Austin Drug Defense Lawyer

Drug Charges

Drug charges made up roughly 35% of all federal convictions for Fiscal Year 2006, the most recent information available. Those are just the federal convictions. Drug charge cases can be tried in either state or federal courts. For this reason, it is important to retain a lawyer that is familiar with both systems.

When a drug case is tried, the penalties vary based on which court handles the case. If the case is tried in a federal court, the sentencing is determined by a point system called the United States Sentencing Guidelines. This system adds up various portions of a person’s case (first offense, amount in possession, etc.) and then uses the point total to determine how long a prison sentence should be or how much of a fine should be paid. State courts are given a little more sentencing leeway.

Drug charges can include a number of various drugs. These include methamphetamines (meth), marijuana, cocaine, heroin, street drugs, designer drugs, and any number of other drugs. The charges associated with drugs include drug sale or distribution, possession, transportation, delivery, smuggling, manufacturing (such as turning cocaine into crack cocaine), trafficking, and operating a meth lab.

Generally speaking, having 2 ounces or less of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor. More than 2 ounces of marijuana is a higher penalty. It is important to not that regardless of how much ecstasy, cocaine, or methamphetamine (meth) you have, it is always a felony charge. This means that if the case is tried in a state court and if the judge allows the minimum sentence for a felony, a person will have a jail sentence of 180 days to 2 years. That is if they consider the possession to be a State Jail Felony. Other charges can have higher sentences associated with them.

If you have been charged with any of these charges or know that there is an investigation being conducted against you, contact the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer, Ian Inglis. Contacting an experienced and competent drug defense lawyer is an important first step when fighting the charges.