Have you been arrested and charged with committing drug crimes in the state of Ohio? If so, you could be facing some severe penalties – including a lengthy prison sentence and a sizable fine. Contact a Cincinnati drug crimes lawyer from Suhre & Associates, LLC at (513) 333-0014.
Of course, you do not have to sit back and wait for the prosecution to convict and punish you. Instead, you can fight back against your charges in an effort to get them dismissed or reduced. To do so, however, you will need the assistance of an experienced drug crimes lawyer, like those here at Suhre & Associates, LLC, in Cincinnati, OH.
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How Our Attorneys Can Help You Defend Yourself Against Your Drug Charges in Cincinnati, OH.
Our skilled Cincinnati criminal defense attorney here at Suhre & Associates, LLC, is committed to providing each and every one of our clients with the vigorous defense they deserve. When you hire us to help you fight back against your drug charges, we will:
Help You Gather Exculpatory Evidence
Sometimes, the best way to avoid being convicted of a crime is to prove that you could not have committed the offense in question. If, for instance, you can show that you were in another location when the crime occurred, it may be possible to get your charge dropped.
Of course, proving that you are innocent almost always requires a mountain of relevant evidence. Fortunately, when you work with our attorneys, we will be on hand to try to help you gather the proof you need. We will interview witnesses, review surveillance camera footage, and do whatever else it takes to improve your odds of achieving a favorable outcome to your case.
Protect Your Constitutional Rights
When investigating and arresting you for a drug offense, law enforcement officers must respect your constitutional rights. Most notably, they must not infringe upon your Fourth Amendment right to avoid unreasonable search and seizure or your Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Unfortunately, overzealous officers have been known to step over the line from time to time.
At Suhre & Associates, LLC, our attorneys are trained to spot constitutional rights violations as they happen. If we see a police officer attempting to step on your rights, we will put a stop to it immediately. Similarly, if a violation occurred before you had a chance to call us, we will raise the matter with the judge and seek to have the ensuing evidence suppressed.
Negotiate with the Prosecuting Attorney on Your Behalf
Most drug crime cases never go to trial. Instead, they are resolved through the plea bargaining process. If you are interested in attempting to resolve your case with such a deal, our attorneys will be on hand to negotiate the terms of the agreement on your behalf.
We have been negotiating plea bargain deals with state and federal prosecutors for many years. As such, we thoroughly understand what they need to see and hear before they will offer more lenient sentences. When you work with us, you can be certain that you will be well-represented at the negotiating table.
Would you like to have the Suhre & Associates, LLC, legal team defend you against your drug charges? If so, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us online. We would love to arrange a free consultation at our Cincinnati law office to discuss your case in greater detail.
We Handle All Criminal Drug Offenses
The state of Ohio has a wide range of statutes on its books that regulate the possession, sale, and distribution of controlled substances. A short sampling of some of the common types of drug charges doled out by law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the Buckeye State would include:
Drug Possession
Section 2925.11 of the Ohio Revised Code makes it illegal to knowingly obtain, possess, or use a drug that is listed on the state’s schedules of controlled substances. A non-exhaustive list of the drugs included in each schedule would include:
- Schedule I: Marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, and mescaline
- Schedule II: Cocaine, Vicodin, Adderall, and oxycodone
- Schedule III: Testosterone, nalorphine, and ketamine
- Schedule IV: Lorazepam, barbital, Valium, and Ambien
- Schedule V: Lyrica, Motofen, and ephedrine
In the state of Ohio, drug possession is generally classified as a misdemeanor of the first degree or felony of the fifth degree. However, it may be upgraded to a higher felony level depending on the type and quantity of the drug in question.
Drug Trafficking
Section 2925.03 of the Ohio Revised Code states that it is unlawful for an individual to:
- Sell or offer to sell a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog.
- Deliver, ship, transport, or distribute a controlled substance when the offender has reasonable cause to believe that it will be resold by the receiving party.
This offense is sometimes referred to as “possession with intent to distribute” and is typically punishable as a felony of the fourth degree. It may, however, be bumped up to a third-degree felony if the crime was committed near a school. It can also be upgraded if the offender was found to be trafficking a large quantity of drugs.
Drug Manufacturing
Section 2925.04 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that it is illegal to:
- Knowingly cultivate marijuana
- Knowingly manufacture or engage in the production of any other controlled substance
In most instances, the state of Ohio classifies drug manufacturing as a felony of the second or third degree. However, it may be bumped up to a first-degree felony if the crime was committed in the vicinity of a minor or near a school.
Are you facing criminal charges in the state of Ohio for possessing, selling, or manufacturing drugs? If so, please reach out to the Suhre & Associates, LLC, legal team as soon as possible. We may be able to help you get your charge dismissed or reduced.
Understanding Federal Drug Law
Most drug arrests in the state of Ohio are related to violations of state drug law. However, residents of the Buckeye State must also adhere to federal law. Should they fail to do so, they may be charged with a criminal offense under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
This statute makes it illegal for any person in the United States to manufacture, possess, distribute, or dispense a drug that is listed on the federal schedules of controlled substances. The federal schedules are quite similar to Ohio’s schedules, and include:
- Schedule I: Heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, and LSD
- Schedule II: Vicodin, Adderall, cocaine, oxycodone, and methamphetamine
- Schedule III: Anabolic steroids, testosterone, and ketamine
- Schedule IV: Valium, Ambien, Xanax, and Darvocet
- Schedule V: Lyrica, Motofen, Parepectolin, and Lomotil
The federal government considers Schedule I and Schedule II substances to be highly addictive and unsafe. As such, offenses involving drugs of this nature are punished much more severely than crimes involving Schedule IV and Schedule V substances – which the government believes to have a low potential for abuse and dependence.
The criminal defense attorneys here at Suhre & Associates, LLC, in Cincinnati, are experts in all facets of federal drug law. If you need us to help you fight back against your federal charges, please do not hesitate to give us a call to set up a free consultation. We are always ready, willing, and able to assist.
Criminal Punishments for Drug Crime Convictions in Ohio
The criminal punishments for individuals who are convicted of drug offenses are dependent on the jurisdiction that is doling out the penalties. Those who are found to have violated Ohio state law are punished in accordance with the following guidelines:
- First-Degree Misdemeanors: Up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
- Fifth-Degree Felonies: Up to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
- Fourth-Degree Felonies: Up to 18 months in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
- Third-Degree Felonies: Up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
- Second-Degree Felonies: Up to 8 years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
- First-Degree Felonies: Up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
Ohioans who are convicted of a federal drug crime are penalized in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Controlled Substances Act. These sentences vary significantly depending on the type and quantity of the drug in question as well as whether or not a deadly weapon was used as part of the crime.
For instance, according to federal sentencing guidelines, an individual who is found to be in possession of 100 grams of heroin may be sentenced to between 5 and 40 years in prison. Meanwhile, an individual who was caught with 5 kilograms of cocaine can face 10 years to life in prison. For more information about state or federal sentencing guidelines, please reach out to our Cincinnati legal team. We are always available to provide you with the information you require.
Cincinnati’s Trusted Drug Crimes Defense Team
When the people of Cincinnati are facing state or federal drug charges, they know that there is only one law firm they need to turn to for legal advice and assistance – Suhre & Associates, LLC. We have been defending clients against drug possession, trafficking, and manufacturing charges for years. If you would like us to help you with your case, just give us a call at our Cincinnati, OH, law office for free consultation with a member of our experienced legal team.
