Muscle Shoals Drug Crime Lawyer

Muscle Shoals Drug Crime Attorney

Drug crimes are serious offenses that can come with severe consequences. When facing drug charges, the support of strong legal representation is crucial. A skilled Muscle Shoals drug crime lawyer can help you fight for your rights, explain your options, and ultimately secure a positive outcome on your behalf.

Why Choose The Law Office of Brad Phillips, LLC?

We provide a special combination of legal knowledge and direct law enforcement experience at The Law Office of Brad Phillips, LLC. Brad offers perceptive and successful counsel because of his thorough knowledge of the legal system, which includes both investigation and defense experience.

His leadership positions, from his membership in the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum to his presidency of the Lauderdale Bar Association, demonstrate his dedication to the community. Selecting our firm means working with a devoted professional criminal defense lawyers who can fight for your interests by combining local experience with a thorough understanding of the law.

Alabama Drug Crimes

A drug crime is any illegal offense related to the use, handling, or selling of controlled substances. Drug crimes are governed by both federal and state statutes. The penalties for these crimes depend on many factors, including the nature of the crime, the type of drug involved, and any harm done to others.

Alabama classifies drugs into five different categories, which are ranked based on a drug’s potential for abuse and its accepted medical usage. These categories can be generalized as follows:

• Schedule I. These drugs have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical usage. Heroin is an example of a drug in this category.
• Schedule II. These drugs have some medical use, but there is still a high chance of abuse. Examples include oxycodone and fentanyl.
• Schedule III. Drugs in this category, such as anabolic steroids, have a moderate chance of abuse with some accepted medical usage.
• Schedule IV. This category of drugs has a lower chance of abuse, with some accepted medical uses. Xanax and valium are examples of drugs in this category.
• Schedule V. This category has the lowest potential for abuse, with many accepted medical uses. Examples of Schedule V drugs include certain prescription drugs, like those used to treat coughs, diarrhea, and epilepsy.

Generally speaking, a crime involving a Schedule I drug may result in more severe penalties than the same offense involving a Schedule V drug.

Types of Drug Crimes

Drug crimes can range from minor offenses to serious felonies. Some common drug crimes include:

• Possession. This involves having drugs on your person without a prescription. Simple possession is typically a misdemeanor, as it involves having a small amount of drugs believed to be for personal use. However, having large quantities of drugs can result in more serious charges, as it can be inferred that the offender intends to sell or distribute.
• Possession with the intent to distribute. Having the intent to distribute is a more serious charge than simple possession. Evidence such as large amounts of cash, large amounts of drugs, and/or packaging materials can be used to conclude that there was an intent to distribute.
• Drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is one of the most serious drug offenses, and it comes with severe penalties, such as mandatory minimum jail/prison sentences and fines. Drug trafficking involves the large-scale distribution, transportation, and sale of a drug.
• Drug manufacturing. Producing drugs, such as owning a meth lab or a marijuana garden (outside legal parameters), constitutes drug manufacturing, which can carry heavy sentences.
• Owning drug paraphernalia. Having drug paraphernalia is a criminal offense. Drug paraphernalia includes bongs, pipes, and scales.

Defenses Against Drug Crimes

If you are charged with a drug crime, an attorney can help you by building the most appropriate defense for your case. Your defense will depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An attorney Muscle Shoals can investigate the search to ensure that it was legal. If it was an illegal search and seizure, your case may be able to be dismissed or the charges reduced. If there is insufficient evidence, your lawyer can claim that there is not enough evidence to convict you.

In addition, they may also claim that you had a lack of knowledge or a lack of intent to commit a crime. This is especially useful if you were unaware that a controlled substance was in your presence, which could have occurred if there were multiple people with you at the time of the arrest.

FAQs

How Much Does a Criminal Lawyer Cost in Alabama?

The intricacy of the case, the experience of the lawyer, and whether the case proceeds to trial are some of the variables that affect the cost of hiring a criminal defense attorney in Alabama. While some attorneys bill by the hour, others charge a fixed fee for specific cases. Legal fees are usually higher for more serious offenses.

What Is the Punishment for Drug Possession in Alabama?

The type and amount of the drug in question determine the penalties for drug possession in Alabama. For more serious charges, the penalties may include long jail or prison terms, while for smaller violations, penalties may include fines and probation. Penalties may be more severe for repeat offenders or those found in possession of specific substances. Those convicted of drug crimes may occasionally be eligible for alternative sentencing initiatives like drug court or diversion programs.

How Do I Beat a Possession Charge in Alabama?

Fighting a possession accusation in Alabama usually entails arguing that the search and seizure was unlawful, contesting the chain of custody of the evidence, or demonstrating ignorance or wrongdoing. Legal defenses can also include claiming that law enforcement violated constitutional rights or showing that the material belongs to someone else.

How Long Do Drug Court Cases Last?

How long a drug court case takes in Alabama is determined by how serious the accusations are and how well the offender complies with the court’s orders. Drug court participants usually experience court surveillance, frequent drug testing, and substance abuse treatment.  Charges may be lowered or dropped for those who meet all requirements when they graduate from the program.

Contact The Law Office of Brad Phillips, LLC, to Discuss Your Drug Crime Case

If you have been charged with a drug crime, The Law Office of Brad Phillips, LLC, can defend you. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for your rights.