Sheridan Drug Crimes Lawyer

Davis & Cannon, LLP aggressively defends criminal clients throughout the State of Wyoming. We have extensive criminal litigation experience at both the misdemeanor and felony level including DUIs, drug offenses, white collar crime, sexual assault, and homicide.

Wyoming’s drug laws are some of the toughest in the nation. A conviction for possession of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and certain prescription drugs carries serious penalties. Punishment can include fines, prison time, and seizure of assets. Parents may also face child-endangerment charges.

Drug crime cases that involve large quantities of firearms may open you up to federal as well as state charges. If you are facing charges for any type of drug crime, an experienced Wyoming defense attorney can help protect your rights, reputation, profession and family life.

The criminal defense team at Davis & Cannon, LLP has been defending individuals charged with drug crimes in Gillette, Cheyenne, Sheridan and all of Wyoming for more than 70 years. We have successfully defended clients in cases involving the sale, distribution, and possession of illegal substances, and we want to help you. Contact an experienced Wyoming drug crimes defense attorney today at (307) 672-7491 for a free and confidential consultation about your case.

What To Do If You Are Facing a Drug Charge

If you have been charged with a drug crime, you are likely worried about paying hefty fines, and the possibility of serving time in jail or prison.

Even those convicted of first-offenses are at risk of serious consequences.

Penalties increase for second and subsequent offenses, as well as if any aggravating circumstances were present at the time of your arrest.

With the help of skilled legal counsel, however, those facing their first prosecution may be able to negotiate a deferred prosecution, which allows probation instead of a trial and criminal conviction.

Upon successful completion of such a program, the individual may be able to walk away without a criminal record.

What a Drug Crimes Lawyer Can Do for You

An experienced defense lawyer can help you determine your rights and options, and position you for the best possible outcome. In some cases, a plea bargain may be the most appropriate legal strategy. This is when your attorney negotiates with the prosecution for a lesser charge or lesser sentence.

For example, if you are facing charges for a second or subsequent offense, your attorney may be able to have your jail sentence reduced if you plead guilty. But attempting to plea bargain or “sentence bargain” without legal counsel is an exceedingly bad idea.

Furthermore, being charged with a serious drug crime does not preclude you from the protection of constitutional rights. If any of those rights were violated during your arrest, associated evidence may be deemed inadmissible.

If the arresting officer did not have probable cause to stop you or your vehicle, your case may be dismissed. Even minor errors can negate incriminating evidence. The experienced defense legal team at Davis & Cannon, LLP knows how to look for laboratory errors and rights violations, and we will use them to your advantage.

Types of Drug Charges We Defend

Penalties for drug crimes in Wyoming depend on multiple factors, including the circumstances of your arrest and whether you have a prior criminal history. If, for example, your charges involve firearms or possession within 500 ft of a school, penalties can increase significantly.

Possession

Illegal drugs, also called controlled-substances, are categorized by their potential for abuse and addiction. Possession of controlled substances without a prescription is illegal in Wyoming, but Schedule I and II drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine garner the stiffest penalties.

Examples of drugs listed on each schedule include:

• Schedule I: Heroin, Marijuana, LSD, Ecstasy
• Schedule II: Methamphetamine, Cocaine, PCP
• Schedule III: Hydrocodone, Codeine, Barbiturates
• Schedule IV: Benzodiazepines, including Xanax and Valium
• Schedule V: OTC cough medications with Codeine

Although penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs generally stop at jail time of up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000, possession of large amounts may be punishable by fines of up to $15,000 and up to seven years in jail.

Trafficking

The term drug trafficking applies to the manufacture, possession, or transportation of large quantities of an illegal, controlled substance. Federal charges may also apply if drugs were being moved across state borders.

Penalties for Drug Trafficking in Wyoming

In Wyoming, drug trafficking is a felony offense. Penalties vary widely, based on the amount of illegal drugs in your possession and prior criminal history. If you have been charged with drug trafficking, you may be facing up to 20 years in prison per charge and fines of up to $25,000 per charge.

Contact Davis & Cannon, LLP Today

Drug crime charges can often be reduced, especially for first offenses, and when no aggravating circumstances were present. That being said, a reduction in charges requires a thorough understanding of this particular area of the law. Without extensive knowledge of procedural requirements during a search, Miranda rights, and legal methods of processing an arrest, it is extremely difficult to obtain a reduction in, or dismissal of, charges. Don’t make the mistake of trying to go it alone.

If you have been charged with drug possession, distribution, or trafficking, the skilled legal team at Davis & Cannon, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of Wyoming residents who have been charged with all types of crimes for more than seven decades. Our experienced, knowledgeable lawyers have successfully defended countless clients against drug crimes charges. Don’t try to fight these charges on your own. Contact Davis & Cannon, LLP today at (307) 672-7491 for a free and confidential consultation about your case.