Knoxville Drug Possession Defense Attorney

Lawyer for Clients Facing Charges of Simple Possession and Felony Possession

If you have been charged with the possession of illegal drugs, the consequences associated with a conviction are serious. You could also face severe damage to your personal and professional reputation. At the Knox County law firm of Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney, we know how a conviction on drug possession charges could change your life, and we are equipped to offer the guidance and representation you need.

Drug Possession Charges and Penalties in Tennessee

Under Tennessee law, you can be charged with simple possession or casual exchange for having even a small amount of illegal drugs. In most cases, simple possession is prosecuted as a misdemeanor offense, but larger amounts and a history of convictions could result in the charge being handled as a felony. For the majority of people, a first conviction on simple possession charges may result in jail time of up to 11 months and 29 days and a fine of up $2,500, regardless of the drug in question. For a second possession charge, the type of drug matters, as possession of more dangerous substances like heroin or LSD will result in more serious charges, including possible felony charges.

While social attitudes and laws in other states have relaxed regarding marijuana in recent years, possession of marijuana is still a crime in Tennessee. Tennessee law does not even have a medical cannabis program in place. If you are found with marijuana in your possession, you could face criminal prosecution. If you have been charged with simple possession of marijuana, our team is ready to help you protect your rights and your future.

In addition to marijuana cases, our firm also helps those facing charges related to the possession of:

• Heroin;
• Cocaine and crack cocaine;
• LSD;
• MDMA and Ecstasy;
• Methamphetamine;
• Prescription drugs without a prescription; and
• All other illegal or controlled substances.

Protecting Your Constitutional Rights in Drug Possession Cases

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees your right to be free from the unreasonable searches and seizures. To protect this right, police must generally obtain a warrant from a judge before they can search your home. A search of your vehicle may be conducted without a warrant in some cases, but the police must have probable cause to believe that they will find evidence of a crime.

If a police search is found to violate the Fourth Amendment, the evidence discovered in the search could be deemed inadmissible by the court, including illegal drugs. Without the evidence, the charges against you could also be dismissed. Our team will review your arrest and the actions of the police to find any possible violations of your rights. From there, we will help you take appropriate action.

Forward Thinking Attorneys in Mascot and Farragut

Depending on the circumstances of your case, negotiating with prosecutors might be your best option to avoid a conviction. Programs such as suspended prosecution or judicial diversion could be available to allow the charges against you to be cleared by successfully completing the programs. In other situations, a plea agreement could result in reduced penalties and long-term damage to your future. If such options are appropriate, we will help you take advantage of them, but we are also equipped to defend your innocence before a judge and jury as well.

Contact Our Knoxville Drug Possession Defense Attorney

If you are facing drug possession charges in Eastern Tennessee, contact our office. Call 865-281-1000 to schedule your free, confidential consultation and case review today. At the law firm of Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney, we serve clients in Knox County, Union County, Anderson County, Campbell County, Blount County and the surrounding areas.