Richardson Drug Crimes Lawyers

Texas has some of the toughest drug laws in the country. When police perform searches while investigating people for drug crimes, a small bag of pills found in a backpack, a vape cartridge found in a vehicle, or a scale on a kitchen counter could lead to serious charges that may carry years in prison. The ways police officers conduct searches may affect how a case may be handled and the options for defense that may be available.

The attorneys at Texas Defense Firm can defend people accused of drug offenses at every level, from simple drug possession to large-scale drug manufacturing or drug trafficking allegations. Our team knows how prosecutors build drug cases, and we know where those cases tend to break down. We will investigate cases closely, highlight unlawful conduct by police officers, and fight for outcomes that will protect our clients' freedom.

How Police Searches Can Lead to Drug Arrests

The Fourth Amendment requires police to have a legal justification before searching a person, their car, or their home. They will usually need to obtain search warrants, but they may argue that there were exceptions that allowed searches to be performed in certain situations. Our lawyers can help clients address drug charges related to:

Vehicle Searches

In many cases, drug arrests in Richardson start with traffic stops. An officer may claim that they smelled marijuana in a vehicle, saw drug paraphernalia in plain view, or received consent to perform a search. Our attorneys can challenge searches that were conducted illegally and prevent evidence obtained from being used against our clients.

Home Searches

Police generally need a warrant signed by a judge before they can search a person's home. Our lawyers can review the sworn affidavits behind warrants. If a search warrant was based on outdated information, an unreliable informant, or false statements, we may argue that the search was invalid.

Consent Searches

Officers may ask a person, "Do you mind if I take a look?" as a pretext to search a vehicle or other property. People may agree to these requests because they feel they have no choice. However, consent to a search must be voluntary. If a person was pressured, threatened, or never truly agreed to a search, our team may argue that the consent was not valid.

Proving Actual Possession of Drugs

Even if an officer finds drugs, this does not necessarily prove that they belonged to a specific person. Possession generally involves actual control of drugs. When drugs are found in a shared apartment or a car with several passengers, our lawyers may argue that a person had no knowledge or control over the drugs and should not be convicted of drug possession.

When Drug Possession Becomes Possession With Intent to Deliver

In some cases, law enforcement officials and prosecutors may argue that a person did not possess drugs solely for their personal use and that they intended to sell or distribute the drugs to other people. In these cases, a person may face the same penalties as they would for charges involving drug distribution.

Prosecutors may try to prove an intent to distribute through circumstantial evidence, such as large quantities of a substance, drugs divided into small baggies, or the presence of digital scales or large amounts of cash. None of these facts automatically proves a person's intent. Our lawyers can address these accusations and argue that drugs were intended for personal use or that cash came from other sources.

Drug Manufacturing Charges

Charges related to manufacturing controlled substances may cover far more than running a laboratory. They may apply in cases where someone has been accused of producing, compounding, or processing drugs. Packaging or relabeling drugs may also qualify as drug manufacturing. In general, the penalties for drug manufacturing are the same as would apply for drug delivery.

Manufacturing cases in North Texas may involve methamphetamine labs, pill presses used to make tablets that may contain fentanyl, or the extraction of THC oils from marijuana. The possession or transportation of certain chemicals used to manufacture drugs, such as pseudoephedrine or anhydrous ammonia, can also lead to drug manufacturing charges.

These cases will often depend on the chemical analysis of drugs found by police and the testimony of police informants. Our attorneys can look at how evidence was collected and tested, whether the chemicals found could actually produce drugs, and whether an informant had reasons to lie. We will work to prevent convictions whenever possible or determine whether charges and penalties can be reduced.

Contact Our Richardson, TX Drug Crimes Attorneys

Drug charges may range from state jail felonies to more serious felonies that could result in sentences of life in prison. The penalties are likely to be harsher in cases involving the intent to deliver drugs or drug manufacturing. At Texas Defense Firm, our attorneys can challenge the searches performed by police officers or determine whether other defense strategies may be effective. To learn how we can help defend against these charges, contact our Richardson, Texas drug crimes defense lawyers at 972-369-0577 and arrange a free consultation.