If you are facing drug charges, let our experience before state and federal judges and juries work for you. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss the circumstances of your narcotics charges with one of our knowledgeable lawyers. You can reach us by phone at (512) 476-4873, by email at pminton@mbfc.com, or by filling out this form.
Drug-related crimes are the most frequently charged offenses in the state of Texas. The FBI reports that in 2007, drug abuse violations resulted in the arrest of 136,361 Texans. In fact, drug-related crimes are so numerous that special drug courts have been created in certain counties. For example, the Travis County Adult Drug Diversion Court was founded in 1993 and is designed to provide court-supervised treatment as an alternative to traditional criminal sanctions.
Understanding drug offenses can be quite difficult. The basic types of drug offenses, in increasing levels of punishment, are:
Simple possession,
Possession with intent to deliver,
Manufacturing, selling, or delivering,
Conspiracy to manufacture or sell, and
Continuing criminal enterprise (where at least five people collaborate to sell drugs in a business that generates considerable income).
All mind-altering drugs are categorized according to Schedules I to V, and it is a drug’s schedule that determines the severity of the offense and the appropriate punishment. The drugs in Schedule I are those that have no medical use and have a high potential for abuse. Schedule I includes marijuana, heroin, LSD, and Ecstasy. The drugs in Schedule II have some medical use (therefore, they require a prescription), but also have a high potential for abuse. Schedule II drugs include cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, Oxycontin, and opium.
The drugs in Schedules III, IV and V have medical uses, with each schedule having a lower potential for abuse than the schedule before it. Schedule III drugs include Vicodin, anabolic steroids and codeine. Schedule IV includes tranquilizers and sedatives, while Schedule V includes drugs like cough medicines with codeine.
The attorneys of Minton, Burton, Foster, & Collins, P.C., defend many kinds of drug cases including charges of:
Possession
Distribution
Interstate and international trafficking
Cultivation and manufacturing
Maintaining a house where drugs are sold or kept
Illegal Internet narcotics sales
Illegal possession of prescription drugs
Money laundering
The penalties for drug offenses escalate depending on the nature and quantity of the drug at issue and the defendant's prior criminal record. Depending on the circumstances, these offenses can result in a broad range of potential criminal and administrative consequences, including probation, imprisonment, property forfeiture and court-ordered drug treatment counseling. Although drug charges can seem insignificant at first, they can transform into substantial legal problems with long-lasting and far-reaching consequences, affecting your family your finances and your freedom.
Do not take chances with your future. If you or someone you love has been charged with a drug-related crime, it is important to act fast and protect your rights by securing experienced legal representation. Early examination of the physical evidence may allow us to challenge its validity, thereby reducing or eliminating the charges. Additionally, there are many defenses that can be raised to drug charges such as insufficient evidence, having a valid prescription, and illegal search and seizure. Contact Minton, Burton, Foster, & Collins, P.C., by phone at (512) 476-4873, by email at pminton@mbfc.com, or by filling out this form.
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