This is the next post in my series on the handling of drug trafficking charges in Austin, Texas. My last article discussed what constitutes drug trafficking in our state. It is important to understand that distributing narcotics to others, even in small amounts, can be considered “trafficking.” Both prosecutors and judges take such conduct extremely seriously and it is vital that you retain an experienced criminal defense lawyer to assist you. In this article I will be discussing our state’s potential penalties for a conviction. There are several factors which increase or decrease the amount of time which a defendant will serve. If you are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with an attorney. I have been licensed to practice law since 1995 and I am Board Certified in Criminal Defense by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Texas’ penalties for drug trafficking can vary based on the type and amount of the substance involved. The state divides drugs into various penalty groups. Group One, which is the most severe, consists of narcotics such as heroin, methamphetamine, etc. At the low end, a defendant may be sentenced to a term of incarceration ranging from six months to two years, to a more extreme sentence which can last up to ninety-nine years. Several factors will be considered when determining the applicable sentence. These factors include the defendant’s prior history, whether they were in possession of a firearm, whether they were in a school area, etc. It is important to remember that how the Court will react to a particular defendant is going to depend on the specific facts of the case. It is, therefore, crucial to retain counsel who is experienced in handling such matters.
It is also important for defendants to understand the possibility of their sentence running consecutive to that of other charges. When an accused individual is convicted on multiple counts, and the sentence runs consecutively, this means that time must be served on one conviction before time will count towards the second. This concept is best explained by way of example. Suppose, for instance, that an individual is stopped by police and a brick of heroin is observed in the back seat. Now suppose that the individual, who is a convicted felon, is also found to have a gun in his possession. The defendant will likely be charged with drug trafficking, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and other possible offenses. If the cases are tried separately, the defendant could receive multiple sentences and the judge could order the second sentence to not start until the first one is completed.
If you or a family member have been arrested then it is important to immediately seek representation. I am an Austin drug trafficking lawyer who understands the serious nature with which the government takes such matters. I will give your case the attention it deserves and my office prides itself on providing a high level of service. This includes quickly responding to phone calls and promptly replying to emails. Contact us online or by telephone today to schedule an initial consultation. My office also serves the cities of Rollingwood, Round Rock, Elgin, Jonestown, Manor, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, Sunset Valley, Lakeway, Creedmoor, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, and San Marcos, Texas.