Building a Drug Crime Defense
Drug charges can lead to life-altering consequences if convicted. If you face charges for trafficking, this can be even more serious due to the stiffer penalties that can be imposed for a conviction. It’s important to contact a Nashville criminal lawyer as early in the process as possible to maximize your defense options.
Your attorney will carefully scrutinize the evidence against you and how it was collected. If the police lacked probable cause to arrest you, it’s possible that anything you told them or any evidence they collected incident to that arrest could be thrown out. Likewise, if the police did not have a warrant when one was required or if they exceeded the scope of an existing warrant, then you could have the basis for a strong defense. The attorneys at your Nashville defense law firm will also look at the evidence itself to determine whether the prosecution can meet their burden of proof. If not, you could have leverage for a defense.
The sooner you speak to a skilled Nashville defense attorney about any charges you face, the greater your options for dealing with them will be. To schedule an appointment for an initial consultation with the offices of Horst Law call .
Prescription drug fraud is a serious charge with serious consequences. If you or a loved one face charges, contact a Nashville drug crime defense attorney as soon as possible to explore your options.
The Importance of Seeking Legal Help Early
If you or a loved one has reason to believe a prescription drug charge is imminent, or if you’ve already been charged, contact a Nashville defense attorney right away. The sooner you seek qualified legal counsel, the more options you may have for dealing with the charges against you. Your attorney can review how the evidence was collected. If law enforcement violated any of your Constitutional rights during the evidence-gathering phase, then some important defense strategies could become available. Your attorney can discuss what’s required for search and arrest warrants and review whether the police followed the appropriate procedures.
With regard to the charges themselves, the prosecution must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Your attorney can probe for strengths and weaknesses with the prosecution’s case and help you decide how best to proceed.For more information about drug laws in Tennessee and for experienced help if you face charges, contact the Nashville defense law firm of Horst Law. To make an appointment for a consultation call .
How Drug Charges are Classified
In Tennessee, drug charges follow a scale of severity based on the type of drug involved and the quantity the accused had in his or her possession. Schedule I drugs are the most severe. These are drugs that are highly addictive and generally have no medicinal value such as heroine. Even simple possession of a Schedule I substance can support a felony charge. As a Nashville criminal lawyer can explain, evidence that can be used to support a trafficking or intent to sell charge can include larger quantities of a given substance, other paraphernalia or the presence of large amounts of cash, for example.
Trafficking Charges Can Lead to More Serious Consequences
The more potent the drug and the higher quantity found in the suspect’s possession, the more likely the state will seek a trafficking charge over simple possession. Trafficking charges involving a Schedule I substance can lead to conviction of a Class B felony. As an attorney from a Nashville criminal law firm can explain, a conviction can lead to a sentence of 8 to 30 years behind bars plus significant monetary fines. Your attorney can discuss the specific amounts and types of drugs for each type of felony. It’s critical that you speak to an attorney as soon as you can in the criminal process. Your attorney can review how evidence was collected against you, probe for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and advise you of any options you may have for a plea bargain or other defense strategies.
You don’t have to face criminal charges alone. Put an experienced attorney with a proven track record of getting results for criminal defendants. To schedule an appointment with a Nashville criminal law firm who can help you prepare an aggressive defense strategy, call the offices of Horst Law at .
Drug possession can be a serious charge depending on the type and quantity of the drug involved. Don’t leave your defense to chance, contact an experienced Nashville criminal defense attorney as soon as you can so you understand the law and your options for a defense.
Drug Possession Law
Simple drug possession charges carry less severe penalties then if a defendant is suspected of intent to sell that drug. As an attorney at your Nashville defense law firm can explain, possession of drugs with no medicinal value can open the door to more severe penalties. Drugs with at least some medicinal value will carry a lesser penalty for a possession conviction. Let your attorney review the charges against you and explain the classification of the specific drug you were allegedly caught with. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the stronger your defense may be as your attorney can take a close look at the evidence against you and how it was collected. Your lawyer can’t guarantee a successful defense, but you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.
Conduct that Can Lead to a Prescription Drug Fraud Charge
Prescription drug fraud charges can result if a person obtains a controlled substance or medication from a pharmacy through theft or fraud. In some cases, a suspect may try to alter the quantity or strength of a written prescription, pose as someone else or engage in theft of a medication or controlled substance. As a Nashville defense law firm can explain, even the attempt to commit prescription drug fraud is a crime. Therefore, it’s not necessary for a suspect to successfully steal the medication, as long as the intent to commit fraud can be proven. Prescription drug fraud can lead to felony charges with serious potential consequences if convicted including jail time and significant fines.
