There aren’t many crimes committed in the State of Florida that are treated as seriously as drug crimes. With the potential for both state and federal law to be involved, the charges can range from serious to life-altering.
With the stakes so high and the penalties so severe, it is integral that you seek the help of a skilled St. Petersburg, FL., law firm, or lawyer. It doesn’t matter what your particular charges are, be they for trafficking, possession, or intent to sell, your chances of receiving a punishment that less severe is much higher with a skilled lawyer behind you.
A skilled St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer will be able to help you to understand the complex laws that you will be navigating. They know that any drug charge on your record has the chance to negatively impact your life forever.
This is why it is so important to get in touch with a lawyer at the earliest possible convenience. The sooner you get in touch, the quicker we can spring into action. Here at The Law Place, we have over 75 years of collective experience in defending clients just like you. When you call our phone lines, which are manned 24/7, you will be put in touch with a criminal defense lawyer with a wealth of experience and a reputable law firm to back them up.
Contact us today at (941) 444-4444 and speak to a criminal defense lawyer today. They will offer you a free consultation to discuss your case and determine what we can do for you.
What Are the Types of Drug Crimes in St. Petersburg, Florida?
There are a number of different penalties for drug crimes in St. Petersburg, Florida. These punishments depend entirely on the crime in question and the evidence surrounding the case.
Your criminal defense attorney will have an in-depth understanding of these factors and will be able to craft a defense that is suitable.
Having a knowledgeable and experienced drug crime lawyer behind you can prove invaluable when faced with charges like these. The team of defense attorneys at our law firm will help you every step of the way and will fight tooth and nail to secure you a preferable result.
Common drug crimes in St. Petersburg, FL., include:
- Possession of a controlled substance.
- Possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply, cultivate, or manufacture.
- Manufacturing a controlled substance.
- Sale of a controlled substance.
- Delivery of a controlled substance.
- Trafficking of a controlled substance.
- Falsely prescribing a controlled substance.
There is a huge range of factors that can influence the category of drug charges you are facing. The location of the crime, for example, is one such factor. You will be treated much more severely if you are being charged with dealing drugs near a school.
For a free legal consultation with a drug lawyer serving St. Petersburg, call 941-444-4444
Possessing and Attempting to Sell Drugs in St. Petersburg, FL.
Florida Statute 499.03 decrees that it is illegal for someone to possess or be in possession of drugs that are harmful or have the potential for addiction and harm.
There are only a few reasons why a person might be exempt from this:
- In the event that an individual has received a prescription for a substance from a registered healthcare practitioner who has the license and authority to prescribe drugs in accordance with the law.
- In the event that an employee or a representative of an agency has the authority to deal with drugs as part of their business practices in accordance with the law.
- In the event that a medical professional has to control drugs as part of their work or employment, such as a doctor.
St. Petersburg Drug Lawyer Near Me 941-444-4444
Possessing and Attempting to Sell Controlled Substances in St. Petersburg, FL.
If you are caught whilst possessing a controlled substance, and you are found to have the intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver that substance, you will be punished severely under St. Petersburg, FL., law.
Florida is extremely strict and has no leniency or tolerance for individuals charged with drug crimes. They will fight extra hard to punish individuals to the fullest extent of the law. This is another reason to seek the help of a skilled lawyer from a reputable law firm.
Possession is a serious crime in Florida, but possession with intent to sell is even more serious. There are no exceptions to this law, and if you are caught, you should expect to be treated severely.
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Definition and Penalties in St. Petersburg
Under Florida Statute 893.13, “a person may not sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance,” such as heroin, cocaine.
If you are found to be breaking these laws, you will be looking down the barrel of a second-degree or third-degree felony charge.
The classification will depend on the substance involved in the charges. Drugs like steroids are treated slightly less seriously than drugs like heroin and cocaine, which are both second-degree felony drugs.
For the prosecution to prove that you intended to sell, manufacture, or deliver, they will have to establish three different factors:
- The offender was in possession of a certain substance with the intention of selling, manufacturing, or delivering without a doubt.
- The offender possessed one of the substances that are listed in Florida Statute 893.03.
- The offender was fully aware of the illegal nature of the controlled substance.
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Proving Possession With Intent to Sell in St. Petersburg
Usually, in possession charges, it is clear that the individual did not have the motive to sell, deliver, or manufacture the substance.
Often the prosecutor will try to raise the stakes and elevate a possession charge to an “intent to sell” charge when the individual had no intention to do so. For this to fly, they will need to prove the following.
- There were large amounts of cash at the location that the drugs were found.
- There were bags or other tools used to help with the sale of drugs.
- There were weapons found at the location.
- There was an admission by either the individual or others involved.
Defenses to Drug Crime in St. Petersburg
Your skilled criminal defense attorney should have a good idea of what path and defense they will take after getting the details of your case during your free consultation.
You might be able to argue that you were not in close proximity to the drugs in question. For example, living in the same building does not give the prosecution the right to declare you were in control of the drugs.
Florida Statute 893.21 also declares that any individual trying to save another individual who might die from a fatal overdose of the drug in question cannot be prosecuted. A Florida law firm or lawyer will be able to explain this and potentially save you from any unjust charges.
Penalties for “Intent to Sell” Charges St. Petersburg Florida
According to the statutes, these are the two forms of punishment you might face if you attempt to sell a controlled drug:
- If an individual is caught in possession and making a sale of drugs, then they will be facing charges of a third-degree felony, which will result in a fine of up to $5,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years.
- If an individual is caught in possession and making a sale of drugs, then they will be facing charges of a second-degree misdemeanor, which will result in a fine of up to $500 and possible prison time of up to sixty days.
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Facing drug charges can be extremely scary. Unfortunately, Florida likes to really throw the book at drug offenders, so prosecutors will likely be looking to impose maximum sentences onto anyone who has been charged.
The best chance you will have of avoiding these extreme punishments is to seek a skilled lawyer from a reputable law firm who will be able to guide you through all of the complexities surrounding drug charges in Florida.
Here at The Law Place, we have over 75 years of combined experience. We have fought from both sides of the courtroom, and this gives us an incredible wealth of knowledge that allows us to aggressively fight your charges. We will know exactly how to approach your individual case and will be able to organize a defense that will give you the best possible chance of having your charges dropped or reduced.
We treat every single case with the same attention to detail and enthusiasm. Your case is extremely important to us, and we won’t rest until we have done everything we can to ensure that you are treated fairly. We know everyone makes mistakes, and we don’t want to see anyone receive a mark on their record that could potentially affect the rest of their life.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 for a free consultation, and we will fight your drug charges together.
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