Heroin is considered a highly dangerous drug in the Missouri courts. It’s because of this that possession of heroin is often treated more severely than possession of other drugs. Usually, if you are accused of being in possession of heroin, you will be treated like an addict, regardless of your dependence. Fortunately, a defense attorney can be in your corner when it feels like no one else is on your side.
Heroin has a stigma that other drugs don’t. It’s seen as the drug of choice among junkies and hard core users. But as a defense lawyer, I know that not everyone charged with heroin possession is a strung out addict.
When faced with charges like this, you are looking at the potential for serious penalties, penalties that can change your life. With a local defense lawyer on your side, you may be able to minimize the effects of this charge and get back to living.
Missouri Heroin Possession Laws & Penalties
Generally, if you are accused of possessing heroin, you will be charged with a Class C Felony. A conviction in a case like this could mean up to 7 years in jail and $5,000 in fines. Though it’s true that judges rarely sentence people to this maximum penalty, it is possible.
When you work with a defense lawyer, it’s their job to help mitigate the effects of these charges on your life. From challenging the evidence against you to negotiating a plea bargain with the prosecution, their interest lies in getting you the best results possible on your case.
What is “Possession” Under the Law?
Many people charged with drug possession are confused when the drugs that they are caught with aren’t found in their pockets or directly on them. But the law doesn’t state require you to be holding the drugs in order to be charged, they merely have to be in your control.
This means you can face heroin or any drug possession charged for drugs that are found on your property, in your glove box, or merely next to you on the sidewalk.
Fighting A Drug Possession Charge
You have options. A criminal charge is not the same as a conviction, and by working with an attorney like me, you can work towards a potentially positive resolution of your case. This could mean a dismissal of the charges, a plea agreement to avoid jail time, or enrollment in a drug court program.
Your options entirely depend on the facts of your case. Contact us today for a free case consultation and to discuss how we might be able to help.