With the government becoming ever more aggressive in the War on Drugs, facing a drug delivery charge is a very serious matter. According to the Florida criminal code, “the delivery of 20 grams or less without remuneration is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of 1 year imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,000.” This is basically the same as simple possession. A drug conviction in Florida also results in a two-year suspension of driving privileges. With those sanctions, even a misdemeanor possession with no jail time can still be a major inconvenience. Drug delivery or possession in larger amounts is a felony, as is selling drugs or possessing drugs within 1000 feet of a school or other specially protected area. A felony can have much worse immediate and long-term consequences. It means longer sentences and larger fines, and Florida is one of just two states (along with Alabama) to disfranchise all convicted felons for life.
The good news is that the Constitution guarantees you the right to legal representation. If you are facing a drug charge, you need an Orlando criminal attorney to protect your rights. An Orlando criminal attorney can provide you with legal advice and advocate for you at every step of the process.
Our system is based on the presumption of innocence, and that principle holds even in drug trials where the case is a matter of the officer’s word against the defendant’s. One long established legal principle is that illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible in court. Sometimes the police carry out an illegal or unreasonable search. This can happen with an unethical cop who routinely ignores the rules, or with an honest and well-meaning law enforcement officer who made a mistake. In either case, an Orlando criminal attorney should be able to have the evidence excluded and the case dismissed.
An Orlando criminal attorney can also help a person who is completely innocent. Sadly, there are dirty cops just like there are crooks in every other walk of life, and sometimes dishonest officers plant drugs on innocent people. If this is the case, an Orlando criminal attorney can try to show the judge or jury that the officer is untrustworthy. A person accused of drug delivery might have done nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This could involve any number of innocent actions, such as picking up a guilty hitchhiker or unknowingly visiting a residence where illegal activity takes place. If there is no evidence that you knew or should have known about the drugs, a good Orlando criminal attorney should be able to help.
Even if you simply made a poor decision, an Orlando criminal attorney can assist you. A first time offender with a small amount of marijuana and no aggravating circumstances may be eligible for a plea bargain and a diversion program. We can advise you throughout this process, obtaining the best possible deal for you and allowing you to move on with your life.
