Erie Drug Crimes Lawyer

In Erie, Pennsylvania, there are many different types of drug-related cases. Dealing with drug charges in Erie can easily become complex and overwhelming. A knowledgeable lawyer can help discuss the charges you face and help challenge the allegations against you. Consulting an Erie, PA drug crimes lawyer is a critical first step for building a solid defense case.

With over 50 years of combined legal experience with criminal defense matters, The Levenson Law Firm can discuss all available options for resolving your case and answer any important legal questions you may have. We can investigate your situation and work diligently to poke holes in the prosecution’s evidence. Contact our office to schedule an initial consultation with our team and learn more.

Drug Crime Charges in Erie, PA

Pennsylvania’s drug-related criminal charges require a strong defense and a conviction for a drug-related charge can have serious, long-term consequences. The charges you face and your unique background typically determine the possible consequences you might face if you are formally convicted of a drug-related crime.

In our state, the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act addresses a variety of drug-related offenses. As a result, it is often unlawful to possess a misbranded or adulterated controlled substance, a fraudulently obtained controlled substance, an illegal drug, or a controlled substance obtained without a valid prescription.

If convicted, individuals may face a variety of consequences for a drug possession offense, which typically depends on the drug involved, the amount of the drug someone possesses, and whether they have a prior criminal history.

Generally, possession under 40 grams of marijuana is typically a misdemeanor with up to 30 days in jail and/or a monetary fine of up to $500. Possession of a narcotic can result in serious felony charges with fines of up to $250,000. Any drug-related charge can have a severe long-term impact on your life and personal freedoms.

As a result, it is important to consider consulting an attorney to discuss the drug charges you face in order to help minimize the impact of a conviction or to avoid the conviction entirely.

Factors Often Resulting in More Substantial Consequences in Erie

The consequences for drug crimes increase when the case involves:

• Drug distribution or trafficking. If you are found with large amounts of illegal/controlled substances, it could appear like you intend to distribute, traffic, or otherwise profit from the sale of illegal drugs.
• Drug cultivation and manufacturing. From the perspective of the police, cultivating and/or manufacturing illegal drugs is often a necessary step in the process of drug distribution or trafficking, and this can impact your penalties if convicted.

Under Pennsylvania law, these crimes are typically felonies that can result in 15 years of prison time, up to $250,000 in fines, or both.

Also, some penalties may be more severe because of the specific type of drugs involved in the case. If someone is found with dangerous opioids, that could result in more serious penalties than possessing something like cannabis.

If you need help building a case to reduce the severity of charges against you or to avoid a conviction altogether, it is important to speak with a competent drug crime lawyer to discuss your specific situation. An experienced attorney can further discuss possible consequences and any potential defenses that may be available to help your case.

Potential Available Defenses

Experienced defense attorneys commonly use legal defenses to poke holes in the prosecution’s case. Some defenses that might help your specific situation can include:

• Demonstrating the police participated in an illegal search and seizure in order to discover the drugs allegedly found, and if your attorney can show your constitutional protections were violated, it can affect your case outcome positively.
• Providing evidence you had a valid prescription for the drug in your possession.
• Arguing that you didn’t intend to possess the illegal substance, and without having the intent required for the specific drug charge you face, it is unlikely the prosecution can prove their case.
• Showing the drug never actually belonged to you.
• Providing evidence that you had a prescription for the drug, did not intend to possess the substance, or that the drug never belonged to you.
• Contesting evidence by showing that errors in the testing process to verify the drugs could call the evidence/results into doubt.
• Arguing chain of custody issues to show the police failed to secure relevant evidence, which could ultimately play out in your favor.
• Showing government evidence is inadmissible to help challenge the government evidence to be used against you.

An attorney can further explain these defenses and help you consider the impact of raising a defense in your unique case. A Pennsylvania-licensed defense attorney can investigate your case and provide substantial information to help you decide what defense strategy is right for your situation.

It can be difficult to build a strong criminal defense case and bring up your own legal defenses. Attorneys often see individuals make costly mistakes when handling their own criminal defense for drug-related charges. An attorney can help you avoid making these common mistakes made by people trying to defend themselves.

Drug-Related Crime Statistics in Erie

With drug-related charges in Erie, there’s so much at stake if you are convicted. In 2023, the number of individuals admitted into the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections was 12,229 inmates.

Statewide, 1,252 or 18.5% of the new inmates were convicted for narcotic drug law charges with an average minimum sentence length of 3.7 years. For the most recent available data set, 39.7 percent of Pennsylvania’s federal sentences were for primary drug-related offenses.

For Erie, 2023 saw 247 new state prisoners (226 males and 21 females), and lately, Northwest Pennsylvania is now known as “the meth capital of Pennsylvania.” Police officers are attempting to remove this drug from Erie County, and officers are cracking down on drug-related crime in our area. With this data in mind, drug-related crime remains a major concern in Pennsylvania, and officers are on the lookout for criminal offenders.

If you need help with any charges for a drug-related violation, an attorney can help ensure your rights are protected after the drug-related arrest. Although recent data shows that law enforcement wants to rid Erie of drug-related situations, an attorney can make sure police follow the law and aren’t overzealous when trying to track down drug-related crimes.

How A Pennsylvania Drug Offense Attorney Can Help

It is important that you do not speak with law enforcement after an arrest for a drug-related allegation. This includes making sure you do not post anything about your situation on your social media – even if you believe your profile is set to private. Basically, anything you share can potentially negatively impact your defense case.

An attorney can discuss your situation and provide invaluable, reliable legal assistance. An Erie attorney can:

• Use their in-depth knowledge of Pennsylvania criminal laws to help your case
• Rely on their experience handling cases just like yours to determine what strategy may work effectively in your case
• Empower your own defense by keeping you informed about case updates
• Discuss potential legal strategies
• Discover weaknesses in the government’s case
• Help navigate the legal system
• Help establish your alibi information
• Protect your legal rights and interests throughout the case, and help explain the long-term consequences of choosing any method of resolving your charges
• Negotiate a plea deal (when possible) since many defense attorneys have professional relationships with judges and prosecutors that can help benefit your situation
• Positively influence sentencing to show why you deserve lesser sentencing if it’s not possible to avoid a conviction
• Help discuss the terms of your consequences and help you avoid violating any terms of your sentencing
• Provide substantial emotional support throughout the criminal defense process

A solid defense takes time, and the sooner an attorney starts working on your defense case, the better. Schedule an initial consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney right away. They can help handle even the most complicated cases. With so much at stake in your future, an attorney can offer reliable legal guidance and compassionate representation.

FAQs

Q: How Can I Diligently Protect My Legal Rights for an Erie Drug-Related Charge?

A: If you are facing serious charges for a drug-related charge in Erie, you have certain legal rights. You have the right to have the prosecution prove the charges it brings, have a merit-based trial, bring defense witnesses to your trial, testify yourself, and retain an attorney to present your case.

It is crucial to protect your legal rights against drug-related charges. As soon as you retain an experienced Erie lawyer, they can start to build a strong defense case.

Q: What Type of Attorney Should I Hire to Help With My Drug Crimes Case?

A: The type of attorney you should consider hiring to help with a drug crime case is an attorney familiar with drug crime cases. They are familiar with the specific nuances of drug crime laws in Pennsylvania.

An attorney can fight aggressively for your case and the most positive possible outcome. They can help explain the charges you face and explain legal strategies so you can make informed decisions about your case. The Levenson Law Firm has vast experience defending drug crimes and can help you with your case.

Q: What Is the Deadline for Drug-Related Crimes in Erie?

A: In Erie, you may be charged with a drug-related crime no later than five years after the alleged crime was committed. Thus, the statute of limitations to begin prosecution for many drug-related crimes is five years. Regardless of the drug charges you are facing, it is important to contact a trusted Erie drug crime defense lawyer right away.

Q: Do First-Time Offenders Face Any Jail Time for Drug-Crime Convictions in Erie?

A: For first-time offenders in Erie convicted of drug-related crimes, the consequences someone may face typically vary. These consequences usually depend on several factors, like the type of drug involved, the amount of the drug involved, and any prior criminal history of the accused.

Since each case may need a different strategy, contact a trusted Erie lawyer to discuss your unique situation and discuss the potential penalties you might face as a first-time offender if you are convicted.

Q: Where Can I Get Help in Erie for a Drug or Alcohol Prevention Program?

A: In addition to helping with various legal issues, an experienced attorney can provide resources for people wanting information about a drug or alcohol prevention program.

Locally, you can contact the Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse at 240 West 11th Street, Suite B-050, Erie, PA 16501, and their number is (814) 451-6877. This agency administers alcohol and drug programs, plus they can provide further information and resources. Regardless of their ability to pay, no one is denied services.

Contact The Levenson Law Firm Today

Regardless of the charges, if you or a loved one needs help with a drug-related crime charge, a solid defense is critical. With The Levenson Law Firm by your side, you will have help protecting your rights and working toward the most positive possible case outcome.

Our law firm is conveniently located in the Shadyside neighborhood, close to East Liberty. Right by local hotspots like SoFresh and Choolaah, you can find us near arterial roads like Centre Avenue, Baum Boulevard, and Penn Avenue for local travel, with I-376 and I-579 accessible within a short drive. We have plenty of available parking for clients.

It is vital that you contact a trusted attorney right away so they can begin building your defense case. Delaying that call could seriously impact your future. The Levenson Law Firm understands the urgency of criminal cases, and we can help as soon as possible.

Contact our firm today to schedule an initial consultation. We can fight for your legal rights and protect your future. Our seasoned legal team is dedicated to being there for our clients when they need it most.