While in possession of drugs, the last thing you want is to get arrested by law enforcement. Having to go to court and face potentially life-changing charges can feel like the scariest thing imaginable. This unexpected turn of events should not come without an experienced Lancaster drug possession lawyer by your side.
With 30+ years of combined experience, Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt can easily help you avoid the worst in your trial. Your Lancaster drug crime lawyer is no stranger to all kinds of drug possession cases. Whether you did indeed have a controlled substance on your person or you believe you are being set up, you are in good hands with our firm.
How Drug Possession Differs from Other Drug Charges
Drug possession is just one type of charge related to illegally being in contact with controlled substances. By itself, you are looking at potential jail time and expensive fines. While this is hopefully the only charge you face, it is beneficial to know if your Lancaster criminal defense lawyer is also handling additional charges, such as intent to sell or actual distribution.
Drug possession on its own is simply just that–having a controlled substance at all. Since the substances are the biggest variable, their presence will likely be what determines whether your charge is classified as a misdemeanor or bumped up to a felony. Depending on the nature of the offense, you are looking at a potential sentence ranging from 30 days in prison to 11 years, along with fines of $250 to $420,000.
While you may have had the drugs only for your own use, prosecutors may try to add on intent to sell. It will greatly benefit you to be honest and straightforward with your drug possession attorney in Lancaster, so we can answer how long do you go to jail for drug possession in Ohio. By working together to prove you did not plan on selling drugs, you can avoid even more jail time and fees.
For a free legal consultation with a possesion of drug lawyer serving Lancaster, call 614-884-1100
How Ohio Classifies Drugs
Ohio uses a controlled substance reference table to place substances into tiers in order to classify how likely they are to be abused and harmful. In short, a lower number means a harsher substance, which means harsher penalties for possession or use. It will be important to know where the drug you were in possession of falls on this scale.
- Schedule I – Non-medicinal, highly addictive, or likely to be abused drugs, including heroin and LSD, among several others.
- Schedule II – Substances only rarely used for medicinal purposes, like fentanyl, Ritalin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, among many others.
- Schedule III – Drugs that, although they have some medical use, are likely to be abused, like ketamine or anabolic steroids.
- Schedule IV – These would be drugs like Ambien (a sleep aid), or Xanax (an anxiety aid) that are used medically, but are known to have the risk of abuse.
- Schedule V – These are your common symptom-relieving substances you can get over-the-counter, like Briviact or Promethazine with Codeine.
There are too many drugs out there to list here, so talking with a Lancaster drug possession lawyer will let you know where your substance falls. The likelihood of conviction and the severity of punishment will greatly depend on this. Specifically, marijuana is legal in Ohio, so if you are facing legal trouble because of marijuana, contact us now so that we can quickly get that taken care of.
Lancaster Possesion of Drug Lawyer Near Me 614-884-1100
Punishments We Will Work to Mitigate in a Drug Possession Case
Outlined in Ohio Revised Code Section 2925.11 is how Ohio approaches drug offenses of all kinds, including drug possession. Just because you see your drug’s schedule listed with a certain offense or punishment does not mean that is guaranteed to be your end result. An experienced attorney knows how to bump these down so that you are not drowning in the legal system.
Let us say, for example, you are caught with a relatively hefty amount of heroin. This could result in a felony conviction, carrying a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000. That is all just for the one charge related to one drug.
Ohio also has some designated drug-free zones. These are typically marked with signage and are often located in areas such as around schools or public parks. No matter the specifics, Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt has your case.
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Life After Serving a Sentence for Drug Possession
Despite how you may be feeling right now, life does not end with a drug possession conviction. If this is the only charge you face, you can expect to re-enter the real world and rebuild some sense of normalcy. Even with your sentence behind you, what not to do if you are a convicted felon is something you should discuss with your Lancaster drug possession attorney early on.
In the eyes of the law, after serving your sentence, you are deemed able to return to everyday life. Now, however, you will have a conviction on your record and may have to deal with consequences such as probation. As you try to find housing or secure a new job, this can appear in background checks and pose a barrier to obtaining these essential resources.
Having a criminal record stemming from a drug possession conviction could also affect immigration status, child custody, having a professional license taken away, and losing the right to own a firearm. This may feel daunting. Handling all of this is far from impossible, and it is absolutely something you can get help with from your lawyer.
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Legal Difficulties are Easier with a Lancaster Drug Possession Attorney
Prosecutors are motivated to seek the harshest penalties for any charge they think they have solid grounds for. We deal with them on a regular basis, so we are familiar with their playbook and know how to negotiate your charges down to something you can afford. Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt wants to help you get your life back, so contact a drug possession lawyer in Lancaster today.
Call or text 614-884-1100 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form