney could argue that officers violated the accused’s 4th Amendment rights through an illegal search and seizure or other misconduct.
A skilled drug lawyer in Mesa could provide those innocently and or overly charged with meaningful and winnable defenses to resolve their pressing legal problem adequately.
Time is of the essence when fighting a drug charge. Only agree to plea deals offered by the county attorney once you have sought experienced and knowledgeable legal advice. A Mesa drug lawyer could answer your questions, provide new information, and implement the best strategy to get you the legal results you deserve. Contact us now to discuss your case.
Rocha Law Firm
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(480) 855-1759
