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An arrest for a drug-related offense may have a major impact on your life. As serious as being arrested may be, a conviction brings even harsher consequences. From possessing a controlled substance to distributing them, any of these crimes is a serious matter best handled by an experienced defense attorney. If you have been accused of or charged with a drug crime, you must act quickly to protect your rights. Put your trust in a Boulder drug lawyer and learn how you could fight back against these allegations.
Not all drug-related offenses are treated the same. The most common of these crimes is also the least severe: drug possession. This involves possessing an amount of a controlled substance that is not large enough for police to presume it is intended for sale.
Drug sales are more serious offenses, and the government aggressively pursues convictions in these cases, given how it may impact people other than the accused. People also typically face steeper consequences for manufacturing a controlled substance than simply possessing one. A central factor in these cases is the amount of drugs someone is accused of having in their possession. For large amounts, the state will presume they planned to use them for something other than personal use.
If someone is arrested on a misdemeanor possession charge, they can typically expect to be released pending trial. For more serious felony charges, they may remain in custody unless they can meet the high bail cost. The primary concern for most people charged with a drug crime is the potential for incarceration.
However, conviction is not certain in any of these scenarios. You have the right to fight back against any kind of drug charges, and you should do so with the support of a Boulder lawyer to lead your defense. Petrash Law could not only assist with your defense but also work to free you before your trial date.
Colorado courts hand down sentences based on which drug crime category your offense falls under. In addition to drug misdemeanors, there are also four distinct levels of drug felonies under state law, which include:
All of these levels also include heavy fines and the potential to be elevated into the aggravated range depending on the circumstances surrounding the case. With the right defense strategy, you have the chance to avoid a guilty verdict and the consequences that follow. A Boulder defense attorney could give you the best opportunity to walk away from narcotics charges with a clean record.
You have options for fighting back against a drug charge. The right strategy depends mainly on the facts of your illegal substances case, which could be determined through the guidance of a lawyer in Boulder.
One of the strongest defenses in drug cases involves the violation of constitutional rights. These cases are typically built on evidence seized during searches of homes or vehicles. If police conduct a search illegally, the court may exclude the evidence at trial.
Proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is a high burden, and the state must meet this standard to secure a conviction. Many attorneys choose to focus on the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and its inability to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Most drug crimes have an intent element. This means someone cannot be guilty of a drug crime if they had no intention of committing it. In possession cases, this might involve a person with narcotics in their vehicle or home that they were not aware of.
If you have been accused of a drug crime, you must act quickly to protect your rights. A Boulder drug lawyer could work with you to build a winning defense strategy. Call Petrash Law today to get started with your case.