Houston Drug Crimes Attorney

Even without a prior criminal record, facing drug crime charges in Texas can lead to severe repercussions. A traffic stop or police search of your car, house, or person can quickly escalate into allegations of controlled substances, prescription medications, or drug distribution charges. Our Houston drug crimes attorney at Haddad & Timmons PLLC knows how stressful these types of accusations can be.

About Haddad & Timmons PLLC

Haddad & Timmons PLLC advocates for those across Houston facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges, including serious drug crimes. Our attorneys are former prosecutors and accomplished trial lawyers who know how drug investigations are conducted and prosecuted.

Drug crime charges can raise numerous legal issues related to search and seizure, traffic stops, confidential informants, and forensic evidence. We understand police reports are only one side of the story, and many cases raise constitutional issues related to the collection of evidence.

We treat every client with dignity and respect while advocating fiercely on your behalf in court. From possession charges to drug trafficking crimes, everyone deserves to have the evidence reviewed and to be treated fairly. Most drug crime prosecutions in Houston take place at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. Felony and misdemeanor drug crime cases are filed here on a daily basis.

If Things Go Bad, Call Haddad & Timmons.

Former Prosecutors. Proven Defenders. Fighting for Your Future.

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Drug Crime Laws in Texas

According to reports made to the United States Sentencing Commission, 16.7% of arrests in Texas were due to drug crimes. This was lower than the national percentage, which was 29.6%. Out of 16,512 cases that were reported to the Commission, 2,754 were for drugs. Texas has stringent controlled substance laws. From minor drug offenses to serious trafficking crimes, you could face jail time or probation if charged.

Texas law prohibits the illegal possession or use of controlled substances. Many of the state’s drug crime statutes can be found in the Texas Health and Safety Code, specifically Chapter 481, also known as the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Under this chapter, controlled substances are broken up into penalty groups.

Drugs are then further categorized by potential punishment depending on the drug type, weight, and circumstances of the arrest. Common drug charges are listed below:

• Controlled substance possession
• Possession with intent to sell
• Drug manufacturing
• Prescription fraud
• Marijuana charges
• Drug trafficking

The amount of the alleged drug you are accused of possessing determines the severity of your charge. Under some circumstances, you can be charged with a felony for small amounts of drugs. Prosecutors often rely on circumstantial evidence to show intent to distribute. Drug packaging bags, cash, scales, cell phones, and multiple containers may be used as evidence.

Common Drug Crime Cases

Drug crimes can happen to anyone in Houston and are often charged in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways Houston residents are charged with drug crimes is through traffic stops. During traffic stops, police may claim to smell marijuana, see evidence of drugs in plain view, or discover drugs during a search of your vehicle. However, not all drug cases begin with a traffic stop.

Law enforcement may also investigate drug crimes based on search warrants of homes, apartments, and businesses. Drug crimes may also be investigated through the use of confidential informants, undercover officers, and surveillance.

If you are arrested after drugs are found in a vehicle you were driving with other passengers or in a house you share with roommates, you could be charged with a drug crime even if the drugs were not yours. In these types of cases, there could be a dispute over who possessed or owned the drugs.

Drug crimes can also involve prescription medication. Whether the crime involves possessing prescriptions that were not prescribed to you, altering a prescription, or selling prescription drugs, you should speak with a Houston drug crimes lawyer.

Drug Crime Penalties in Texas

Drug crimes in Texas can result in misdemeanor penalties or prison sentences. Some of the penalties you could face are listed below:

• Jail or prison
• Large fines
• Probation
• Driver’s license suspension
• Forfeiture of assets
• Drug rehab programs
• Criminal record

A felony drug conviction can also impact your future job prospects, financial aid, renting an apartment, your right to own a firearm, and immigration status if you are not a United States citizen.

Texas prosecutors can seek enhanced or increased penalties if you are accused of possessing large amounts of drugs, possession of a firearm, being in a drug-free zone, or having previous criminal convictions. Police may also seek to take your car or property through civil forfeiture if they believe the property was associated with a drug crime.

Search and Seizure Issues in Drug Cases

The Constitution plays a large role in many drug crime defenses. Under the Fourth Amendment, you have rights against unlawful searches and seizures. If police perform an unlawful search of your home, car, or person, the evidence collected may be challenged in court. Drug arrests often stem from traffic stops or police encounters. It is not uncommon for these situations to later question whether the police had probable cause to search your belongings.

Search warrants used to gather evidence against you could also become an issue. The court may question various types of evidence, such as the conduct of the police. Drug searches can also occur when you give the police consent to search. It is not uncommon for defendants to later claim that they did not know they could refuse the search or did not understand their rights.

Drug investigations typically rely on physical evidence. If your constitutional rights were violated, this can greatly impact your case.

Hire a Drug Crimes Attorney with Experience in Houston

If you are searching the web for how to hire a drug crimes attorney, you may be feeling unsure about what the future holds and what can happen in your case. Drug charges can affect your job, finances, education, and relationships with family members.

Drug cases are often much more complicated than the presence of drugs at the scene. Many prosecutors working for the Harris County District Clerk’s Office use police officers’ testimonies, lab results, searches, and digital evidence to help prove their case.

When you choose to hire a drug crimes attorney, you can rest knowing we can protect your future. We examine every stage of the investigation and evidence collection. We are familiar with the courts at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center on Franklin Street in Houston, where DWI cases are heard. This can be an added asset to your case.

If you have been charged with a drug crime, Haddad & Timmons PLLC can help you in the legal process. Contact us today for more information.