Drug Possession – Intent
Being arrested on any drug possession charge is a serious matter. But if you are accused of delivery or drug possession with intent charges, under Washington state law you could be looking at a much more serious sentence that could include mandatory prison time. You need the best legal help you can get from an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Charged with a crime in Washington? Call now. (888) 246-5778.
Having defended serious drug charges cases like this before, we know what you are up against. We understand how intimidating the Washington criminal courts can be and why you might be frightened at a time like this.
Buy taking advantage of a free consultation, you can find the best attorney to put your confidence in – you need a defense law firm with your best interests in mind. And you need a lawyer who will work every angle in fighting your case, to get you the best possible result, whether that is a dismissal, a reduction in charges, or possibly a plea agreement that you can live with and it is your best interests.
And police do make big mistakes in drug arrests. Perhaps the drugs weren’t yours and you feel as if you are being wrongly accused. If you are being charged with an offense you are not guilty of, we will challenge the prosecution at every point of the process, and on every alleged piece of evidence against you. You are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In same cases, you may admit are at fault and wish to get out of this difficult situation with the minimum penalties possible.
Regardless of what happened to you, everyone deserves an aggressive defense and fair treatment under the law. You defense attorney is there to insure that happens, and if you are at risk of jail time, the stakes are very high for you.
Please contact us for a criminal drug charge case evaluation, and take the opportunity to find out if we are the attorneys for you.
Washington State Drug Possession w/Intent – Laws & Penalties
In Washington, the term “controlled substance” is used to refer to many different types of drugs and is applied to all illegal drugs. Some of those drugs include: heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs when not prescribed to the person in possession, ecstasy, marijuana, steroids, methadone, and amphetamines.
Manufacturing, Delivering, Possessing with Intent to Deliver
It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver, a controlled substance. If you are charged with doing any of these, the classification of your offense and your potential sentence depend on what the controlled substance was.
| If the drug/substance was: | The charge and potential sentence is: |
| A narcotic (heroin, methadone, codeine, morphine, cocaine, etc) |
|
| An amphetamine or methamphetamine |
If caught with amount in excess of 2 kilograms, the fine jumps to $100,000. |
| Any other controlled substance |
|
Ref: RCW 69.50.401
How does the court know what I was “intending” to do?
When charged with possession with intent to distribute, you may be wondering what gave the prosecution the idea that you were intending to sell drugs. Contrary to popular belief, it is more than the amount of drugs you have on you that determines this charge.
You can be charged with intent to distribute for even a small quantity of drugs.
The police and the prosecution will look at all of the evidence in determining your intent. Things like being in a high drug traffic area or being in possession of baggies, scales, or other paraphernalia commonly used in distribution may all lead to this elevated charge.
Will I go to prison if convicted of Intent/Drug Distribution?
There is a good chance that you will serve some time in prison if you are convicted of possession with intent. However, if this is your first exposure to criminal charges or if you have a relatively clean record, it is possible we may be able to help you avoid prison time in some cases.
In Washington there are several alternatives to prison time, particularly for first-time offenders. Options such as diversion, first-time offender waivers, and the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) all exist to keep non-violent offenders out of prison.
Because we know about the alternatives and what it takes to qualify for them, we can assist you in showing the court that you are a good candidate for these programs.
Arrest, Search & Seizure in WA Drug Cases
One of the things we will thoroughly investigate in your case is the procedures surrounding your arrest. There are very specific laws in place to protect your rights throughout the arrest and search process.
If the police failed to follow these rules of evidence or laws governing arrest, we may be able to get your charges lowered or possibly dropped altogether.
Free Consultation on Washington Drug Offenses from an Experienced Defense Lawyer
Serious drug charges like these aren’t likely to go away overnight. Serious legal and investigative work may be needed to defend you properly. So there is no time to waste in getting you the legal advice you need. Call for a consultation on your Washington drug charges today.
