Montgomery Drug Crime Attorney
Being charged with a criminal offense can be terrifying, as the potential penalties are significant and life-altering. There may be hope for a positive resolution, but you need to work with the skilled Montgomery drug crimes lawyer. It is crucial that your attorney has the relevant experience to build a strong defense, as well as the professional resources needed to investigate these offenses.
The penalties for a drug offense can include years in prison, significant fines, the loss of certain rights, and a criminal record that can limit your opportunities for the rest of your life. The expert team of criminal defense lawyers at The Law Office of Richard K. Keith is committed to defending your rights against harsh prosecution.
If you are being charged with a drug offense, you cannot afford to delay.
The Law Office of Richard K. Keith: Criminal Defense for Drug Crimes
Drug charges should not be taken lightly, and it is important that you find a legal defense team with experience and dedication. At The Law Office of Richard K. Keith, our team provides you with compassionate and respectful legal support. We understand how a criminal conviction can alter the rest of your life and work to prevent that outcome. Our firm has been working in criminal defense law for more than 33 years and has experience defending the rights of those accused.
At The Law Office of Richard K. Keith, we prioritize communication and personalized legal support. We are deeply familiar with the complexities of charges and work to ensure you understand your case and the potential outcomes. Our team’s experience and dedication could mean all the difference in avoiding a serious conviction.
What Are Drug Offenses?
Drug offenses could include:
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Large-scale possession of, sale of, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances
- Possession or cultivation of controlled substances
- Drug trafficking
- Drug conspiracy
- Drug importation
- Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) offenses
The more severe the circumstances of the accused crime and the more harmful the evidence, the more serious your situation is. It is essential that you work with an attorney who knows how to navigate straightforward and complex drug cases.
The Controlled Substances Act and Drug Charges
The Controlled Substances Act lists what substances are regulated, meaning they require a prescription to legally possess them or are always illegal to possess. This act also categorizes these substances by schedule, increasing in severity based on the likelihood that a drug will result in dependency, abuse, and addiction. This act affects how serious a controlled substance is regulated, and the penalties that are associated with it.
When a controlled substance is categorized as a Schedule V drug, it has the lowest potential for dependency and abuse. Schedule I controlled substances have the highest potential for abuse and include substances like heroin, ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and cannabis. These and other Schedule I substances are closely regulated and heavily criminalized. Offenses involving Schedule I drugs are more serious and are more likely to result in severe criminal consequences.
How Can an Attorney Defend Me Against Drug Charges?
A skilled criminal defense attorney is equipped to investigate and review the charges against you to determine the most effective defense strategy. They have the resources and legal knowledge to review your arrest and evidence against you. Working with the right criminal defense attorney will give you the greatest chance at avoiding long-term and significant criminal penalties.
If law enforcement conducted an illegal search and seizure or did not have probable cause, evidence obtained through that illegal action can be suppressed. If this evidence is heavily supporting the prosecution’s case, the charges may be dropped. A skilled criminal defense lawyer in Montgomery, Alabama, can help identify these issues and work to protect your rights.
Your attorney can also challenge evidence in other ways, such as if there were errors in the chain of custody. A criminal defense attorney can also look over your case to determine if a plea deal for a lesser offense or reduced penalty is the right option for you. In Alabama, finding the right defense for your case will require a review of your unique circumstances by an experienced attorney.
FAQs
Drug crimes are often investigated by agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA has the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program to investigate drug crimes.
These agencies investigate organizational drug crimes with significant amounts of dangerous controlled substances, as well as crimes have been committed on certain types of property or across states. These agencies do not tend to focus on lower-level crimes. Agencies like the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Vice & Special Operations (VSO) also investigate drug crimes.
You are more likely to beat a possession charge in Alabama with a strong defense strategy from a skilled attorney. Drug possession charges may be mitigated or eliminated by challenging how evidence was obtained, how the arrest was conducted, and other illegal actions by law enforcement. Lack of possession under the law may also be an effective defense, such as if you were unaware of the drugs. Your defense attorney can look at the specifics of your case to determine the ideal defense.
The minimum sentence for drug trafficking in Alabama will depend on the type and amount of substance involved. The lowest trafficking charge in Alabama is for the possession of between 2.2 and 100 pounds of cannabis, which results in a fine of up to $25,000 and a mandatory minimum three-year prison sentence. Offenses involving a larger amount of substances will often result in a more serious sentence.
The cost of a criminal drug defense lawyer in Alabama depends on several factors, including:
- The complexity and severity of the charges you face
- The experience and success rate of the attorney while defending drug crime cases
- The location of the attorney and their firm
- Whether the case is billed at an hourly rate or a flat fee and whether a retainer fee is required upfront
- The resources an attorney will need to access to properly support your case
Find the Right Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Montgomery
If you are facing an investigation or charges of drug crimes, it’s important to find a skilled attorney quickly. Drug offenses are taken very seriously by prosecutors, and you should also take them seriously. Contact The Law Office of Richard K. Keith today.
