Clarksville Drug Crimes Lawyer

Defending Against Drug Crime Charges in Tennessee

Drug crimes have become a serious situation in the United States, not only on the state level, but on the federal level as well. National attention is drawn to drug crimes, due in no small part to the fact that drug crimes often lead to other crimes such as assault, robbery/theft, DUI, and various other offenses.

Drug crimes can be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies. Drug crimes are not limited to adults. Children under the age of 18 are also being prosecuted for juvenile crimes relating to drugs.

In cases of drug crimes, an accused individual could be facing heavy fines in addition to extensive jail or prison time if they are convicted.

Drug-related offenses can include the following:

• Possession
• Possession with intent to sell
• Transportation
• Manufacturing
• Cultivation
• Trafficking

Depending on the volume of drugs involved in the case as well as the prior criminal record of the accused, a conviction could lead to life imprisonment in some serious cases.

What are the Penalties for Drug Crimes in Tennessee?

Depending on the severity of the drug crimes, charges can range from misdemeanors for simple possession to felonies for crimes such as trafficking and distribution. In Tennessee, a misdemeanor drug charge is punishable by fines up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail. Felony drug charges carry much harsher penalties.

What if I'm Found with Drugs that Aren't Mine?

Even if you do not own whatever drugs or drug paraphernalia that an officer finds with you, you are still considered legally "in possession" of those items, which is a crime.

All too frequently a scenario like the following occurs: You are in a your car and you give your friend or acquaintance a ride. He puts his bag of weed and pipe, lighter, and grinder down in your cup holder as he gets to his location. When he gets out and says, "Hey wait a minute, I'll be right back. Hold on to my stuff." A minute later a law enforcement officer walks up and sees it through you window and you get charged. Even if you tell the officer the drugs do not belong to you, the law does not care. Possession means possession.

In such cases, you might be charged with what is technically known as "constructive possession," which refers to drugs being present on or in your property with your knowledge, regardless of whether the drugs belong to you or whether you intended to do anything with them. If drugs are found in a vehicle, an officer will typically charge everyone in the car with possession and then leave it up to the courts to sort out who is guilty.

With a drug crime defense lawyer on your side, you stand a much higher chance of fighting these charges and obtaining a more favorable outcome. Contact our firm to see how we might be able to prepare a defense strategy on your behalf.

Contact Our Drug Crimes Attorney in Clarksville Today

If you or a loved one is being investigated for a drug crime, or have already been charged with a drug offense, it is crucial that you contact a Clarksville drug crimes lawyer at the firm today. Regardless of the charges and evidence presented against you, your first line of defense is to get an attorney who will thoroughly review your case and advise you of the best legal options to fight back.

Jeff Grimes & Associates, PLLC are criminal defense attorneys representing clients in the Clarksville and Montgomery County, Tennessee areas. Attorney Jeff Grimes and the other attorneys at the firm have years of experience dealing with defense cases and have an impressive record in court.