Drug Crimes

Southlake, Texas Drug Crime Defense Attorneys

A Southlake drug crime defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC understands the fear and uncertainty that can follow a criminal arrest. We are criminal defense attorneys who fight vigorously to protect clients facing state or federal drug charges in Tarrant County and across Texas.

Whether a case involves a small amount of an illegal drug or a major distribution ring, Texas police agencies and local prosecutors actively pursue drug crime convictions and maximum sentences. When your future is uncertain, a Southlake drug crime defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can step in to undermine and cast doubt on the prosecution’s case against you.

When you’re charged with a drug crime in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you must not wait to begin preparing your defense. Contact Barrett Legal PLLC at 817-512-7044 to schedule a consultation with a dedicated Texas criminal defense attorney.

High-Stakes Drug Crime Defense

If the police in Tarrant County arrest you for a drug crime, the case is handled at the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. Tarrant County prosecutors work with extensive state resources, experienced narcotics units, and sophisticated investigative tools to secure convictions and maximum penalties.

A Southlake drug crime defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC can challenge the prosecution’s claims from the beginning of the legal process. We analyze every detail of a drug investigation and arrest, including police body cam footage and drug lab test results.

We look for flaws, mistakes, and inconsistencies in the state’s case to fight for a reduction or dismissal of charges even before your scheduled court date.

How Are Drugs Classified Under Texas Law?

Texas classifies controlled substances into distinct penalty groups based on their perceived potential for abuse, physical dependency risks, and accepted medical uses. The severity of a drug charge in Texas depends on the drug’s penalty group, the quantity or weight of the drug, and whether the police suspect an intent to manufacture, traffic, or distribute the drug:

  1. Penalty Groups 1 and 1-B include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. Possession of even a fraction of a gram of a Group 1 drug is charged as a state jail felony. Possessing larger quantities can prompt a more serious felony charge.
  2. Penalty Group 1-A includes lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other hallucinogens.
  3. Penalty Groups 2 and 2-A include ecstasy, PCP, psilocybin mushrooms, and synthetic cannabinoids. Possession of a small amount can be charged as a felony.
  4. Penalty Group 3 includes prescription depressants and stimulants. Depending on the details, possession of a Group 3 drug without a prescription can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
  5. Penalty Group 4 includes prescription narcotics containing non-narcotic active medicinal ingredients. Possessing small amounts without a prescription is a Class B misdemeanor.

Possessing under two ounces of cannabis flower is a Class B misdemeanor charge, but the possession of edibles, vape cartridges, or cannabis wax containing THC concentrates falls under Penalty Group 2 and may lead to a felony charge.

What a Prosecutor Must Prove

To win a conviction in a Texas drug trial, the state must prove that the defendant knowingly possessed and had control over the illegal drugs. Prosecutors typically attempt to establish guilt through one of three legal theories of possession.

Actual possession is when the police discover a drug on your person, such as in your pocket, purse, shoes, or clothing. Actual possession seems straightforward, but the police still must establish that they stopped, detained, and searched you in full accordance with all legal and constitutional standards.

Constructive possession is when the police find an illegal drug in a vehicle, home, garage, or storage facility that you own, rent, or manage. To prove constructive possession, a prosecutor must show you had care, custody, control, or management over the location and that you knew or should have known the drug was present.

Joint possession applies when several individuals share access to a space where a drug is found, such as passengers in a car or roommates in an apartment. If the police find drugs in a car or a shared kitchen, a prosecutor seeking to convict you must connect you directly to the drugs.

Felony Drug Charges

When a drug case involves more than simple possession, defendants face severe penalties. Convictions for drug trafficking require mandatory minimum prison sentences and substantial fines.

A Texas felony drug conviction also leads to an automatic driver’s license suspension, loss of voting rights, loss of firearm ownership privileges, and barriers to employment, housing, and credit.

For non-citizens, the stakes may be even higher. A drug crime conviction may prompt immigration consequences, including deportation or inadmissibility, depending on the charge and your immigration status. But a Southlake drug crime defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can use every appropriate legal tool to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case and insist on a reduction or dismissal of charges.

How Will a Lawyer Help You?

Your attorney’s defense strategy will depend on the details of the charge against you, but in general, these are the defenses most typically offered in drug cases:

  1. You did not possess the drugs or even know about them.
  2. To gather evidence against you, the police violated your rights.
  3. You are not guilty of trafficking, because the drugs were for your personal use.

Your lawyer will determine which defense will be the most effective against the particular charge or charges you face. If the police violated your rights, the court may suppress incriminating evidence, and sometimes that’s enough to have the charges against you reduced or dismissed.

How to Handle the Police

If police officers arrest you or question you regarding a drug crime:

  1. Remain calm and polite. Refrain from arguing, physically resisting, or attempting to flee from law enforcement officers.
  2. Inform the officers that you want to speak with your attorney before making any statement. Politely tell them that you are exercising your right to stay silent, then say no more. 
  3. Call Barrett Legal PLLC. Contact our law firm as soon as possible so that an attorney can intervene and protect your rights.

Put Barrett Legal PLLC on Your Side

When you face criminal drug charges in Tarrant County, you need an experienced defense team with a record of success. Barrett Legal PLLC defends clients facing drug charges throughout Texas. Our offices are located in Southlake, Abilene, Corpus Christi, Beeville, Victoria, and Perryton. We bring substantial courtroom knowledge and experience to every case and client.

When you retain a drug crime defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC, winning is our most important goal. We fight tenaciously to protect your long-term best interests and bring your drug case to its best possible resolution.

Don’t let a drug prosecution or conviction disrupt your life or destroy your future. The defense team at Barrett Legal PLLC can deliver the vigorous legal representation you need. Contact us at 817-512-7044 to schedule a consultation with an experienced Texas defense attorney.