Austin Drug Paraphernalia Lawyer

If you've been arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, don't lose hope just yet. An Austin drug paraphernalia attorney can help you fight against a conviction and get you a better outcome for your case.

The state of Texas takes a firm stance against drug possession and, if convicted, you could face some pretty serious penalties. You could receive a hefty fine and be sentenced to a lengthy term in jail or prison, depending on the circumstances of your case. But being charged with a crime doesn't mean you're convicted-yet.

When you hire an Austin drug paraphernalia lawyer with our firm, you will give yourself a great chance of getting your drug charges dismissed or reduced. We know how to find holes in the prosecution's case, which could allow us to negotiate a better deal. Or we could get the judge to offer you deferred adjudication.

Penalties for Drug Charges in Austin

Penalties for drug paraphernalia possession and other drug charges depend on a few factors. These include the following:

• • Your criminal history, including prior drug offenses

• • Where you were caught with the drug paraphernalia

• • Whether you were selling or simply possessing drug paraphernalia

• • Whether a minor was involved in the offense

The minimum penalties for misdemeanor drug convictions include up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. More serious penalties for felony drug convictions could get you prison time between five and ninety-nine years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Defenses Against Drug Crimes

Just because you've allegedly been caught with drug paraphernalia doesn't mean you will be convicted of the crime. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the drug paraphernalia or drugs belonged to you.

Possession is tricky to prove because, even when drugs or paraphernalia are found near you or even in your possession, who's to say they didn't belong to someone else? Raising doubt in the minds of the jury or judge may be enough to get your case dismissed or get you acquitted.

Additionally, when the prosecutor believes that there is reasonable doubt or thinks the case might not be strong enough to convict you, he or she may offer a much better deal. Your Austin drug paraphernalia possession attorney can point out these issues with the prosecutor's case, potentially allowing you to plead to a lesser charge and receive less serious punishment.

Finally, police officers often make mistakes when investigating cases or making arrests. When they do this, they allow for evidence to be thrown out because of their mistakes. This can quickly cause an Austin drug paraphernalia case to fall apart, leading to the charges being dropped altogether.

Contact an Austin Drug Paraphernalia Attorney

When you've been arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, or any drug-related crime, talk to a criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. A drug conviction has a nasty way of wreaking havoc on your life.