Austin Drug Charge Lawyer

Drug charges are a very serious offense in the state of Texas. When you are facing drug charges, regardless of the magnitude of the crime or the amount of drugs for which you are being charged, you should interview and hire an Austin drug charge lawyer immediately. The state and federal government prosecute drug charges aggressively, and defendants run the risk of lengthy jail sentences. Having a large quantity of drugs, or digital scales, cash, or guns can lead to the conclusion you are more than just a user, and result in higher level charges. It is important to remember that possessing ANY amount of some recreational drugs is a felony (such as lsd, cocaine, mushrooms, molly, and meth). If you are contacted by an investigator, you should call us immediately.

Your Austin Drug Charge Lawyer Works Hard to Protect You From Jail Time

Selling any amount of drugs in Texas is a serious crime and is prosecuted aggressively with the risk of jail time. First degree felony charges have maximum senteces of up to 99 years. Having a drug charge attorney involved early in your case provides you with as much protection as possible. We can attempt to convince the state that you are redeemable through rehablitation, and work to get you accepted into felony Court Diversion or the SHORT program. There are many possible outcomes for any drug case- not two defendants are the same, and neither are any two sets of facts. Only an experienced drug charge attorney can represent your interests in front of the court, and steer you into your most favorable outcome alternative.

 

Prescription Drugs May Create the Need to Hire an Austin Drug Charge Lawyer

Did you know that it is not just hard drugs that can lead you to need a drug crime lawyer? While there is no doubt that if you are arrested with some kind of hard drugs in your possession, including heroin, crack, cocaine, and methamphetamines, you are going to face some serious charges; it is important to remember that you can also face drug charges for prescription drug procession. If you are arrested with a controlled substance, and do not have a legitimate prescription for them, you can face drug charges as well. These include possession of drugs like OxyContin, Xanax, and Adderall to name a few. Keep in mind that even short sentences for drug possession can include up to six months in prison. You should always try and keep your prescriptions current and available.

Texas is Not Lenient on Drug Crime

While public attitudes about drug possession for personal use are beginning to relax, this is not the case with Texas law enforcement. Marijuana laws are gradually changing across the country, but it is still a crime to possess, distribute, or sell marijuana in Texas, and they will not hesitate to prosecute you. If you are found to be in possession of large amounts or items that could warrant the belief that you are selling, enhanced charges are a certainty. State troopers and local law enforcement are constantly doing highway interdictions on the routes from Colorado and California into Texas, and can initiate civil forfeiture proceedings to take claim to your car, cash, and anything else that could be the result of drug proceeds. Border checkpoints and airports search and seize large quantities of drugs every year, with serious consequences. In any of these scenarios, you need the counsel of an experienced drug charge lawyer.

An Austin Drug Charge Lawyer Can Represent You in State or Federal Criminal Cases

In recent years, local and federal law enforcement agencies have increasingly worked together using drug task forces to search out and confiscate drugs. Any Texas county where you are arrested may prosecute you, and almost always will. As you may imagine, juries of local citizens can be none too friendly to transients moving drugs through their communities. In addition to these state charges, if your case involves large amounts of drugs, money, firearms, or trafficking, then the federal government may also decide to prosecute you as well. The state or federal government may also initiate civil forfeiture proceedings to try and take your property if they think it was obtained with the proceeds of drugs. At Hines & Holub, we are prepared to work for you every step of the way.

State Drug Charges

Drug charges cover a wide spectrum, depending on the type of drug and the amount.  Possession of any amount of certain drugs is a felony, including Cocaine, Crack, Ecstasy, LSD, Psilocybin mushrooms, Heroin and Methamphetamine.  Penalties in Texas courts can range from a low of six months in jail for simple felony possession, up to 99 years for first degree felony charges for possession and/or distribution of large quantities of drugs.  Other drugs are misdemeanors in small amounts, such as marijuana and some prescription drugs, but can be enhanced to felonies based on large amounts, sale, or distribution. Anyone faced with drug charges should hire an Austin drug crime lawyer to protect your rights and future as early in the process as you can.  It can make a marked difference on the outcome of the case.

Federal Drug Charges

In addition to State drug charges, an accused drug offender may be charged with violation of Federal drug laws, and be prosecuted by both the State and Federal Government over the same incident. Generally speaking, the federal prosecutors are not interested in taking relatively small cases, wanting instead to target large scale drug cases and operations. The larger the bust, the more likely the Federal Government will be interested. If you have a Federal Drug Case, then you will need to consult an Austin drug charge lawyer who is admitted in Federal Court.

Some of the most common drug charges involve:

-Marijuana
-Cocaine
-Ecstasy, Molly, MDMA
-Prescription Drugs (Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Xanax, Adderall, etc.)
-LSD
-Methamphetamine
-Psilocybin Mushrooms
-Heroin

Call for Help with Your Case

We regularly assist clients charged with all level of drug charges. In every case, an Austin drug charge lawyer at Hines & Holub will try to get the client back to the status he or she was before being arrested. We work to get drug charges dismissed or reduced, seek alternative resolutions like Drug Court (The SHORT program), diversion, and rehabilitation. Whenever possible, we seek to get resolutions that leave the possibility of expunction or non-disclosure available in the future.