Drug Related Crimes
Narcotics
Criminal Defense
If you or a loved one has been arrested for narcotics, you will need aggressive and experienced representation to secure your rights. You need someone who is willing to fight for the best possible outcome. Contact Rick today to arrange a free consultation with an experienced Houston Criminal Defense Attorney.
HOUSTON LAWYER FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
There are no statutory penalties in Texas that specifically criminalize drug use. Instead, what is generally criminalized in Texas is drug possession. Drug possession is a statutorily defined term. In order to prove a person possessed drugs or contraband the state must prove you exercised “care, custody, control, and maintenance,” over the substance. There are a multitude of factors that must be analyzed to determine whether the state can prove the accusation.
Drug crimes in Houston are taken very seriously and the penalties associated with them can range from Class C misdemeanors all the way up to First Degree Felonies, depending upon the amount seized. Drug crimes can be charged as state or federal offenses. Convictions can lead to jail or prison time, a criminal record, drivers license suspension, and can dramatically impact your quality of life as far as gaining employment, finding housing, getting a home or school loan, becoming a professional, or being accepted to certain colleges or universities. Because all the cards are stacked against you after conviction of a drug crime it is essential to hire an experienced and tenacious criminal defense lawyer in Houston, TX before it is too late to prevent one.
If you have been accused of a drug crime in Houston, or any of the surrounding areas contact The Law Office of Rick Oliver Houston. Attorney Rick Oliver will take every measure needed to fight the allegations against you. Contact a Houston Criminal Lawyer to arrange a free consultation.
Phone: (713) 864-3700
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Generally, marijuana is considered to be an illegal recreational drug, known by many names including cannibus, hydro, chronic, weed, bud, Mary Jane, and innumerable others. A conviction for possession of marijuana can result in jail time, large fines, a drivers license suspension and a permanent criminal record. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you identify legal issues relating to the investigation and subsequent search and seizure that lead to your arrest that can potentially result in a dismissal or reduction of the charges against you. Contact The Law Office of Rick Oliver to see how we can assist you.
Penalties for Possession and/or Delivery of Marijuana
The penalties that can be assess for a person convicted of possession of marijuana are codified in the Texas Health & Safety Code. Those ranges are as follows
- Possession of paraphernalia – Class C misdemeanor (up to $500 fine)
- < 2 oz. – Class B misdemeanor (0 to 180 days in jail and fine of $2,000)
- 2 to 4 oz. – Class A misdemeanor (up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine)
- 4 oz and 5 pounds – State Jail Felony (180 days jail to 2 years in State Jail Facility and $10,000 fine)
- 5 to 50 lbs – 3rd degree felony (2-10 years in prison and fine of $10,000)
- 50 and 2,000 lbs – 2nd degree felony (2-20 years in prison and $10,000 fine)
- More than 2,000 pounds – 1st degree felony (5-99 years/Life and $50,000 fine)
Delivery of Marijuana
A person can be accused of being a “drug dealer” even if no money is exchanged for the drugs. Those “dealers” who are paid in exchange for drugs face much harsher penalties than those whose only desire is to smoke:
- Gift of ¼ oz or less – Class B misdemeanor (0 to 180 days in jail and $2,000 fine)
- Sale of ¼ oz of marijuana or less – Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and $4,000 fine)
- Sale of ¼ oz to 5 lbs – State Jail Felony (180 days to 2 years in State Jail Facility and $10,000 fine)
- Sale of 5 to 50 lbs – 2nd degree felony (2-20 years in prison and $10,000 fine)
- Sale of 50 to 2,000 lbs – 1st degree felony (5-99 years in prison and $10,000 fine)
- Sale of more than 2,000 lbs – 1st degree felony (10-99 years in prison and $100, 000 fine).
Texas classifies controlled dangerous substances into four penalty groups, ranging from highly addictive drugs to those that are considered less dangerous. Cocaine falls into the most severe penalty group, since in its narcotic scheduling, it has no medical value and has a high risk of abuse.
Cocaine possession carries severe penalties, including lengthy jail time and large fines. If you have been arrested for or are facing charges related to cocaine possession, your future and freedom are at risk.
Let an experienced Houston criminal defense attorney at Rick Oliver Law Firm fight for you as a defendant. Rick Oliver has a proven track record, which proves his ability to handle even the most complex cases.
He will dig into how police have put together evidence and handled your case. He’ll look for any mistakes they may have made, to be sure you are defended to the highest degree.
What are the penalties for Cocaine Possession in Houston, Texas?
Texas delivers serious penalties for drug crimes, and some of the harshest sentencing is given in cocaine related criminal cases.
Penalties for less than 1 Gram of Cocaine:
- 180 days in jail or up to two years in prison
- Fines of up to $10,000
Penalties for 1, 2, 3, or less than 4 grams of Cocaine:
- Prison time lasting from two to ten years
- Fines up to $10,000
Penalties for 4 – 200 grams of Cocaine:
- $10,000 in fines
- Two to 20 years in prison
Penalties for 200 – 400+ grams of Cocaine:
- Increased fines up to $100,000
- Anywhere from five to 99 years in prison
If your cocaine related charges involve drug trafficking, your penalties can increase exponentially depending on the amount of the drug involved and where the trafficking took place, among other factors.
Rick Oliver Law Firm
Rick was licensed to practice law in the state of Texas in 2007 and began his solo practice on June 1, 2008. Rick did not come from a family of wealth or of lawyers. When he started, he did not know a single attorney–let alone a criminal defense attorney–in the City of Houston. He built the foundation of a successful practice with little more than a code book and a can-do attitude.
Why Choose Our Firm
Because Competence Means Freedom
Experience
In 2016, less than seven years after becoming licensed, Rick was certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in his practice area of Criminal Law. His practice is almost entirely dedicated to criminal trial and appellate law. He writes extensively and has been published in various forums across the state.
Credentials
Out of 70,000 attorneys in the State of Texas, less than 7,000 are board certified. The Texas Bar has estimated that only 10 percent of all Texas Bar members achieve this important distinction. But, lawyers can seek board certification in a number of different practice areas. As of 2016, there were only 842 lawyers IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS who are Board Certified in Criminal Law.
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All initial consultations are risk-free and at no cost to you. It is recommended that Rick give your case a second look, so that you know all the options available.
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