Phoenix Drug Lawyer

How Gurion Legal Can Defend You Against a Drug Crime Charge

After getting charged with a drug crime, the days might move painfully slow in anticipation of your court date. Alternatively, days could also fly by—making you feel as though the situation’s out of your control. Gurion Legal understands your anxiety. We don’t just take care of your case when you partner with us; we aim to take care of you, too.

When you hire our team of lawyers, we always keep you involved in decision-making, so you have a hand in what comes next. With our firm, you don’t have to worry about:

Going Through Interrogations Alone

Interrogations don’t end at the arrest scene. Depending on the charges you face, the police could ask for several interviews. A drug lawyer in Phoenix from Gurion Legal stands by your side during interrogations.

During this process, we:

• Speak to law enforcement on your behalf
• Advise you when and when not to answer questions
• End the interrogation when appropriate
• Learn what evidence law enforcement has
• Evaluate whether the charges (like drug possession) are fair

We can also ensure that law enforcement doesn’t infringe on your rights. For instance, they may neglect to tell you that you can have a lawyer present. If they don’t (and you’re unaware of this right), anything you share during an interview could be inadmissible in court.

Explain Your Charges

Not all drug charges are equal. Some are misdemeanors, while others are felonies. It’s important to know the difference so, from the very beginning, we explain the charges you face. This serves as the basis of our legal strategy when protecting your rights.

Represent You in Initial Hearings

When you get arrested for a drug crimes charge, you can expect to appear in court for your initial hearing within 24 hours. During the initial hearing, a judge will review the charges you face, whether you can post bail, and other details. You will also get a date for the next hearing.

Having an attorney through these initial hearings could help. We could recommend the judge release you without bond because of your circumstances. If the prosecution has zero evidence that you committed a crime, we could move to have your case dismissed before it reaches trial.

Provide Guidance on Accepting or Denying a Plea Deal

You could still face the consequences of a drug crime even if you accept a plea deal. Typically, these consequences have fewer ramifications than if you were convicted by a jury.

For instance, if the police find more than one ounce of marijuana in your car, the state could charge you with drug trafficking. Yet, before your trial starts, the prosecution may offer a plea deal, saying that if you plead guilty to drug possession, you’ll face fewer penalties. Our team can explore whether a plea deal is possible and whether accepting one could benefit your circumstances.

Represent You in Trial

If a plea deal isn’t possible, and your case goes to court, our litigators can represent you. Our attorneys have represented many people with drug crime charges in Phoenix courts.

We won’t wait wait for the court date to:

• Gather evidence to support your version of events
• Speak to witnesses who saw the arrest take place
• Research laws regarding your case
• Develop a defense strategy
• Build your credibility

To secure a conviction, a jury must determine if the prosecution proved your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If we can plant even the smallest seed of doubt in jurors’ minds, they cannot lawfully convict you.

Our Drug Lawyers Craft a Defense to Protect Your Future

Since our attorneys have defended many drug crime cases, we know the steps to take to form a solid defense. We may use one or more of the following defenses in your case:

The Police Unlawfully Searched You

Law enforcement cannot search a person, their house, or their vehicle without probable cause. If they don’t have probable cause or a search warrant and collect evidence anyway, we could work to get that evidence thrown out. Without the evidence of the drugs, we could request a dismissal of the charges.

The Drugs in Question Belong to Someone Else

Arizona law notes that to be convicted of a drug crime, you must knowingly be in possession of an illicit substance. For instance, imagine you borrowed your friend’s car, got pulled over, and police found cocaine. If you legitimately didn’t know the car had those items, we could push to have your case dismissed.

The Drugs You Have Don’t Qualify as Illegal

Arizona Proposition 207 legalized recreational marijuana in recent years. You can lawfully possess less than an ounce of flower and less than five grams of marijuana concentrate. Some officials might not know this, however.

If they charge you with possessing a legal drug (or you had less than a certain amount), we can fight for your freedom.

The Police Entrapped You

Law enforcement officials can legally set up sting operations. Although, sometimes, they take things too far, and entrapment occurs. Entrapment occurs when an officer induces you to commit a crime you wouldn’t have committed under other circumstances. Our attorneys can fight your drug charges if they occurred because of officer entrapment.

Consequences for Drug Convictions in Phoenix Depend on the Crime

Arizona laws prohibit anyone from knowingly possessing, manufacturing, administering, and transporting drugs. The penalties you could face after a drug crime conviction generally depend on the crime itself, along with whether you’ve been convicted of a similar crime in the past. Typically, penalties for convictions include prison time and fines.

Gurion Legal advocates for defendants facing:

• Drug possession: Here, you knowingly have a dangerous drug on you. For example, if law enforcement finds that you have an illegal substance in your car, you could face this charge. As noted, if you have a recreational drug (but above the legal limits), you could face prison time.
• Manufacturing drugs: If you make or grow an illegal drug within the state, you could face harsher consequences than if convicted of possession.
• Administering drugs: You cannot administer drugs to another person, even if they grant you permission. This even applies to certain prescription drugs.
• Transporting drugs into the state: This constitutes bringing drugs into the state by foot, plane, car, train, or bus. Anytime you bring illegal drugs across borders or state lines, you could face felony charges.

Depending on the severity of charges in your specific case, you could face life-altering penalties. To have a good chance of avoiding these charges, the attorneys at Gurion Legal can advocate for you.

Consequences You Could Face Outside of the Legal System

While a criminal conviction could require you to pay fines and go to jail, there are other potential consequences you could face if convicted. These consequences could affect the rest of your life.

Long-term consequences you could face after a criminal conviction include:

• Difficulty obtaining a loan: Whether you need a loan for a vehicle, home, or other personal reasons, you could find it difficult to get approved after a criminal conviction. Many loan officers could see a criminal conviction on your record and worry about your ability to pay it back.
• Difficulty finding housing: Landlords often conduct background checks on potential renters. You could have limited rental options because some landlords don’t want convicted criminals living in their buildings.
• Child custody issues: Family court cases rule in the best interest of children. If you’re in the middle of a custodial dispute, the courts may think twice about awarding custody to someone with a criminal history.

To avoid these consequences, you should have the strongest defensive case possible. Our attorneys can help you strengthen your defense.

Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Crimes in Phoenix

Every day, Gurion Legal gets countless questions from people in situations like yours. We want to alleviate your concerns and answer your questions as soon as possible. Some of these questions include:

How Long Does It Take for a Trial to Start?

Under the U.S. Constitution, you may demand a speedy trial after an arrest. It could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for your trial date to arrive. From there, the trial itself could take a couple of days. Your case’s progression depends on many factors, some of which are out of your control. Yet, our team aims to keep your case on track, so you can spend more time with loved ones and less time worrying.

What Happens if I Face Another Concurrent Charge?

In addition to facing drug crime charges, you could face other charges, as well. Here’s an example. A father picks up his child from school. After getting pulled over for speeding, the police find three pounds of marijuana in the car. Here, that person could face drug possession charges in addition to child endangerment. This would elevate any penalties they face.

If you’re in a similar situation (meaning you’re facing other charges in addition to a drug crime), we can defend you from those allegations. At the conclusion of your case, we want you to walk away as a free citizen.

What Should I Do While Awaiting My Trial Date?

While awaiting trial, your next steps depend on many things. In general, we advise our clients to act with caution. This may include driving carefully and avoiding run-ins with the police. You should also cut ties with anyone involved in the alleged crime, like drug users and dealers.

Why Should I Work With a Lawyer?

Drug crime charges are serious matters in Phoenix. A single misstep could cost you your future. That’s why you want to entrust your case to a professional who understands the legal process. Gurion Legal has deep roots in Phoenix.

We’re on a first-name basis with many courtroom officials, and we know how certain judges operate. This gives us the insight necessary to seek the best possible outcome for your case. You do not want to go through this process alone—no matter how confident you feel.

What Drugs Are Illegal in Phoenix?

Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you have to ask whether a drug’s legal in Phoenix, chances are, it’s not.

The law prohibits possessing these drugs in any capacity:

• LSD and other psychedelics
• Cocaine
• Crack
• Heroin
• PCP
• Methamphetamine
• Anabolic steroids
• Ecstasy

As noted, Arizona law also prohibits carrying an excessive amount of marijuana.

What Happens if I Have a Criminal Record?

If you have a prior criminal record, this could increase the penalties you face. For instance, suppose that you have a prior conviction for drug possession. Then, the state charges you with manufacturing illicit substances. Your history, combined with the charges you now face, could negatively affect your future for years to come.

Call Our Phoenix Drug Lawyers for a No-Obligation Consultation

Right now, you may wonder how a drug crime could transform your life. You might not even know what specific charges you face. At Gurion Legal, we can give you all the information you need to know about your legal options. What’s more, we can advocate for you at trial and fight for the best possible outcome.

Contact us today at (480) 800-0020.