League City Drug Charges Attorney

Defending Against Drug Charges in League City

Attorney Tad Nelson has represented many people charged with drug crimes in state and federal courts. These are very serious charges. Regardless of what you may have heard, the war on drugs has not ended in Texas. In League City, the drug war only seems to be accelerating. If convicted, you might end up in jail for years and need probation after that. For these reasons, you should hire the best legal team for your case. Contact our League City, Texas drug charges attorney for a free consultation.

League City Drug Charge Defense Lawyer

Tad Nelson can defend you against any drug-related criminal charge, including:

• Drug manufacture
• Trafficking
• Possession
• Possession with intent to deliver
• Use of a weapon during a trafficking offense
• Drug cultivation

If you have been picked up for a drug offense, please reach out to us today for a case review.

Penalties for a League City Drug Offense

We have represented first-offenders as well as those with prior misdemeanor or felony convictions. In general, even a first-time drug offense can net you some time in jail. If you have prior convictions, then you could go behind bars for decades.

Generally, the penalties you face will depend on the drug you are caught possessing or trafficking, as well as the amount. Texas divides drugs into Penalty Groups, with those in Group 1 being considered the most dangerous, and those in Group 4 the least dangerous.

The higher the penalty group, the more serious the consequences if you are convicted. For example, possessing more than 400 grams of a Schedule 1 opioid can send you to prison for life. Even being caught with a small amount of Schedule 1 drugs can see you sent to prison for up to two years.

Penalties for possession of drugs in Penalty Group 4 can result in a year in jail to a maximum of 20 years in prison. You also will pay fines and suffer other consequences.

Marijuana is still illegal in Texas. The legislature has reduced penalties for possession of small amounts—but the state has not decriminalized possession yet.

Can You Defend against Drug Charges?

Yes. An arrest is not a conviction, and there are usually defenses we can raise. Everything depends on the charges and the facts of your arrest. Here are some of the more common defenses.

1. Illegal Search and Seizure

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects every individual against unreasonable searches and seizures. Put simply, the police need probable cause to search your home, car, or personal effects. They can’t simply rely on a hunch or guess. Although there are certain exceptions, this is the general rule.

If the police searched you without probable cause, we can ask a judge to toss the evidence out of court. If we win, many prosecutions crumble, and we can seek a dismissal of charges.

2. Valid Prescription

Most illegal drugs are controlled substances. This means they have some valid medical use, which is why they are controlled. A doctor might have prescribed a drug to you, which means it is valid for you to have it in your possession (though not to sell or distribute).

If you are charged with possession of a prescription drug, you can’t be convicted if you have a valid prescription. We can present this evidence on your behalf.

3. Lack of Knowledge

Drug laws require that you, at a minimum, know you have drugs on your person or within your control. What happens if you are driving someone else’s car and the police find cocaine in the trunk? Or you are holding a friend’s purse and methamphetamine falls out?

In these examples, you didn’t know you were in possession of drugs, so you are not guilty of the offense. In court, the prosecutor has the burden of showing all elements of a drug offense, including your knowledge. Sometimes, the prosecutor can’t prove this element, so you should walk.

4. Mistaken Identity

Drug transactions often happen at night, far away from other people. The police might think they saw you selling or distributing drugs, but maybe they have you confused with someone else. You might have been with a friend and had no idea he was going to sell drugs. Your presence at the scene of a transaction, without more, is not a crime.

5. Entrapment

Police often go undercover to buy or sell drugs. If you take the bait, they put cuffs on you and charge you with a League City drug crime. We might argue that use of undercover cops qualifies as entrapment. It’s a tough defense to bring. The undercover cops have to do more than give you an opportunity to buy or sell drugs.

Repercussions from a Drug Conviction

The consequences of a drug conviction—even for a misdemeanor—ripple outward for years. Avoiding prison is only half the battle. You also need to re-establish yourself as a good citizen who now has a criminal record.

Many convictions make it harder to secure employment, rent an apartment, or gain admission to college. Avoiding a conviction in the first place should be your primary goal. If you are convicted of a felony, you can lose important civil rights, such as the right to possess a firearm. Don’t immediately plead guilty to a felony offense. We recommend instead pursuing a vigorous defense to show you are innocent of the charges.

Speak with a League City Drug Charges Attorney Right Away

A drug charge might feel like a life sentence, but it usually isn’t. There are steps many defendants can take to possibly reduce their charges or even gain acquittal. One of the first steps should be to contact Tad Nelson today. He has the skills you need to carefully review all your options when fighting a League City drug charge.

Our law firm offers a free consultation to those who call or send an email. This is a critical time where you need to avoid giving the state evidence to use against you.