If you are facing any type of drug charge, you need to understand the possible Charleston drug penalties that you could experience. In addition to prison time, fines, and probation, a conviction could also result in potentially serious damage to your professional and personal relationships.
Having a seasoned attorney with a successful track record on your side could help you fight the charges and eliminate or minimize the possible penalties stemming from the drug charges. The knowledgeable drug lawyers at Adams & Bischoff could offer you thoughtful advice on how to proceed while helping you vigorously fight back against the accusations.
What Kind of Criminal Penalties Could You Face for Drug Charges?
The type of penalties that you face in Charleston upon conviction on drug charges varies significantly based on several factors.
Type of Substance
The type of substance found in your possession can make a significant difference in the potential penalties you could face. For instance, a first-time conviction for possession of marijuana could bring a maximum fine of $200 and a maximum of 30 days in jail. However, a first-time conviction for possession of cocaine could bring up to a three-year prison sentence and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Amount of Drugs and Intent
The amount of drugs found in your possession can also make a significant difference in the penalties you could face. Having a large quantity of drugs in your possession could change the charges you face from simple possession to distribution or even trafficking. Consequently, the resulting penalties are often substantially larger for greater quantities of drugs and for crimes involving distribution instead of mere possession.
First-Time or Repeat Offender
Courts are generally more lenient on first-time drug offenders. According to South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated § 44-53-450, if you are a first-time offender, you may even be eligible to take part in a diversion program. If you qualify, you could potentially enroll in a drug education class, which would allow you to get the charges dismissed and then potentially expunged from your record. Repeat offenders often face heavier fines and longer potential prison sentences for drug charges.
Our dedicated Charleston legal team could work diligently toward the best possible outcome. We could fight the charges and also negotiate on your behalf to reduce the charges, explore possible diversion alternatives, and minimize the resulting drug penalties that you face.
What Other Effects Could a Drug Conviction Have on Your Life?
In addition to criminal penalties, being convicted on drug charges in Charleston can have other damaging effects on your life. You would need to disclose your drug conviction on any future job applications, which could impair your ability to obtain a new job. You would also have to disclose your criminal record on a college application and any housing or other loan application. Being associated with a drug crime could affect your professional and personal relationships with colleagues, clients, friends, and family members.
Our skilled attorneys know how damaging drug convictions can be, which is why we could fight on your behalf.
Consult With a Charleston Drug Penalty Attorney
Like most other states, South Carolina treats drug offenses very seriously. Convictions can bring harsh Charleston drug penalties. The well-practiced and experienced attorneys at Adams & Bischoff could work to help you fight the charges and minimize the potential penalties.
Consult with our legal office to learn what we could do to safeguard your rights and protect your freedom.