Protecting the Rights of Those Charged with Drug Possession in the St. Louis Area
Missouri legislators and law enforcement authorities take any type of unlawful drug possession extremely seriously. Even if you possess a few pills without a prescription or a small amount of cocaine, you can be arrested and will likely face felony charges in criminal court. Prosecutors in St. Louis County and City regularly pursue drug charges to the fullest extent of the law and a drug possession conviction can completely change your life.
Anyone who has been arrested on suspicion of drug possession should immediately contact a knowledgeable drug possession attorney who understands how to successfully defend against this type of charge and who can limit the penalties you face.
Drug Possession Penalties in St. Louis City and County
If you are convicted of any type of drug possession, you can be facing serious consequences. While possession of 35 grams or less or marijuana is a Misdemeanor offense in St. Louis, all other drug possession allegations can be charged as at least a Class C Felony. A conviction for a Class C Felony can mean the following consequences:
- Up to a $5,000 fine
- Up to seven years in Missouri state prison
The penalties for a drug conviction can increase even more if you are accused of possessing a large amount of a substance, if you have prior drug convictions, or if other aggravating factors are alleged.
In addition to the above, a felony drug possession conviction can disqualify you from educational scholarships or programs, job opportunities, or even places to live. For these reasons, drug possession cases should always be taken extremely seriously.
How a Drug Possession Defense Attorney can Help You
There are many ways an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you defend against drug possession charges in St. Louis courts to reduce or eliminate the charges you face. Some of the ways our skilled defense team can help include the following:
- Defend your 4th Amendment rights against unlawful search or seizure
- Identify mistakes by police or forensic labs
- Determine whether you qualify for drug court to avoid conviction
- Negotiate a plea bargain to reduce your charges or sentence to avoid jail time
- Challenge allegations of constructive possession
- Collect evidence to challenge the prosecutor’s witnesses and case against you
- Represent you at trial to fight against wrongful charges
Call a St. Louis Drug Possession Lawyer for Assistance Today
At the Byrnes Law Firm, we have extensive experience defending against drug possession charges in criminal courts in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County. If you have been arrested or have already been charged with drug possession or related crimes, please contact our office for a free initial consultation by calling 314-312-0404 or by using our contact form online.