Felony Drug Possession
St. Petersburg / Clearwater Criminal Defense Lawyers Who Can Help
St. Petersburg / Clearwater Criminal Defense Lawyers Who Can Help
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Possession of Cocaine
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Felony Possession of Marijuana
Over 20 Grams - Cultivation of Marijuana
- Valium - Diazepam
- Vicodin - Hydrocodone
- Xanax - Alprazolam
- OxyContin - Oxycodone
- Lorcet
- Dilaudid
- Percocet
- Soma
- Darvocet
- Morphine
- Possession of a Controlled Substances
The Penalties Associated With a Conviction for Felony Drug Possession in Pinellas County
- Automatic drivers license suspension for a period of two years.
- Prohibition to occupational licensing or working within many types of professions.
- Stigma associated with being a convicted felon.
- Substance abuse evaluation and any follow-up treatment or counseling.
- Random urine testing.
- Potential Civil Seizure-Forfeiture of any vehicle used in the commission of the offense.
- Penalties that include up to a $5,000.00 fine and incarceration in state prison for up to 5 years.
Watch our video on the penalties associated with a felony charge.
The law dealing with drug possession cases can be complex and the available defenses can vary widely depending on the particular facts and circumstances of your case. At your free initial consultation, we will subject the facts and legal issues associated with your case to a thorough examination. We believe that a client's input in this process is critical. Their contribution can often assist in our efforts to achieve the best possible outcome.
Understanding Actual Possession vs. Constructive Possession
The most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with a charge involving drug possession is an understanding that ownership of the substance has little to no bearing on the question of possession.
Actual Possession refers to a situation where an individual has an illegal drug on their person. For example, someone who has a baggie containing cocaine in their pocket would be in actual possession of the cocaine. On the other hand, a person can also be in constructive possession of a drug.
Constructive Possession refers to a situation where a person has knowledge of the illegal drug and the ability to access this contraband.
Consider the following scenario:
An individual is stopped while riding as a passenger in a friend's car. A search of the vehicle by a police officer reveals cocaine in the glove box. Despite the fact that the passenger wasn't holding the cocaine,
Defenses to Drug Possession Charges:
Early Intervention
Simply because you were arrested for a particular felony drug offense, does not mean that the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office has to file the charge against you. At times, early intervention by an St. Petersburg / Clearwater lawyer in providing the prosecutor with your side of the story, or names of your witnesses, can be effective. This pre-filing action could make a difference in the prosecutor's decision whether to file a formal charge, file a lesser offense, or decline to prosecute you at all.
Unlawful Search or Seizure
Drug possession charges commonly stem from a search conducted by law enforcement. Therefore, a threshold issue to consider is whether the initial stop and subsequent search were lawful.
If the initial stop or subsequent search was illegal, the drugs seized will become inadmissible as evidence in court. This legal concept is often referred to as the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. The idea is that, if the search is illegal (i.e. the tree is poisoned), all the evidence flowing from the search is tainted (i.e., the fruit is also poisoned) and cannot be used in court. A skilled and experienced St. Petersburg / Clearwater defense attorney can examine your case to evaluate the lawfulness of any search conducted by law enforcement. If the initial stop or subsequent search is suspect, a motion can then be filled to exclude or suppress the evidence that flowed from the unlawful conduct on the part of the police. Winning such a motion can be highly beneficial, as it typically results in preventing the prosecutor from effectively moving forward with his case. The simple filing of a motion and supporting memorandum of law that raises significant legal questions may also be an effective bargaining chip in securing lesser penalties or reduced charges.
Attacking the State's Constructive Possession Theory
A common method of attacking a charge of drug possession in constructive possession cases is to look closely at the issues surrounding knowledge, as well as, dominion and control. In some cases, the evidence available to the prosecutor to show that you knew of the item and had access to it may be weak or even nonexistent. For example, consider a case where marijuana is found in the center console of a vehicle in which you were a passenger. An experienced attorney could argue on your behalf that the State may be unable to show that you knew the marijuana was in the car. Likewise, that since you did not own the vehicle, you did not have access to the drug or the ability to exercise dominion or control of it in its found location. Your attorney would be able to rely on a long line of appellate cases which stand for just this proposition.
Other Defenses - Credibility, Chain of Custody & Lab Results
The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure permit your attorney to conduct depositions of all state witnesses and authorize your lawyer to examine any evidence. Depositions may reveal weaknesses or holes in the state's case that might present other viable defenses to your felony drug possession charge. For example, your attorney can look into questions concerning the procedures used by the crime lab in testing the substance to determine its true nature, chain of custody issues, the truthfulness and veracity of any witnesses who might be involved, and the extent of law enforcement personnel's training and experience in investigating your drug case. Your lawyer's investigation in these areas can sometimes be productive and lead to an effective defense strategy in your case.
We Can Help Even If the Facts Are Against You
As St. Petersburg / Clearwater criminal defense lawyers, our efforts are designed to attain the best possible outcome in your case. However, there are some situations where it becomes necessary to resolve the case through negotiation rather then by raising defenses or challenging the facts. In these situations, other options may be available to you that can avoid formal conviction and minimize the penalties. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, we may be able to structure an outcome that will serve your best interests, through the following methods:
Getting the Charge Dismissed: We can make formal application for your participation in a diversion program (also called Pre-Trial Intervention). Successful completion of this program would result in the judge dismissing the charge against you. Plea Bargains: We can present facts and "mitigating" evidence to the judge in the best possible light. In some cases, we direct clients to prepare for court by completing certain tasks in anticipation of their court hearing. Avoiding Conviction: We can negotiate with the prosecutor and the court in an effort to secure a "withhold of adjudication." This type of disposition would avoid a formal conviction. Resolving your felony drug charge by securing a withhold of adjudication can be highly beneficial. You could thereafter truthfully state that you were not convicted of the charge. In addition, this would allow you to avoid the mandatory suspension of your driving privilege that would otherwise be imposed if you were to be formally convicted of the felony offense. Getting Your Record Sealed: At the conclusion of your case, we can petition the court to seal or expunge all of the records related to your arrest. In most cases, this would restore you to the position you occupied before being arrested. It would give you the right to thereafter truthfully state that you had never even been arrested or charged for any criminal offense.Pinellas County Drug Court - Avoid Jail & Conviction Despite a Bad Prior Record
This specially designated Pinellas County court room is a court-supervised, comprehensive drug treatment court for nonviolent defendants. This voluntary program is the result of a community partnership forged between the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Corrections, local law enforcement, community substance abuse providers, and concerned citizens. A representative from each agency comprises the Adult Drug Court Steering Committee, which provides input and recommendations to the Drug Court Judge.
For those clients who enter
Have an Experienced St. Petersburg / Clearwater Lawyer on Your Side
There are many important distinctions in the law governing drug possession cases. You need the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can evaluate the law and the unique set of facts in your case. Call our office today for a free initial consultation. Together we can discuss all of your options and decide on the best course of action.
Call us for a Free Consultation at (727) 578-0303
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