Paulding County Drug Crime Defense Attorney

Crimes Involving the Sale of Drugs & Narcotics

If you have been arrested and charged with the unlawful sale of drugs in Georgia, your future is at risk. Drug dealing is a felony under Georgia Code § 16-13-30 (2012), and unless you take action now you could face several years behind bars and a life as a convicted felon. The penalty you could receive, if convicted, depends on the type of drugs involved-specifically, where the drug sits on the Schedule of Controlled Substances, which ranks drugs according to their perceived dangerousness, and whether they have any accepted medical use.

The "Schedule" Drug Categories & Penalties

Schedule drugs range from I to V, with Schedule V being less severe in punishment than Schedule I. Do not be fooled—a Schedule V is still a serious criminal offense and can result in devastating consequences. Drug sales crimes are considered more serious than possession because they have a potential of affecting more people. Understanding the consequences of these charges is the first step to building an effective defense.

Schedule I and II drugs include:

• Heroin
• Ecstasy
• PCP
• Cocaine
• Crystal meth

Schedule III, IV, and V drugs include:

• LSD
• Painkillers
• Steroids
• Prescription drugs

Schedule I and II drug sale charges carry a penalty of at 5 to 30 years in prison; a second offense results in 10 to 40 years in prison. Schedule III, IV, and V drug sale charges may result in 1 to 10 years, and increase with each consecutive conviction as well. In some cases, individuals could have their driver's license suspended for 180 days, preventing them from driving to work, school, or any other responsibilities they may have.

All kinds of drugs fall into the Schedule categories. If you are facing sales charges for opium, mescaline, mushrooms, or any other kind of prescription drug or other substance, it is vital to secure representation from a drug crime lawyer with the knowledge and skills necessary to help you explore all your legal options and build a capable defense against the criminal charges. Your future may depend on our dedicated criminal attorneys.

Paulding County Criminal Lawyer for Drug Sales Cases

You cannot afford any delay in taking action to defend yourself against drug crime charges as serious as these, and it is in your best interests to retain legal representation from our Paulding County criminal defense attorneys as soon as you learn that you are under investigation.

Contact Henrickson & Sereebutra today for a free initial case evaluation so that an attorney from our firm can review your situation and begin working on a strategy to protect your rights and your future.