Spartanburg Drug Lawyer

Drug charges carry severe penalties, many of which may follow you forever. A criminal record can significantly impair your ability to gain and maintain employment, affect your education, and much more. You may even face steep fines and imprisonment depending on the offense. A strong criminal defense against these charges could save you from these harsh penalties and greatly reduce the risks to your freedom.

A Spartanburg drug lawyer stands ready to fight for your constitutional rights. Contact us today for help.

Classification of Drug Charges

Most drug charges fall into two separate categories: misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors are usually punishable by up to one year in prison and a penalty, although there are exceptions to this general rule. Felonies are crimes punishable by more than one year and are also subject to much higher potential fines.

Whether a particular drug charge is classified as a felony or misdemeanor depends on many factors. South Carolina law designates what potential penalties each particular offense carries, and whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. Generally speaking, the amount of the drug, the type of drug, and whether the offense was a possession or trafficking offense greatly impact this determination.

Different Types of Drug Crimes

The type of drug crime charged will ultimately determine everything needed to defend the case. There are many different statutes under state law that break down individual drug crimes. General categories of drug crimes include:

• Possession Offenses: A defendant may be charged with actual or constructive possession of drugs, but is not charged with trafficking or intent to sell.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute: If enough drugs are found in a person’s possession, the law presumes an intent to sell them. This will increase the potential penalty.
• Trafficking of Drugs: Selling or transferring drugs may lead to high penalties, and are usually felony offenses.
• Manufacture of Drugs: The preparation, production, or cultivation of drugs is a major crime.

State prosecutors take drug crimes very seriously and will pursue them with much effort. A strong defense is critical to protecting a defendant’s rights.

Types of Drugs

Many different kinds of drugs can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges in the state. Both naturally occurring drugs and synthetic drugs may be illegal. In many cases, even otherwise legal substances may be considered illegal if misused.

Drugs that may commonly lead to drug charges include, but are not limited to:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine or crack
• Methamphetamine
• Heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanyl
• Ecstasy
• Misuse of prescription medications
• LSD

Many more illicit substances could be included on this list. Whenever a defendant faces drug charges, a qualified drug lawyer in Spartanburg can help build a defense to protect their rights.

Building a Criminal Defense

A strong defense is a crucial part of protecting the defendant’s constitutional rights. Potential defenses to a drug crime include:

• Present reasonable doubt to the jury
• Challenge the testing procedures that identified or weighed the drug
• Show that the drug was for personal use and not trafficking
• Demonstrate that prescription drugs were properly prescribed to the defendant
• File a suppression motion to exclude evidence

Every case is unique and requires a specifically tailored defense. A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney is a critical part of this process.

Defend Your Case with the Help of a Drug Attorney in Spartanburg

Drug charges can affect the rest of your life, so you should not take them lying down. Prosecutors may attempt to convince you there is no point in fighting the charges, but this is not true. You have a right to present a defense to these charges.

Contact an experienced Spartanburg drug lawyer for assistance today. Our firm is here to help.