If you are facing drug crime charges in Greenville, you need an experienced drug crime attorney on your side. Drug crimes carry serious penalties that can negatively impact your life for years to come.
Having the right criminal defense lawyer in Greenville defending you can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
At Hellams Law, our drug crime defense team knows what it takes to protect your rights and fight for the best possible result.
Types of Drug Crime Cases We Handle
Hellams Law provides aggressive defense for all types of state and federal drug charges in Greenville and the surrounding areas, including:
- Drug possession: Being caught with illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or unlawfully obtained prescription medications. Penalties depend on the type and quantity of the drug.
- Possession with intent to distribute: Possessing drugs in quantities or circumstances that indicate an intent to sell or distribute them to others. Often carries stiffer penalties than simple possession.
- Drug trafficking: Manufacturing, transporting, or selling large amounts of illegal drugs. Considered the most serious type of drug offense with lengthy mandatory minimum prison sentences.
- Drug conspiracy: An agreement between two or more people to commit a drug crime, even if the crime was never carried out. Each conspirator can face the same penalties as if they had committed the crime itself.
- Prescription drug crimes: Obtaining prescription medications through fraud, doctor shopping, forged prescriptions, or buying them on the black market. Commonly abused drugs include OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, and Adderall.
Drug crimes may also be charged in connection with other offenses like driving under the influence of drugs, weapons charges, and drug-related thefts or burglaries. We can capably handle all related charges as part of your defense.
South Carolina Drug Crime Penalties
A conviction for even a minor drug crime can result in jail time, heavy fines, driver’s license suspension, and a permanent criminal record. The severity of the potential punishment depends on factors like:
- The schedule or type of drug involved (Schedule I and II drugs draw the harshest penalties)
- The quantity of the drug
- Whether you have any prior drug convictions
- If minors were targeted
- If the offense occurred near a school or other protected area
In South Carolina, a first-offense simple possession charge is a misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine for marijuana, or up to 2 years in jail and a $5,000 fine for other drugs. By contrast, drug trafficking convictions can result in 25 years or more in prison and six-figure fines.
Many drug convictions also have secondary consequences like loss of student financial aid, ineligibility for public housing and assistance programs, not being allowed to own a firearm, and difficulty finding employment. A skilled drug crime lawyer will work to help you avoid or minimize these life-changing impacts.
Potential Defenses in Drug Crime Cases
Being charged with a drug crime does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. There are many possible defenses an experienced drug crime attorney can raise on your behalf, such as:
Unlawful Search and Seizure
The Fourth Amendment protects you against unreasonable searches and requires police to have probable cause and a valid warrant in most cases. If the drugs were found through an illegal search, your lawyer can file a motion to suppress, asking the judge to exclude that evidence from the trial.
Lack of Possession
To prove constructive drug possession, prosecutors must show that you had knowledge and control over the substance. If drugs were simply nearby or in a shared location, this element may be lacking.
Your drug crime attorney can argue that the state has not proven possession beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lack of Knowledge
If you did not know that the substance in question was an illegal drug or did not realize it was in your possession, that can be a defense to the knowledge requirement. Lab tests may also show that the substance was not a controlled drug.
Entrapment
While undercover sting operations are legal, police are not allowed to coerce people to commit crimes they were not predisposed to commit. If officers or informants used harassing or threatening tactics to induce you to sell or purchase drugs, entrapment may apply.
Medical Marijuana Exception
South Carolina recently legalized medical marijuana with a doctor’s prescription for certain conditions. If you are a lawful medical marijuana patient, your Greenville drug crime attorney can help you demonstrate this to challenge a possession charge.
Favorable Plea Bargaining
In some cases, your lawyer may advise negotiating a plea deal for reduced charges, drug court, or an alternative sentencing option like probation or treatment. Having a persuasive advocate can give you more leverage in these discussions with prosecutors.
How Our Greenville Drug Crime Defense Lawyer Can Help You
Being accused of a drug-related offense is a frightening prospect, but you do not have to face it on your own. Our seasoned drug crime lawyer is ready to immediately step in and start protecting your interests by:
- Carefully reviewing the facts of your case to identify constitutional violations, evidentiary gaps, and other avenues for dismissal or acquittal
- Conducting our investigation and utilizing top experts to build the strongest possible defense
- Forcefully challenging the admission of any illegally obtained evidence
- Zealously advocating for your rights in all interactions with law enforcement and prosecutors
- Exploring all available options for alternative sentencing and rehabilitative services
- Keeping you fully informed and promptly responding to all of your questions and concerns
Do Not Wait to Get the Skilled Defense You Need
South Carolina drug crimes are aggressively prosecuted, and cases move quickly. Delay in seeking legal representation can cause you to lose out on key defense opportunities. If you suspect you are under investigation for a drug crime or have already been arrested, contact an experienced Greenville drug crime lawyer right away to start safeguarding your future.
At Hellams Law, we know a drug arrest does not define who you are and should not ruin the rest of your life. Let us provide the knowledgeable guidance and dedicated advocacy you need during this difficult time. Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
