Greensboro Drug Crime Lawyer

Greensboro Drug Crime Attorney

A conviction for a drug offense can have life-altering consequences. Even a minor possession offense can result in significant fines and probation, along with a criminal record that impacts your employment, housing, and many other aspects of your life. More serious charges can even result in federal felony charges. It is crucial that you work with a Greensboro drug crime lawyer if you are arrested or charged with a drug offense.

You need to hire a drug crime lawyer to protect your future and, potentially, limit or avoid the consequences of a conviction.

Hire a Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyer for a Strong Defense

It can be overwhelming to navigate the criminal justice system, but you don’t have to handle this by yourself. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, we have decades of collective experience in Greensboro drug crime laws, and we can explain your options for reducing or preventing a sentence for drug offenses. Our founding attorney has more than 15 years of experience in drug crime cases.

Whether you are being charged with possession, trafficking, manufacturing, or another drug offense, our dedicated attorneys can represent you with compassion and excellence. Don’t take these charges lightly. Our firm can fight for your future and determine how to resolve your case in the most beneficial manner. You have a right to legal counsel, and you need to take advantage of that.

Greensboro is served by the Guilford County Courthouse, located at 201 South Eugene Street. This may be where your misdemeanor and non-jury case will be filed. Our experienced Greensboro criminal defense lawyers have professional connections with local courts, so they can let you know what to expect.

Understanding Drug Offenses in North Carolina

In 2019, there were 31,431 arrests for drug abuse violations in North Carolina, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2023, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation reported 33,163 arrests for drug law violations.

Drug charges in the state include:

• Possession
• Manufacturing
• Selling
• Delivering
• Possession with the intention to manufacture, sell, or deliver

Drug offenses also include creating a counterfeit controlled substance and committing any of the prior crimes with it. These offenses can be charged as felonies or misdemeanors.

Drug Possession Charges

Possession offenses are charged when you have a controlled substance on your person or in a location that is under your control. Possession is one of the least severe drug charges, but it can still result in substantial fines and months in jail. Only small amounts of controlled substances are considered possession charges. If there is enough of the substance, it becomes a trafficking charge.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, there were 33 federal offenders of drug possession laws based on information gathered by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC). Of these offenses, seven resulted in only prison time, six resulted in only probation, and 19 resulted in only a fine.

Drug Trafficking Charges

Drug trafficking offenses are charged for the distribution and/or possession of a significant amount of controlled substances. In FY 2022, the USSC reported 587 federal cases in North Carolina for drug trafficking. 570 of these cases resulted in solely prison time. No cases resulted in only a fine. Trafficking offenses are much more likely to be charged federally instead of at the state level. These cases can result in significant prison sentences.

What Are Defenses Against Drug Charges in Greensboro?

Defenses against a drug charge in Greensboro can range from claiming innocence to challenging errors made by law enforcement and the prosecution. The right method of defense will rely on your specific circumstances. A drug crime attorney may consider defenses such as:

• Illegal search and seizure by law enforcement, leading to the dismissal of key evidence gained during the search or traffic stop
• Lack of knowledge that the controlled substances were in your possession, meaning the prosecution may be unable to prove that you knowingly and intentionally possessed the substances
• Improper chain of custody of evidence, making evidence unreliable and potentially dismissible
• Entrapment by law enforcement
• Other rights violations, such as failure to read Miranda rights, which can prevent your statements from being used against you
• Mistaken identity, where you were not the individual committing the offense

These defenses could result in the charges against you being reduced or dropped entirely.

FAQs

Q: How Do You Win a Drug Possession Case?

A: How you win a drug possession case will depend on the specifics of your drug possession charges, arrest, and other factors. There may be options to reduce your sentence through a plea deal, or your lawyer can craft an effective defense and potentially get the charges dropped. When you hire a drug crime lawyer, they can determine the right option for your case to secure the most beneficial outcome. An attorney can do this by thoroughly reviewing the specifics of your case.

Q: Do First-Time Drug Offenders Go to Jail in North Carolina?

A: Yes, it is possible for first-time drug offenders to go to jail in North Carolina. However, many first-time drug offenders can secure alternative sentencing, especially for less serious possession charges. Jail or prison time is more likely for trafficking charges.

Alternative sentencing can include probation, rehabilitation classes, and drug education classes. Not all charged individuals are eligible for alternative sentencing, and working with an attorney is an essential part of mitigating the sentence you are potentially facing.

Q: What Evidence Is Needed for a Drug Conviction?

A: The evidence needed for a drug conviction will depend on the type of drug charge. For a drug possession charge, the prosecution likely must prove that you had a controlled substance on your person or in your control. They must also establish that you knew you had control over the illegal substance. Witness testimony, arrest reports, lab tests, and other evidence can be used to attain a conviction.

An attorney can review the prosecution’s case and evidence against you to determine a defense strategy.

Q: What Is the Minimum Sentence for Drug Trafficking in North Carolina?

A: The minimum sentence for drug trafficking in North Carolina depends on the type and amount of substance being trafficked. For example, trafficking between 10 and 50 pounds of marijuana has a minimum sentence of 25 months in prison, while trafficking between four and 14 grams of opioids carries a minimum term of 70 months. These minimum sentences can increase when more of the substance is present, to a minimum sentence of up to 225 months.

Contact Steven T. Meier, PLLC, in Greensboro

The sooner you contact Steven T. Meier, PLLC, the sooner we can begin crafting your defense and protecting your future.