Were you charged with a drug crime in St. Mary’s County, Maryland? Call Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys to schedule a free consultation at (301) 262-7005. Our St. Mary’s County drug crimes lawyers can help you respond and move toward as favorable an outcome as may be possible under state law.
With over 125 years of combined experience handling criminal cases, our defense team understands how to push back against serious drug charges. Your case is treated as a priority from the start, with clear guidance on your legal options and a focused strategy designed to pursue the most favorable outcome possible.
Why Hire Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys if I’ve Been Charged With a Drug Crime in St. Mary’s County, Maryland?
You can’t afford to take any chances when you’re facing a drug-related charge. The stakes are high in these cases, and the prosecution already believes you’re guilty. However, the truth of the matter is that you’re innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. That gives our legal team at Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys plenty of room to work with.
Some reasons clients turn to our St. Mary’s County criminal defense attorneys include:
- We have well over a century of combined experience handling these cases
- We’ve successfully defended thousands of criminal cases overall
- Our lead attorney holds an ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation
- We’ve received numerous awards and accolades for our outstanding legal services
- We have an established network of resources, including relationships with experts, that we can use to benefit your case
- We’ll make sure you understand your legal rights at every stage of the process, including at trial if needed
You can rest assured that your case is in trusted hands if you hire us to represent you. Contact our drug crimes lawyers in St. Mary’s County, MD, today to schedule a free consultation.
Maryland’s Drug Crime Laws
Drug laws in Maryland are primarily governed by Title 5 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code, which prohibits the possession, manufacture, and distribution of controlled dangerous substances (CDS). These substances are divided into five “schedules” based on their potential for abuse and accepted medical use.
- Schedule I: Includes substances like heroin. These drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
- Schedule II: Includes drugs such as cocaine. These have medical uses but carry a high risk of dependence.y
- Schedule III–V: Includes substances such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and certain prescription drugs like Xanax
These classifications can directly impact the penalties associated with a drug-related offense in Maryland.
What Are Some Common Types of Drug Charges in St. Mary’s County?
Drug offenses in Maryland vary widely in severity. Some are misdemeanors that may carry fines or probation, while others are felonies that can result in lengthy prison sentences. Common drug charges include:
- Simple possession: Having a controlled substance for personal use
- Possession with intent to distribute: Possessing larger quantities of a drug or evidence suggesting that they are for sale
- Manufacturing and cultivation: Producing and growing controlled substances, such as methamphetamine and marijuana
- Drug trafficking: Transporting large amounts of illegal drugs, often prosecuted at the federal level
- Prescription fraud: Illegally obtaining prescription medications like opioids
- Paraphernalia possession: Having items used to consume or distribute drugs
In many cases, prosecutors may elect to charge the defendant with many of these offenses at once.
Penalties for Drug Crimes in Maryland
The punishment for a drug offense depends on several factors, including the amount of the drug in question, whether you have a prior criminal history, and many more.
By default, the penalties for a drug crime conviction might look like:
- Possession of marijuana by a minor under the age of 21: A civil offense punishable by a fine
- Possession of controlled substances: Up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000
- Possession with intent to distribute: Up to 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines
- Repeat offenders and large-scale trafficking: Substantially higher penalties, sometimes including mandatory minimum sentences as well.
Maryland also enforces stricter penalties for offenses committed within 1,000 feet of a school, as well as enhancements for those involving firearms.
Collateral Consequences of a Drug Conviction in St. Mary’s County
A drug conviction in Maryland can have lasting effects that go far beyond any sentence imposed by the court. These collateral consequences often follow you for years and can impact every aspect of your life.
Some of the most common of these impacts include:
- Employment issues: Many employers conduct background checks and may refuse to hire applicants with a criminal record. Certain professional licenses can also be suspended.
- Housing problems: A conviction can make it difficult to rent an apartment or qualify for public housing, as many landlords deny applicants with criminal histories.
- Loss of driving privileges: Some drug offenses result in a suspended driver’s license, such as when a vehicle was involved in the alleged crime.
- Educational barriers: You may lose eligibility for certain scholarships and federal financial aid.
- Immigration consequences: For non-citizens, a drug conviction can potentially result in deportation or ineligibility for naturalization.
- Reputational harm: A conviction can damage your reputation in the community and create social stigma that’s hard to overcome
These consequences make it especially important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side early in the process. With the right defense, it may be possible to avoid a conviction altogether, though no outcome can be guaranteed.
What Defenses Can I Raise in Response to Drug Charges in St. Mary’s County, MD?
The prosecution must prove every element of a drug crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof that exists in the law. Common defenses to drug charges include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Illegal search and seizure: Police must follow the Fourth Amendment when searching your property. If they conducted a search improperly, key evidence against you may be thrown out.
- Lack of possession: Simply being near drugs is not necessarily enough to prove possession. The state must show you knew about the drugs and had control over them.
- Entrapment: If you were induced by the police into committing a crime you otherwise wouldn’t have, you may have been entrapped.
- Medical defenses: In some cases, you may have a valid prescription and medical reason for possessing certain controlled substances.
- Chain of custody issues: Evidence must be handled properly from the moment it is seized. Breaks in the chain of custody or improper lab testing can cast doubt on its reliability.
Ultimately, the right defense will hinge on the specific facts of your situation. Our criminal defense lawyers will work hard to develop a strategy tailored to your particular circumstances, aiming to help you secure the best outcome we can.
How a St. Mary’s County Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help You
Facing a drug charge can be extremely stressful, considering the possible penalties and uncertainty that may follow. Having an experienced defense attorney on your side is one of the best decisions you can make for your future.
When you hire Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys, you can expect our legal team to:
- Conduct a full investigation: We’ll thoroughly review the evidence against you and the prosecution’s strategy to formulate an appropriate response.
- Challenge any unlawful searches and other violations: Our lawyers have successfully had evidence thrown out due to infringements upon our clients’ constitutional rights.
- Negotiate with prosecutors: We’ll seek to have your charges reduced or dismissed where possible under state law.
- Explore diversion programs: In some cases, Maryland offers treatment and rehabilitation programs that can help you avoid jail time and possibly a permanent record.
- Represent you in court: We’ll be at your side during every court hearing and appearance, including at trial if needed.
Overall, our lawyers will work tirelessly to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair treatment throughout the legal process, no matter what that might entail.
Contact Our Experienced St. Mary’s County Drug Crimes Attorneys for a Free Consultation
A drug crime conviction in St. Mary’s County, MD, can change your life, but you may still have time to successfully fight back against your charges. Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys is here to help, with more than 125 years of combined experience defending clients across the State of Maryland.
We know how prosecutors build their cases and are confident that we can dismantle them when possible. The earlier you involve a lawyer in your case, the better your chances of protecting your freedoms. Contact our St. Mary’s County drug crimes lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.