Being charged with a drug crime can have serious consequences. If you’re convicted, you could face prison time, fines, probation, mandatory drug testing, and more. Kirsch & Kirsch, Attorneys at Law has an excellent track record when it comes to defending our clients against drug charges. Call today to discuss your case.
What are the Punishments for Drug Crimes?
In Missouri, three factors can influence the penalties you can face for a drug crime:
- The type of drugs involved
- The weight of each type of drug
- What you were doing with the drugs at the time of the arrest
For example, possession of under 10 grams of marijuana is a Class D Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. On the other hand, if you were found to be in possession of between 10 grams and 35 grams of marijuana, you could be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines.
If you possess more than 35 grams of marijuana or any other controlled substance, it’s a Class D misdemeanor, punishable by up to seven years in prison. If you are caught with larger amounts of drugs, you might be charged with a Class A, B, or D felony, depending on drug type and weight, which can result in a 30-year prison sentence.
What to Do if You’re Arrested for a Drug Crime
The most important thing you can do if you’re arrested for a drug crime is to ask to speak to an attorney, even if you don’t have one at the time of the arrest. In addition, you should refrain from answering police questions or engaging in conversations with the police.
Even an innocuous statement can have unpredictable consequences. In Cole County, contact Kirsch & Kirsch to speak to a drug crime lawyer at your earliest convenience.
How Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help You
A private drug crime defense attorney is familiar with effective defenses. They can review the probable cause against you, depose the police officer and other witnesses, file motions to suppress, and more. Here are some of the defenses that a drug crime attorney might use to help you clear your charges:
Invalid Stop
If the police don’t have probable cause to stop you while walking or driving, anything they find afterward is considered “fruits of the poisonous tree.” This could mean that the drugs they claim to have found are inadmissible.
Invalid Search
The police cannot search you or your property without a warrant, consent, or a valid warrant exception. As is the case with an invalid stop, drugs found pursuant to an illegal search are inadmissible.
Questionable Possession
The police often try to claim that the drugs were in the “constructive possession of a defendant, meaning that they were close enough to reasonably assume that the defendant possessed them. This is often a weakness in the prosecutorial case that an experienced defense lawyer can exploit.
Drug Criminal Defense Lawyers in Cole County
If you’ve been arrested on a drug charge in Cole County, contact criminal defense attorneys Kirsch & Kirsch, Attorneys at Law to defend your rights and your freedom.