Drug Offense

Federal and Tarrant County Drug Offense Attorneys

Drug charges can range from possession of a marijuana (marihuana) cigarette to manufacturing, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a significant quantity of cocaine or crack, methamphetamine (speed), ecstasy, steroids, GHB, prescription drugs, or other narcotics. Beyond the immediate concerns of jail or prison time, a drug conviction can have serious collateral effects on your life that come from a permanent criminal record. It is important to obtain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney to avoid or minimize the consequences of a drug charge.

In analyzing the strengths or weaknesses in the government’s case, an experienced criminal lawyer will not only examine the evidence regarding possession, delivery etc. but also whether the police or law enforcement agents followed the proper procedures under both statutory and Constitutional law regarding search and seizure, interception of telephone calls and other investigative measures. At Ball & Hase, we have many years of experience in the defense of State and Federal drug cases.

What is drug possession?

The legal definition of possession is whether a person has actual care, custody, control or management of an item. If the drugs were found in your home, the prosecutor could claim that you were in possession for the drugs even thought you were not at home at the time the drugs were discovered. If the drugs were found in a car and there were other people in the car with you, the prosecutor would have to prove affirmative links between you and the drugs. The weaker those links, the more bargaining leverage your defense lawyer has. Our basic advice is to never make any admission to unlawful conduct when confronted by law enforcement. The best course is to request that you be interviewed only in the presence of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

Did the police follow proper procedures?

The police need proper reasons to stop and search a person’s car for drugs or contraband. Police also need a properly drafted and executed warrant to search someone’s home. If the search and seizure violated your constitutional rights, your attorney can ask the court to review the actions of the police. If the Judge agrees that the search and seizure were illegal, the evidence will be excluded. Our basic advice is to never provide any consent to search your premises, vehicle or person. However, in no event should you physically resist police efforts to conduct such searches if they are insistent. If they do so in error, an experienced criminal defense lawyer will identify that error in later proceedings.

Outcomes in a Drug Offense Case

No lawyer can promise a result in any criminal case. However, with prompt action and guidance from your lawyer the consequences can be minimized. Sometimes it is possible to have charges dropped or dismissed without conviction and the possibility of having one’s record cleared or erased with an expunction.

Cases that involve large quantities of drugs are often prosecuted in Federal Court where sentences can be particularly harsh under what are referred to as the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. To obtain the best possible outcome you should have an experienced Federal criminal defense lawyer’s help as soon as possible.

Free consultation: If you have been chard with a drug offense in State or Federal court, contact a Board-Certified Criminal attorney at Ball & Hase in Arlington. In an emergency, call 817.860.5000. We answer calls 24 hours a day.