In Venice, Florida, drug crimes are taken extremely seriously. If you are caught in possession of controlled substances and are believed to have the intent to sell them, you could be facing a first-degree or third-degree felony. In this case, you could be charged with up to 30 years in prison and receive hefty fines to go along with the charge. If you or a loved one have been accused of a drug-related crime, the best thing you can possibly do is hire a criminal defense lawyer to look over your case. This will hopefully minimize the penalties you incur, protecting you and your family’s livelihoods.
The Law Place, Venice, FL., is a law firm that has years of experience when dealing with drug crime-related cases. This includes drug possession, controlled substance possession with intent to sell, or intent to distribute. We know the ins and outs of these types of cases and will work hard to make sure you receive the minimum penalties possible.
Our criminal defense attorney team will work with you closely, watching over your case and making sure that you don’t get the maximum penalties for your case. If possible, we will aim to get your charges dismissed completely. So please contact us today for a free consultation. Our phone lines are open 24/7.
Contact us at (941) 444-4444.
Florida Statutes on Intent to sell
According to Florida Statute 893.13, the controlled substance in your possession and how much you have on your person will affect how you might be charged.
In most cases, you will be facing a first, second, or third-degree felony, with first-degree felonies being the most serious crime committed. Here are what you could face for each felony.
- First-degree felony – Usually punishable with 30-years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- Second-degree felony – Can have a prison sentence of up to 15 years with a $10,000 fine.
- Third-degree felony – A maximum of 5 years prison time with a possible fine of up to $5,000.
It is against the law to sell, manufacture, and deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance. If you have been charged with possession with intent to sell, you need to contact a professional criminal defense attorney today. The Law Place has a great team of experienced criminal defense lawyers who can help you minimize the penalties for your charges. The Florida law system is tricky to navigate alone, and having a lawyer by your side will make your case undoubtedly easier. So, call today!
Different Charges for Controlled Substance Possession
There are many different categories of drug crime that your charge could be divided into:
- Selling a controlled substance.
- Trafficking a controlled substance.
- Manufacturing any controlled substance.
- Possession of any controlled substance.
- Possession of drug paraphernalia. This includes anything used for storing, manufacturing, producing, selling, hiding, growing, or transporting a controlled substance.
Although the amount of drug crime charges don’t all fit into this list, it shows the number of possible crimes that can be committed involving drugs. This is why it’s essential if you’ve been charged with any of the above crimes that you contact The Law Place today for a free consultation, especially if you are unsure which specific crime you are being charged with. Hire a criminal defense attorney today to help with your case.
Drug Schedules in Venice, FL.
When it comes to drug possession and drug crime, Florida separates controlled substances into five schedules. This is to categorize the addictiveness of the substance and the danger it may present to the people supplying, buying, and using it. Schedule One contains the drugs that are most harmful to the user. Whereas Schedule Five contains the less dangerous drugs.
Schedule I
Schedule One refers to the most dangerous drugs as they are considered to have the highest likelihood of abuse and be the most addictive. They have no approved use in the medical field and, as such, only exist as illegal substances. They carry severe consequences for possession, and if you have been charged with intent to sell these substances, you will be looking at a first-degree felony charge. Schedule One listed drugs include meth, crack, heroin, and LSD. All of these drugs are highly addictive and carry severe physical consequences if taken for a long time.
Schedule II
Schedule Two drugs include Oxycodone, Adderall, Dexedrine, Hydromorphone, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Methadone, Morphine, and Ritalin. All of these illegal drugs have a high risk of addiction and can be severely bad for your health as a user. However, in some cases, these drugs can be prescribed as they may have some medicinal benefits, depending on the case.
Schedule III
As we get lower in the list of scheduled drugs, we can see that the danger of each drug is lessening, the potential for addiction and abuse lowers, and as a result, the controlled substance is seen as less dangerous. Therefore, lesser charges are applied to Schedule Three and lower. The drugs listed in this schedule include ketamine and steroids. However, although these drugs are seen as less dangerous, you can still face serious consequences in court if you are charged with possession with intent to supply.
Schedule IV
Schedule Four drugs are less likely to be abused and have a lesser chance of harming the user. These include Xanax, Valium, Tramadol, Darvon, Talwin, and Ativan.
Schedule V
Finally, we have Schedule Five, which are the least dangerous drugs in the eye of the law and have the lowest potential to be abused. These include drugs such as cough syrup, Lyrica, Parapectolin, Motofen, and Lotomil.
If you have been charged with any drug-related crime, then please contact The Law Place for a free consultation today to receive advice from a team of lawyers who have experience with criminal defense. Whether it was a Schedule One drug you were charged with possession for or a Schedule Five, it’s essential that you help yourself by reaching out to a lawyer.
Possible Criminal Defense in Venice, FL.
A defense attorney is an essential asset when dealing with drug crimes. They will discuss the intricacies of the case and go through your entire case in detail. We have a lot of experience when it comes to drug crime and so know the ins and outs of Florida law. We will use this experience to build you a defense specific to your circumstances. Some ways that your attorney may argue your case are listed below:
- They will argue that the law enforcement officer who charged you was guilty of entrapment.
- Prove the illegal controlled substance wasn’t yours.
- They could suggest that the way the officers found the drugs were flawed or improper or that they didn’t follow protocol.
- They might argue that you were incorrectly identified and, as such, aren’t guilty.
- A defense attorney could prove that the police didn’t have a warrant to search and seize legally, and, as such, the case should be dismissed.
- The substance you were caught with was weighed incorrectly and is not enough for you to be charged with the sale of illegal drugs.
In any case, whether the list of defense strategies above helps you get minimal penalties or a tailored defense, a criminal defense attorney will be essential to helping you with your case. Call The Law Place today to find out more.
What Makes The Law Place Different?
With over 75 years combined experience, our lawyers at The Law Place make navigating the stressful Florida law system a breeze. The court system in Florida is no easy task for anyone to deal with, and it will create unnecessary stress for you and your family, especially when dealing with something as severe as a drug crime. Our lawyers know how the laws vary around drug possession in Venice, FL. It’s not an easy process for anyone. No matter what charge you may be facing, whether you’re looking down the barrel of a 30-year imprisonment charge or a 5-year one, we will be here. We promise to be by your side for the entirety of the case, and we will put in the work to make sure your case ends with the most positive outcome.
Drug-related cases have the potential to ruin families, break apart loved ones and even worse, take away 30 years of your life in prison. We want to avoid this at all costs, and we’re sure that you do too. So please contact The Law Place today for a free consultation and book in with one of our criminal defense attorneys.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you or a loved one finds yourself in the position of being charged with drug possession, drug manufacturing, or intent to supply, then it’s essential you find yourself a capable criminal defense attorney that can help find the best steps for you moving forward. Drug-related cases are extremely serious. They have a lot of potential charges associated with them, and Florida judges will always push for the harshest penalties due to the nature of the cases.
This is why it’s so imperative to get the right lawyer. With The Law Place by your side, you might even be able to make your first-degree felony into a second-degree felony, or, better yet, we could get your charges dismissed completely, depending on the grounds of the case.
Our phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year, and we are waiting for your call, so what’s stopping you?
Contact us today at (941) 444-4444.