Ohio Drug Lawyer

Ohio Drug Lawyer

All drug charges are accompanied by serious criminal penalties. If you have been charged with a drug possession crime, drug trafficking crime, or other drug crime in the state of Ohio, it is extremely important that you find an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you in court.

Regardless of what type of drug crime you have been charged with, a skilled criminal defense attorney can help to protect all of your legal and constitutional rights while your case is adjudicated.

An Ohio drug lawyer may also be able to help you formulate strong legal defenses to your drug charge, assist you in obtaining a favorable plea deal from the prosecution, or represent you at trial.

Felony and Misdemeanor Charges

Ohio drug crimes are classified into two categories: felonies and misdemeanors. Generally speaking, felonies are crimes which may be punishable by more than one year of incarceration. Conversely, misdemeanors are generally punishable by up to one year of incarceration, or by monetary fines, or other penalties.

Additionally, individuals may also be charged with attempted drug crimes in which the specific intent to commit a drug crime was present, but the drug crime was not completed. An Ohio drug attorney can provide guidance that is specific to your particular charge.

Types of Drug Charges

Ohio drug crimes may be classified into one or more of the following common categories:

• Drug possession crimes – where defendant may be charged with actual or constructive possession (i.e. when drugs are found in a home, motor vehicle, or some other area within the defendant’s immediate vicinity or grasp).
  • R.C. 2925.11: No person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog.
• Drug trafficking crimes – where the drugs that were found weighed a certain amount.
  • R.C. 2925.03: No person shall knowingly do any of the following:
    • Sell or offer to sell a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog;
    • Prepare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for distribution, or distribute a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog, when the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance or a controlled substance analog is intended for sale or resale by the offender or another person.
• Drug conspiracy charges – where there was an implicit or explicit agreement between two or more individuals to engage in a criminal enterprise, such as distributing or selling drugs in an open-air drug market.
  
  Drug crimes may be prosecuted through both the Ohio state court system, as well as the federal court system.

Most Common Types of Drugs

The most common illegal drugs that warrant attention from an Ohio drug lawyer are:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine / Crack
• Heroin
• Methamphetamines
• Improper use or possession of Controlled Substances / Prescription Drugs
  • Xanax, Oxycontin, Alprazolam

Penalties for Drug Crime Convictions

Penalties upon conviction for Ohio drug charges depend upon the type and quantity of the drug(s) involved, the drug classification, the nature of the circumstance surrounding the charges, and the number of the defendant’s prior drug offenses of convictions.

Common penalties for Ohio drug crime convictions commonly include the following:

• Fines
• Community Service
• Probation
• Mandatory attendance at drug abuse treatments programs
• Incarceration (Time in Jail or Prison)

Hiring an Ohio Drug Lawyer

Some of the most common defenses to Ohio drug charges include:

• Mere presence
• Illegal searches and seizures
• Improper or deficient Miranda Warnings
• Lack of probable cause
• Improper interrogation techniques used by law enforcement officers or investigators
• Mistaken identity

Contact an Ohio Drug Attorney Today

Drug crimes are fact-specific in nature. An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to assist you in dismissing your drug charge, reducing your charge by way of a plea deal with the prosecution, or reducing your penalty upon conviction.

You should feel free to contact an Ohio drug lawyer at any time, via email or telephone, for a free initial consultation.