Erie, PA Drug Possession Lawyers

Veteran Criminal Defense Lawyers go to Battle for Clients Accused of Drug Possession in Erie County, PA

Accusations of drug possession cannot be taken lightly in this day and age—Pennsylvania law enforcement officials are serious about these crimes, and the legislature has developed equally severe penalties if you are found guilty. A conviction for drug possession is serious and can have lasting consequences that can impact every aspect of your life. In addition to monetary fines and jail time, a conviction for drug possession can result in loss of driving privileges, probation and the need to disclose your conviction to potential future employers and even landlords.

Regardless of the type of drug possession, you have been accused of, you need a skilled criminal defense lawyer by your side to fight to minimize the potential damage that conviction can cause. At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our veteran team of Erie, PA criminal defense lawyers have the experience necessary to build the strongest possible defense in your case and will explore every potential strategy to get your charges reduced or dismissed if at all possible.

Pennsylvania Drug Possession Charges Vary Case-by-Case

Under Pennsylvania law, several factors will be important in determining the severity of a drug possession charge, including:

• The type of drug involved (for example, possession of marijuana will carry less severe penalties than possession of heroin),
• How much of the drug you had in your possession,
• Whether you have a prior record, and
• Whether you intended to deliver or distribute the drug, or simply possessed the drug for your own personal use (an element that can often be inferred from the amount you had in your possession).

Some of the possible drug possession charges that can apply in Pennsylvania include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Possession of drugs. This crime requires establishing that you knowingly possessed illegal drugs without a prescription or license. Convicted first offenders can face up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, while subsequent offenders may be sentenced to up to three years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
• Possession with intent to distribute. This crime is essentially drug possession with the added element of intending to sell or deliver those drugs, and can be based upon the amount of drugs in your possession, whether those drugs were packaged for sale and other relevant factors. Possession with intent to distribute can be either a misdemeanor or felony charge, with jail sentences ranging from one year to 15 years, and up to $250,000 in fines.
• Drug paraphernalia possession. Drug paraphernalia includes items relating to the use or manufacture of the drugs themselves, including pipes, needles, rolling papers and any other related items. Possession of drug paraphernalia is generally a misdemeanor carrying up to a one-year jail term and/or $2,500 in fines. If the drug paraphernalia is distributed to a minor who is at least three years younger, an additional misdemeanor charge will apply.