Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney – Drug Possession
If you are charged with possession of illegal drugs or Simple Possession in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, there will be many questions you need answers to. What sort of jail time am I facing? Who is a top Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney? How will a Pittsburgh drug charge affect my employment or education? What will appear in my Pennsylvania criminal records?
As a Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney I have represented many individuals for Simple Possession of illegal drugs including:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Crack Cocaine
- Heroin
- Ecstasy
- Prescription Pills
An experienced drug crimes attorney knows that possession of any of these substances, even marijuana, will result in a misdemeanor, and will remain on your criminal record forever if not handled properly from the start.
I did not have any drugs on my person but I was charged! Why?
There are two ways that the government will try to prove a Simple Possession charge against you. In the first instance, the DA and police will allege that the drugs were on your person. This is not a difficult charge for the Commonwealth to prove if there is a witness (usually a police officer) to testify that the drugs were on your person.
In the second instance, the DA will try to prove you possessed the drugs through a legal theory called Constructive Possession. Constructive possession will result in a conviction if the Commonwealth can prove three elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
- That the substance recovered was in fact a controlled substance;
- That you intended to possess it; and
- That you had the ability to exercise dominion and control over the item.
Constructive possession is a complicated legal theory and there is significant case law that can affect the outcome of your case.
Contact Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney Michael V. Worgul with questions now at (412) 475-9217 or -1-855-DUI-CRIM.
What penalties am I facing for drug possession in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania?
As I mentioned above, simple possession is always a misdemeanor and never a felony. Of course, even the lowest level misdemeanor still carries a maximum potential jail sentence of six months. In addition, if you possessed a large enough quantity of the substance, the police will probably try to charge you with felony level Drug Trafficking.
If convicted of simple possession in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, or Pennsylvania, regardless of the drug, you will also face a mandatory license suspension through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The length of the Pennsylvania license suspension depends as follows:
- 1st Drug Possession Offense – six month suspension.
- 2nd Drug Possession Offense – one year suspension.
- 3rd+ Drug Possession Offense – tow year suspension.
Therefore, you will want to contact an Allegheny County criminal lawyer as soon as possible to avoid further suspensions.
What are my options with this sort of charge?
Finally, as stated above, experienced criminal attorneys in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania recognize that all drug offenses (not just Cocaine and Heroin) are serious and can affect your employment or educational prospects. If you are applying for a job you will want to make sure that there is no record of a former Pittsburgh drug arrest to be found. Likewise, if you are a student at a local University such as Pitt, Duquesne, or Carnegie Mellon, and you will be applying to law school, medical school, you should certainly hire a drug crime attorney to make sure the records can and will be expunged. Expungement cannot be sought unless the charges are dismissed or you participate in an alternative arrangement that permits expungement upon completion.
I am Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney Michael V. Worgul and I have extensive experience handling drug cases in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania. I will aggressively fight to win your Pittsburgh criminal drug charges at trial, however, if your case requires, I am very familiar with alternative solutions to trial that will result in the expungement or reduction of your charges.
With a focus on thorough preparation, superior client service and dedicated representation, I help families and individuals solve a wide range of DUI and criminal litigation issues.
I will respond to your email submission as promptly as possible. I ask that you consider calling me directly at 1-412-475-9217 or toll free at 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. You will also find out how our practice can be put to work for you.
I look forward to listening to the circumstances of your case and discussing all available options under the law.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Worgul
Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943
|
