Defending Against Opioid Drug Dealing Charges in St. Petersburg, Florida
Opioid Drug Dealing Defense Lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida FL
The opioid addiction crisis has had a devastating effect on rural communities and suburban communities throughout the United States. If an individual has been arrested for drug dealing opioids in the state of Florida, that individual face is significant potential penalties due to the crisis. Opioids include morphine, opium, oxycodone, heroin, codeine, OxyContin, and Vicodin. Opioids are highly addictive, and unlike many other drugs sold illegally in Florida, opioid sellers are typically opioid users. In other words, most people who are dealing opioids are addicted to opioids, and our drug dealing to "feed their addiction."
Unfortunately, states like Florida do not differentiate between people who are dealing illicit drugs due to addiction versus those who sell for profit. Florida criminal statutes do not discern those who need help and a second chance versus those who are running an illicit business. Therefore, any individual charged with an opioid drug dealing Offense will face maximum penalties and punishments. If you or a member of your family has been charged with opioid drug dealing, it's essential that you speak with one of our St. Petersburg drug crime defense attorneys As quickly as possible. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers work quickly to build a criminal case against an offender. The next few hearings will involve whether or not the prosecutor's evidence may be permitted as evidence into the criminal trial.
If you or a loved one are facing drug dealing charges in St. Petersburg, Florida, you need solid advice and expert legal assistance. Our aggressive and knowledgeable opioid drug dealing defense attorneys in St. Petersburg are ready to answer your important questions and discuss your options. Call Musca Law 24/7 at 727-513-8080 or stop by our local law office located at 111 2nd Ave NE, Suite 912, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 for your free case review.
Musca Law understands the complexities of Florida law, and our legal professionals also empathize with the human aspects of the nation's opioid drug crisis. The nation's opioid drug crisis has had a devastating impact on our nation, and this is why our firm fights exhaustively to help our clients get into court-approved rehabilitation facilities as part of probation. Musca Law, we believe everybody deserves a second chance and that prison is not a viable solution that benefits society as a whole. It is clear to our firm that incarceration does not solve the problems since all offenders are eventually released. We believe that people need treatment and opportunities to stave off recidivism.
Penalties for opioid drug dealing charges in St. Petersburg, Florida
Any individual charged with the unlawful dealing of opioids will face severe penalties such as loss of driver's license, property seizure, immigration consequences, gun rights, loss of professional licenses, lengthy probation, legal fines, public humiliation, a criminal record, and incarceration for many years.
According to Florida statute section 893.13, it is a felony to deal with opioids in the state of Florida. Specifically, manufacturing, delivering, selling, or possessing with intent to sell or distribute opioids is a second-degree felony in Florida. Accordingly, an individual who has been convicted of these offenses faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, and a long probationary period after release from prison.
The state's prosecution may also seek enhanced penalties that could include minimum mandatory prison sentences for the distribution of opioids in prohibited areas. These prohibited areas by statute include a 1,000-foot perimeter around schools, public parks, childcare facilities, public housing, community centers, universities, colleges, churches, or any other place of worship. According to Florida law, distributing opioids in a school zone is an offense that is punished with a minimum mandatory three-year prison sentence. The maximum prison sentence is up to 30 years in prison for a first-degree felony in Florida.
It is also a felony to deal drugs to minors or do use minors to sell narcotics. Using a child to sell opioids is a first-degree felony punish with up to 30 years in prison. Also, most people do not understand that it is also a first-degree felony to use a child as a lookout to help a dealer avoid detection by police. In Florida, an individual who has been convicted of employing a child in drug dealing is ineligible to receive a suspended sentence or split sentence.
Possession of opioids without a valid prescription written by a licensed medical professional is a third-degree felony in the state of Florida. The penalties include up to five years in prison and a fine of no more than $5,000. Simple possession does not carry a minimum mandatory prison sentence, and there may be an opportunity for your Musca Law attorney to fight for probation instead of incarceration.
Under Florida Statute Section 893.13, if the illegal activities injure a first responder such as a law-enforcement officer, federal agent, paramedic, fire and rescue crew member, emergency medical technician, or public utility worker, The offender will be charged with a third-degree felony. If the first responder has been killed do a violation of the section, the offender will be charged with a second-degree felony.
Legal defenses against opioid drug dealing charges in St. Petersburg, Florida
Opioid drug-dealing criminal charges typically arise after a police officer executes a search warrant, stop and search of a car, stop and search of a person on the street, or when the police witnessed what they thought was a hand-to-hand drug sale. Typically when an individual has been charged with selling your possessing with the intent to sell, this means the offender did not have enough of the illegal drugs on them to warrant a drug trafficking charge. Regardless of how the criminal charges arose in the case, there are several legal defenses to counter those allegations. A few examples of legal defense could be used for opioid drug dealing charges in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys understand how to fight Charges at the pretrial stages.
Fighting the criminal charges prior to trial involves filing a motion to suppress evidence. A motion to suppress pleading put the prosecutors and criminal justice court on notice that the accused is alleging that place violated his or her constitutional rights. Are usually a judge, well I told hearing concerning the motion to suppress and rule whether or not police officers violated the defendant's rights to be free from illegal searches and seizures granted by the Florida state constitution and the United States Constitution. For example, if the police violated the accused constitutional rights by searching their persons without probable cause in order to do so, the judge could suppress any or all of the evidence that was seized during this "unlawful seizure. "If the prosecution doesn't have any evidence to proceed, the case will be dismissed.
Trial Defenses are similar in all types of drug cases. In some circumstances, it could be an effective strategy to contest the type of substance found on the accused. Also, if the accused was not found with a large amount of the controlled substance, it could be successfully argued that the accused did not violate Florida's possession with intent to distribute but was simply possessing drugs for personal use. The jury may also conclude that the accused was simply found in "simple possession. "
Free case review end 24/7 at 727-513-8080
If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with any type of dealing drug offense, including opioids, rely on our firm's experience, knowledge, and reputation for results. Call Musca law at 727-513-8080 or visit us at our local law office located at 111 2nd Ave. NE. Suite 912, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Musca Law
Address: 111 2nd Ave NE Suite 912, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Hours: Open 24 hours
Phone: (727) 513-8080
Q9F8+RJ St. Petersburg, Florida