Drug Crimes
ARIZONA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Drug Crime Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ
In Arizona, it is illegal to sell, manufacture, use, or possess dangerous drugs without a valid prescription. If you have been charged with a drug crime by law enforcement, chances are you will need a defense lawyer to help build a case against the prosecution’s drug charges.
Without an attorney for proper representation, you risk receiving maximum punishments for your crimes, which could potentially result in prison and multiple assessment fees and fines. The jail time you receive will depend on what type of drug you were charged with, whether or not you had the intent to distribute, and whether or not you have prior convictions.
By choosing to hire a drug crimes lawyer, you will have legal counsel to help you build a solid defense for your case. If you were arrested and placed in jail, your attorney would also be able to help you with the possibility of lowering your bail, depending upon the severity of your crimes.
Attorney Michael Alarid has effectively represented numerous clients facing harsh penalties for drug crimes. He possesses the knowledge and experience required to build a rock-solid defense. Speak with the Law Office of Michael Alarid today to begin the process of protecting your freedom.
Below you will find a brief list of 10 different drug charges you can receive in the state of Arizona:
- Drug Use: It is a class 4 felony to use a controlled substance in AZ that is not marijuana ARS 13-3407
- Possession of Drugs: Possession of scheduled drugs can range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending upon the drug you possess, as well as the amount you are found with upon arrest.
- Distribution of Drugs: When it comes to this specific drug crime in Arizona, your charge will depend on whether or not you were distributing narcotics, prescription drugs, or dangerous drugs. If you are charged with the distribution of dangerous drugs into the state, you will likely be facing felony charges.
- Drug Trafficking: If you are caught by law enforcement crossing the border of Arizona with illegal substances, you can be charged with drug trafficking, which will result in needing an attorney to minimize your incarceration time.
- Importation of Drugs: Drug importation in AZ is considered severe and can result in multiple years of prison.
- Possession of Drugs with Intent to Sell: Under Arizona laws, you can be charged with possession with intent to sell if you possess over 1 gram of heroin, 4 grams of PCP, 9 grams of methamphetamines, or two pounds of marijuana.
- Manufacturing of Dangerous Drugs: Manufacturing drugs is a serious crime and can result in maximum sentencing if your charges are aggravated. This charge is based on whether it is unbranded drugs, prescription drugs, dangerous drugs, or marijuana that is being manufactured.
- Cultivation of Drugs: In ARS13-3405 (A)(3), it is stated that cultivating marijuana is considered a class 5 felony. Any felony conviction can carry a mandatory prison sentence for an individual arrest on the offense.
- Transportation of Drugs: Transporting illegal drugs from one place to another is a felony offense that could also be paired with a drug distribution charge, which is why a trial attorney is imperative.
- Drug Smuggling:
Smuggling from Mexico to Arizona has become common and can result in felony and/or federal charges for the individual caught by law enforcement.
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Drug Crimes in Arizona
Possible Defenses for You and Your Drug Crimes Lawyer
After hiring a trial attorney, you can start to explore your options with various drug defenses related to your case against the state of Arizona. One particularly common defense practice is known as a procedural defense. In this situation, your attorney will need to prove that the officer on the scene of your arrest had violated your constitutional rights while searching you, your vehicle, or your personal property. To prove this, they will need all police reports, bodycam footage, radio traffic, and other evidence from your arrest, including pretrial interviews of the officers and witnesses.
Another defense that can be used is called entrapment. Entrapment is where an officer had asked you specifically to commit the crime or placed the idea in your head to commit the drug offense you are being charged with. In order to use this defense, you must fully admit to the charge and the crime you had committed on that specific date and time for your attorney to proceed with the entrapment.
If the police used a confidential informant to aid in your arrest, your defense lawyer could build a case on the informant's credibility. To move forward with this defense, your attorney will need to collect evidence on the informant that proves that they are unreliable. This can be done by reading through police reports submitted by the department on that individual, which shows any questionable remarks on their criminal record.
Why is it Important to Hire a Defense Attorney for Your Drug Charge in Arizona?
When you have committed drug crimes in the state of Arizona, you will need a defense lawyer to help build your case. Your lawyer will be able to read through your case and quickly spot any questionable actions of the officer on duty, as well as any inconsistent remarks made by witnesses. By doing so, you could potentially get your charges dropped, or your sentence minimized.
All you need to do is contact a defense lawyer for a consultation on your case to start your path toward building a solid defense. They will be able to help you find the best drug crime defense strategy for your situation while working with the prosecution on a possible plea deal if necessary.
Just by having a skilled attorney defending your rights, such as Michael Alarid, your chances of facing severe penalties are significantly reduced. Your charges could possibly be dismissed altogether. Call The Law Office of Michael Alarid at (602) 818-3110.
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Get Help from an Experienced Drug Crimes Lawyer
If you are facing a charge of possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to sell them, you should talk to an experienced drug crimes lawyer as soon as possible. The penalties for this offense are severe. Working with an experienced criminal defense lawyer at the Law Office of Michael Alarid might help you to achieve a better outcome in your case. Call us today to request a consultation at (602) 818-3110.
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