Connecticut Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer
People who are arrested for drug crimes are usually worried about going to jail. Whether or not jail is a likely outcome depends on the case and whether it is charged in state court or federal court.
I'm John Walkley, a drug crimes defense lawyer in Monroe, Connecticut, serving people in New Haven by appointment. Generally, there are two types of drug charges: merely possessing drugs or selling drugs. The type of drug may be marijuana, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, or methamphetamines. People can also be charged with illegal use of prescription drugs such as Oxycontin.
With more than 24 years of criminal defense experience in state and federal court, I know what you are facing whether you are charged in state court or federal court.
In the Connecticut state court system, depending on the nature of the drug, your prior record, and the quantity of the drugs that are a part of your case, there is a good chance we can get in and out of court without having to worry about you going to jail. There are programs we can get you involved in and things you can do to minimize the penalties. Examples of drug diversion programs in Connecticut are the Drug Education Program and the Community Service Labor Program. If you are first-time offender, unless you are charged with being a kingpin in a drug conspiracy, there are generally things we can do to get the charges dismissed after you complete some term of probation.
The playing field is not exactly the same in federal court. The federal statutes are far more onerous, with mandatory sentences, higher sentences generally, and sentencing guidelines. These factors make it harder, if not impossible, to get in and out of federal court without obtaining a criminal record. But even in the worst cases, you are always entitled to your day in court. If your case can't be resolved in a way that is acceptable to you, you have a right to a trial. If your case needs to be tried, I am the defense attorney to handle your trial.
If you are facing a criminal record or jail time, I can help you negotiate for the best possible outcome or defend you in court. I have been successful in obtaining not guilty verdicts after trial as well as negotiating fair and reasonable plea bargains without trial.
As in any other criminal case, there are several defenses in drug cases. For example, if there was an illegal stop or improper search, perhaps the drug evidence can be suppressed. If the evidence is suppressed, the case may go away. Sometimes, a defense attorney can influence whether a drug case is prosecuted at the state or the federal level. I know how things operate in the state and federal courts and what federal prosecutors may be looking for in a federal drug case. I will protect you from being misled in state court that your case will be referred to federal court when that is not likely to happen.
For a free initial consultation, contact drug crimes defense lawyer John Walkley.
