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DRUG CHARGES ATTORNEY IN HOUSTON, TX

Marijuana & Drug Possession Lawyer in Houston

Counties in the The State of Texas are SERIOUS about enforcing drug laws and prosecuting those people who have been arrested for drug offenses. A person can be arrested for and charged with a number of different kinds of drug offenses in Texas. These include Possession of Marijuana (POM), Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), and Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance. The level of punishment for a particular drug offense can range from a Class C Misdemeanor (fine only) all the way to a First Degree Felony (life in prison!). In addition to any jail/prison time and/or monetary fines that might be assessed against a person convicted of a drug offense, there are other dangers associated with being convicted of a drug offense in Texas. There is the social stigma related to being convicted of a drug offense. People in the community might whisper about the convicted person, spreading rumors that the person is a "druggie" or some other similar insult. A drug conviction stays in your criminal record forever, which might make it difficult to obtain employment in a person's chosen field or to obtain a professional license, such as a teaching, CPA, law, nursing, medical, pharmacy, etc. license. Also, some apartment complexes or other housing providers won't lease to a person who has a drug conviction. As should be now CRYSTAL CLEAR to you, it's VERY important that any person charged with any drug offense in Texas speak to and hire an attorney who is experienced in handling drug cases.

Types of Drug Charges

As mentioned above, there are MANY different types of drug charges in Texas. Here are some of the more common ones:

  • POM (0-2 ounces) – Class B Misdemeanor; range of punishment: up to 6 months in county jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine.

  • POM (2-4 ounces) – Class A Misdemeanor; range of punishment: up to 1 year in county jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine.

  • PCS (i.e., a Xanax bar or an Ecstasy pill) – Class A Misdemeanor; range of punishment: up to 1 year in county jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine.

  • PCS (less than a gram of cocaine) – State Jail Felony; range of punishment: 6 months to 2 years in a State Jail Facility and/or up to a $10,000 fine.

  • PCS (4-200 grams of cocaine) – Second Degree Felony; range of punishment: 2 to 20 years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine.

  • PCS (4-200 grams of cocaine) with Intent to Deliver – First Degree Felony; range of punishment: 5 to 99 years (or life) in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine.

As you can see, punishment ranges vary by the type of drug involved and the quantity of the drug in a particular case. A person charged with a drug offense can get jail or prison time and a large fine. These are serious consequences!

In addition to the punishments listed above, a drug conviction will result in the suspension of a person's Texas Driver's License (TDL). If a convicted person is under 21 years of age, he/she will have his/her TDL suspended for 1 (one) year. If a convicted person is 21 years of age or older, he/she will have his/her TDL suspended for 6 (six) months. This is true even of a person is convicted of just possessing half a joint of marijuana!!! So, a drug conviction in Texas affects not only a person's criminal record but also that person's driving privileges. Drew Prisner, an experienced criminal defense attorney, can work to potentially prevent drug convictions from your permanent record AND help safeguard your ability to drive your vehicle.

Attorney Drew Prisner has extensive experience in handling all aspects of drug offense cases, from case evaluations to jury trials. He can work toward avoiding jail time, large fines, driver's license suspensions, and the embarrassment of a drug conviction. A drug offense conviction can negatively affect your life in many ways. You need an experienced, knowledgeable, dependable attorney on your side. But remember, to protect your criminal record and your driver's license privileges, you must act fast, as there are legal deadlines that, if missed, can prevent you from taking advantage of all your legal rights and remedies. Contact Attorney Drew Prisner today for a free consultation regarding your drug offense charge.