Drug crimes can vary from simple drug possession to large scale, international manufacturing importation and distribution operations and conspiracy. A federal drug charge may carry a severe minimum mandatory sentence and can significantly affect all aspects of personal and professional life. Drug cases can involve a search and seizure of a home or vehicle. The offenses range from simple possession to participation in an ongoing criminal enterprise to manufacturing and distribution.
Three factors generally governing how serious the drug crime is: quantity, schedule, and the reason for possession. Possessing a drug for personal use is generally considered less serious than producing, manufacturing or selling the drug. The greater the amount of the drug in possession, the more likely a charge for possession with intent to distribute. Simple possession requires that the offender knowingly and intentionally possessed a scheduled drug without a valid prescription.
Possession, search, and constitutional rights
In answer to increased pressure on law enforcement to do something about crimes related to drug use, the laws governing them became tougher around 1970. The war on drugs turned into a war against citizens. Prevention and Control Act codifying federal drug laws, and the war on drugs began. Half of all prison inmates today have been convicted of a drug offense. In 1980 there were 300,000 people in jail in the US. Today there are 3 million in jail or under governmental supervision.
Tougher laws mean many convictions violate individual rights. The US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment offers protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Chuck Watson is dedicated to defending and protecting important constitutional rights addressing whether there was probable cause to search. In possession cases, he addresses issues like actual possession of the drugs on a person, or constructive possession, where the drugs were found in a client’s car, house, desk, or other property. Did the offender know the drug was a controlled substance and have actual possession of it, or other control over it, alone or with another? Chuck asks the right questions, gets the answers efficiently, and has a successful track record in challenging drug arrests based on improper searches and invalid search warrants.
Experienced, aggressive drug defense attorney knows the local landscape
A good percentage of Chuck Watson’s law practice is devoted to drug defense, working with individuals accused of all types of drug crimes. He can quickly evaluate levied charges and ensure those rights are protected throughout the legal process. Chuck can be very helpful to drug offenders facing potential jail time. An experienced aggressive criminal defense provided by Chuck Watson can help clients protect their records after criminal charges and stay out of jail.