Texas residents can benefit substantially from consulting with a criminal defense lawyer before their misdemeanor arraignment. An attorney can help you understand the potential penalties you are facing, other long-term consequences, and which defenses may be available. It is especially important to consider the issue of defenses – it may be possible to have the case dismissed due to search and seizure issues or you may be able to defend the case in other ways. By consulting with a lawyer you help to ensure that all of your options are kept open.
In addition to Georgetown, we service the surrounding communities of Austin, Bartlett, Cedar Park, Florence, Granger, Hutto, Jarrell, Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Taylor, Thrall, and Weir.
This is the next post in our series on the handling of Texas misdemeanor charges. Our last post discussed the mistake of thinking that misdemeanor charges are “no big deal.†This article will focus on why it is important to hire an attorney when one is facing misdemeanor drug allegations. Our Georgetown lawyers regularly see residents who do not recognize the gravity of their situation and, as a result, damage their future with a conviction. If you are facing narcotics charges then it is crucial that you immediately discuss your situation with an attorney.
It can be easy for a Williamson County, Texas resident to not understand the gravity of a misdemeanor drug charge. At a time when marijuana is being legalized in states such as Colorado, one may arrive at the understanding that narcotics charges are not the serious offense which they once were. This misunderstanding is compounded by the fact that portrayal of drug use in media, such as movies, has become far more common in recent years.
The truth of the matter is that drug use remains a crime in Texas and criminal penalties will be levied for even small narcotics offenses. Examples of such cases include charges for possession of marijuana, cases involving possession of prescription drugs, and others. A conviction can result in criminal penalties, fines, and disqualification from Federal student aid programs. These are just some of the consequences one may face and it is important that one facing such charges contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately.
There are several ways in which a criminal defense lawyer can assist Texas residents in dealing with misdemeanor drug charges. The initial consultation will be used to gain an understanding of your arrest. A common issue in drug cases if for the police to have violated one’s rights against an unreasonable search and seizure. If this is the case then your attorney can file a Motion to Suppress any illegally seized evidence. If this Motion is successful then the case will likely be dismissed as the police would not be able to admit evidence of the drugs in Court.
Defense counsel can also assist you in understanding the ramifications of the charge as well as whether there may be an option for a plea agreement. Do not wait until the last minute to schedule a consultation. Call our lawyers today. In addition to Georgetown, we service the surrounding communities of Austin, Bartlett, Cedar Park, Florence, Granger, Hutto, Jarrell, Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Taylor, Thrall, and Weir.
