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While Texas may be lenient on some drug charges, a drug offense rising to the level of drug trafficking may have extreme penalties. The punishments associated with drug trafficking can have a lasting impact on your family, your job, and your future. However, each drug trafficking case is individual, with different facts and circumstances. Therefore, it is important to speak with an experienced drug trafficking defense attorney in Houston to determine your best course of action.
Houston imposes a range of penalties on drug possession and drug trafficking, depending on the extent of the criminal offense. Drug possession will reach the level of drug trafficking depending on the amount of the substance with which you were arrested. Drug trafficking becomes a felony in Houston, Texas and is defined as the intent to manufacture, deliver, sell, or import illegal drugs throughout the state. If the drug trafficking offense spanned state or international borders, you could additionally face federal penalties which are usually harsher than State charges. It is mandatory you contact an experienced Houston drug trafficking defense attorneys at Mary E. Conn Law as soon as possible after your arrest.
The Texas Health & Safety Code classifies drugs and the penalty ranges through a list of penalty groups outlined below. Examples of the drugs in each penalty group include the following:
Each penalty group contains a range of punishments, all leading to felonies if you are arrested with a certain amount of the drug. For example, it is a felony to possess greater than one gram of a substance in Penalty Group 1, but you must have greater than 28 grams to fall within the felony punishment range of a substance in Penalty Group 3 and 4.
Marijuana offenses are listed separately from the substances in the above Penalty Groups. A person must possess at least 4 ounces of marijuana to reach the punishment level of a state jail felony.
The manner in which you were arrested for drug possession or drug trafficking in Houston can often prove to be a pivotal moment in your defense. An arresting officer must have a search warrant to search your home, or probable cause to search your car or your person. If the officer cannot prove either existed, or the officer acted outside of the bounds of their abilities, evidence may be suppressed. This can also lead to the dismissal of charges against you. Additionally, the amount of substance must be carefully weighed and submitted as evidence. In many instances, a small amount can make a big difference, even the difference between a misdemeanor charge and a felony charge.
Therefore, it is important to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case with a Houston drug trafficking defense lawyer , being careful to relay everything that occurred at the time of the arrest.
If you have been arrested on drug trafficking charges in Houston, it is important to remember that an arrest is not a conviction. Mary E. Conn is experienced in defending her clients and protecting them from the legal repercussions associated with drug offenses. Drug trafficking punishments can lead to a drastic alteration to a defendant’s life, as a criminal conviction can impact the ability to hold a job, retain custody of children, or even vote. Do not wait! Contact a drug trafficking defense lawyer at our Houston offices today on (713) 357-4190 for your initial free consultation.