Drug Charges
Defenses to Drug Charges
There are a variety of defenses to drug charges, and they can be grouped together into three loose families that focus on different things.
The focus on you:
I didn’t possess any illegal drugs
Maybe the drugs were found nearby, or you’re being charged because someone around you had drugs
I didn’t know that I was possessing illegal drugs
Someone left something in your car or house, or maybe even pants. Maybe someone even planted it on you.
I didn’t know that the thing was illegal drugs
Your cousin asked if you wanted to take a few Tylenol home with you, turned out she gave you hydrocodine.
The focus on the drugs:
It wasn’t illegal drugs
For religious or superstitious reasons, you carry around something in your wallet/purse that a police officer incorrectly identified as a controlled substance
The focus on the government:
The government found it illegally
The government searched the car during a traffic stop when they weren’t allowed to
Each of these issues are raised and handled differently. Some are factual disputes for trial, and some are raised through pretrial motions, and some are presented to the state after investigation. Our criminal defense lawyer has experience handling hundreds are drug cases. He knows how to raise the issues, when to do so, and how to get the best results from raising them.
Can Thayer handle my drug charge?
Thayer has handled hundreds of drugs charges. Below is a sampling of how some of those cases resulted:
Dismissals because of illegal searches and seizures
Reductions from trafficking to simple possession
Acquittal at trial for possession
Dismissals because police incorrectly thought something was drugs
Our experienced criminal defense lawyer will explore every aspect of your drug charge to craft the best defense possible. Additionally, drug charge convictions can have a collateral impact on your ability to possess or purchase firearms and your driving privileges. Thayer is knowledgeable about the impact of drug charges and can walk you through them.
Which Drug Charges do you handle?
We handle all drug charges, such as:
Simple possession of a controlled substance
Marijuana, THC, meth, heroin, cocaine, crack, hydro, xanax, etc. Any controlled substance.
Possession with Intent to Distribute
Sale of a Controlled Substance
Manufacturing a Controlled Substance
Trafficking a Controlled Substance
What if I need treatment?
Luckily, many jurisdictions have come a long way from wanting to lock up people and throw away the key when they’re convicted of drug charges. Thayer has a wealth of experience negotiating for his clients to receive treatment instead of more harsh punishments. Thayer has worked to secure his clients entrances into rehab, and for their drug charges to be resolved with that treatment. He also worked extensively with the Piedmont Circuit Drug Court for two years, and is able to draw on that knowledge to fight prosecutors, and persuade judges, that treatment, not incarceration, is the right course of action.