Rockville Drug Crime Lawyer

Charged with a Drug Crime? Our Rockville Attorney can Help

If you have been charged or are under investigation for criminal activity involving drugs, consider contacting a skilled drug crime lawyer Rockville MD residents trust. Attorney Daniel J. Wright has successfully advocated for the rights of defendants for almost four decades. He can use all available resources to reach the best possible legal outcome for your situation.

In Maryland, people who have been convicted of drug crimes make up almost 20 percent of the state’s prison population. Our state is known for having some of the harshest drug laws on the books. This is why it is critical for someone who has been charged with a drug crime to retain the services of a seasoned drug crime lawyer in Rockville MD to protect their rights against prosecutors and law enforcement whose only goal is to obtain a conviction – regardless of the circumstances.

Criminal Classifications for Drugs

Under Maryland law, there are five different classifications for controlled drug substances (CDS). Each classification has its own set of sentencing guidelines based on whether a person is found guilty of possessing, manufacturing, or selling. Our Rockville MD drug crime lawyer has provided drug classification and potential sentences as follows:

Class I: CDS in this category includes heroin.

• A first offense conviction carries up to 20 years in prison and/or up to a $25,000 fine.

• A second conviction carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

• A third conviction carries a minimum of 25 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

• A fourth conviction carries a minimum of 40 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

Class II: Rockville MD drug crime lawyer shares that CDS in this category include cocaine, oxycodone, and methamphetamine.

• A first offense conviction carries up to 20 years in prison and/or up to a $25,000 fine.

• A second conviction carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

• A third conviction carries a minimum of 25 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

• A fourth conviction carries a minimum of 40 years in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine.

Class III: A Rockville MD drug crime lawyer shares that CDS in this category include ketamine and steroids.

• A first offense conviction carries up to five years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine.

• A second and subsequent conviction carries a mandatory two years in prison, up to five years, and/or up to $15,000 fine.

Class IV: CDS in this category include Xanax and Valium.

• A first offense conviction carries up to five years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine.

• A second and subsequent conviction carries a mandatory two years in prison, up to five years, and/or up to $15,000 fine.

Class V: Rockville MD drug crime lawyer wants you to know that CDS in this category include cough medicine containing codeine.

• A first offense conviction carries up to five years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine.

• A second and subsequent conviction carries a mandatory two years in prison, up to five years, and/or up to $15,000 fine.

A dedicated drug crime lawyer Rockville MD trusts like attorney Daniel J. Wright will take the necessary steps to investigate your case, interview witnesses, and gather evidence to determine if the prosecutor even has enough of their own evidence to warrant these charges against you.

Are You Facing Drug Crimes in Maryland?

Whether in the state or federal context, if you have been charged with a drug crime, the serious consequences stemming from a conviction demand that you mount the strongest legal defense possible.

Attorney Daniel J. Wright has extensive legal experience aggressively fighting for clients accused of drug crimes in Maryland. If you are facing any kind of state or federal drug crimes, contact a drug crime lawyer Rockville, MD to find out how an attorney can help.

Commonly Charged Drug Crimes in Maryland

Drug crimes may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and substance(s) in question. Common drug charges in Maryland include:

• Drug possession

• Possession with intent to sell

• Possession of drug paraphernalia

• Drug distribution

• Drug manufacturing or cultivation

• Drug possession within 1,500 feet of a school, licensed day care, or public housing project

Our drug crime lawyer in Rockville MD provides you with an example pertaining to the drug fentanyl – an opioid that has claimed thousands of lives in the last year alone. Under federal law, controlled substances (drugs) are classified by “schedule” into five groups, with Schedule V having the lowest potential for abuse and Schedule I having the highest. In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ordered the temporary placement of fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I. To further clarify, this means the DEA regards fentanyl as a drug with a high potential for abuse – like other Schedule I drugs such as heroin.

Have You Been Charged?

If you have been charged with possession of fentanyl and intent to sell, it imperative that you contact our Rockville MD drug crime lawyer as soon as possible. You stand to face jail time and fines. Additionally, if you are a non-drug dependent person convicted of possession with intent to sell, you face a much lengthier prison sentence than if you are a drug dependent person.

A drug dependent person is defined as one who “has a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder’ of the American Psychiatric Association.” In short, if you struggle with drug dependency, the court may be sympathetic to that fact.

Whatever your personal situation and the circumstances and substances at issue in your charge, rely on an experienced drug crime lawyer Rockville MD clients recommend to fight for your legal rights. To find out how we can help, call Daniel J. Wright to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Our drug crime lawyer serving Rockville MD is ready to protect your rights.

Contact a Drug Crime Lawyer Rockville MD Clients Recommend

If you are facing charges and would like to discuss your situation with a seasoned Rockville drug crime lawyer, call the Law Office of Daniel Wright today. Daniel J. Wright is available to meet with you and offer the guidance you need. Call an experienced drug crime lawyer Rockville MD offers at 301-655-8130 for a free case evaluation.

Drug Crime Legal Resources:

Opioid Abuse

Drug Possession Criminal Defense

Any Rockville MD drug crime lawyer will tell your that an accusation that you have been in possession of drugs or other controlled substances could lead to a conviction that stays with you for the rest of your life. It is important to note that just because you are in possession of a controlled substance does not mean that a crime has been committed. In fact, there are many times that you may be in possession of a controlled substance legally and it could be a complete misunderstanding. If you do not have any legal reason to have possession of such an item, though, this is when the law comes into place. If a police officer has charged you with possession of an illegal controlled substance, you should not wait to get the legal representation that you deserve. Instead, give our trusted Rockville MD drug crime lawyer from the law office of Daniel J. Wright a call to see how we can help with these accusations.

Legal Controlled Substances

Remember, just because you have certain drugs or controlled substances does not make it illegal. In fact, you may have a controlled substance in your possession that is completely legal whereas it may be illegal for another family member or friend to have that same controlled substance. How is this possible? One of the most common ways is if you hold a valid medical prescription. Consider this example provided by our drug crime lawyer serving Rockville MD:

In certain states you may have a prescription for medical marijuana use and may be able to have possession of a certain (legal) amount. In another state where medical marijuana has not been legalized, a family member or friend who has possession over the same quantity and type of drug would be considered illegally controlling that substance.

What are the factors of illegally possessing a drug?

So, when it comes to what it takes to illegally possess a drug, what does this mean? What factors go into this? To successfully convict you of controlling an illegal substance, your Rockville MD drug crime lawyer will tell you that the prosecution will need to prove certain things occurred.

• Knowledge. You must have knowledge of the controlled substance. This may sound obvious, but if you had no idea there were drugs on you or your property, the prosecution would have a very hard case to prove in showing that you had control over the substance. They will need to show that you knew there were drugs and that you intended to control them in some way (this could be either using them yourself or distributing them to others).
• Possession. You had actual or constructive possession of the drugs. Rockville MD drug crime lawyer explains that you either had the illegal drugs on your person and had control over them or that you knew where they were hidden, such as in a spot in your home, on your property, in a car, etc. and intended to use them in some way.

In certain cases, the prosecution may also try to prove that you had shared possession of drugs if you had partial control with someone else, which may warrant a call to our drug crime lawyer in Rockville, Maryland. Just as it is possible for two people to live together and one person not be charged with shared possession even if the drugs were on the same property, it is also possible for the prosecution to prove that both roommates knew of the drugs and intended to use or distribute them.

For more information on drug possession and how Daniel J. Wright can help you with your defense, please contact our firm to speak with a Rockville MD drug crime lawyer you can trust.

What does it mean when a police officer says you were in possession of a controlled substance?

When you are facing this charge it means that you are facing a criminal offense and if convicted, you will have a criminal record for the rest of your life. It means that a drug was found on your person or property that the state of Maryland has declared illegal. This could be something obvious like cocaine or heroin. Additionally, our Rockville MD drug crimes lawyer shares that many people do not realize that prescription drugs can also be illegal if they are found on someone who does not hold the prescription to those drugs. 

What is the difference between actual and constructive possession?

When someone is caught with drugs on their person (they could be in their coat, purse, pants, etc.) this is considered to be “actual” possession. On the other hand, constructive possession occurs when drugs are found near you, such as in your car or inside a room you were in. A drug crimes lawyer in Rockville MD will work hard to show that you may have had no idea there were even drugs in the area at the time you were in that specific location. The prosecution will need to show that you had knowledge that these drugs were in the area and that you had some kind of control over the drug.

Are there defenses?

Yes, there are defenses to drug possession. Here are a few that your Rockville MD drug crimes lawyer may recommend:

• Constructive Possession. As noted above, if someone accuses you of constructive possession, the prosecution will need to prove that you know of and had control over the drugs even if they were not found on your person. 

• You Have a Prescription. If you hold a valid prescription for a pharmaceutical drug that was found that otherwise would have been illegal, a child custody lawyer serving Rockville MD can show that a licensed doctor gave you this prescription and that you were abiding the law.

• You Did Not Know. Another thing that the prosecution will need to prove is intent and knowledge. If someone planted the drugs on your person or you were simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” we may be able to show that you had no idea about the drugs in the first place. 

If you are being accused of drug possession and need to speak with a drug crimes lawyer in Rockville MD, contact The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright as soon as possible. 

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