Choose a Dedicated Drug Charges Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, to Craft Your Personalized Defense Strategy
In Pittsburgh, greater Allegheny County, and the whole of Western Pennsylvania, drug charges range from major drug busts involving numerous defendants to one-off arrests made when police officers find controlled substances in a vehicle during routine traffic stops. Whether you’re accused of having only an amount of controlled substances for personal use or of more severe allegations of possession with intent to deliver, a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer at Hadeed Law provides critical representation.
Don’t underestimate how a drug crime conviction could impact your life, or assume that there are no defense strategies that could prove effective in your case. Take back control of this situation with a free, confidential consultation with Hadeed Law, and find out what options you have for fighting drug crime charges. Contact the law firm today for help protecting your rights.
Caught With Weed? Call Hadeed for Defense Against Drug Charges of All Kinds
When you’re accused of having illegal drugs on your person or under your control, the legal consequences can bring life as you know it to a screeching halt. A misunderstanding or an offense that may have seemed like it was “no big deal” now puts you at risk of imprisonment, steep fines, and a criminal record that could impact you long after your sentence is over.
As a dedicated advocate for his clients, criminal defense attorney Samir Hadeed understands how difficult this situation is, and he’s here to provide the support you need to face the legal process. In his work as a drug charges attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, he regularly represents the common person caught with controlled substances for their own personal use. While drug charges often bring judgments from others, Mr. Hadeed approaches every case with compassion for his clients and their challenges, and he makes every effort to provide peace of mind throughout the legal process.
Understanding Drug Laws and Criminal Charges in Pittsburgh, PA
In Pennsylvania, there are laws against consuming drugs or even having controlled substances in your possession. Although such conduct may not be harming anyone else, the state still takes a strong stand against unlawful drug use, punishing those convicted with jail sentences and thousands of dollars in fines.
You need to fight these charges, and you need the committed guidance and unwavering advocacy of a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer to help you put up the most effective defense strategy possible for your unique situation.
Types of Drug Charges Hadeed Law Can Defend Against
In Pittsburgh, defendants face charges arising out of a wide variety of drug offenses. Section 13 of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (Act No. 64 of 1972) outlines numerous prohibited acts and their penalties in Pennsylvania. Other statutes of PA law further address drug-related offenses, including underage drinking, public intoxication, and DUI.
The types of drug cases Hadeed Law most often handles include the following.
Possession of Controlled Substances
In Pittsburgh, if you ’re caught with drugs in your possession in a quantity assumed to be for personal use only, you’re likely to face simple possession charges.
Under (a)(16) of Section 13 of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, it’s unlawful to knowingly or intentionally possess controlled substances. This includes both prescription medications for which you don’t have a valid prescription and street drugs with no accepted medical use.
It’s also illegal to possess drug paraphernalia of any kind, including equipment used for manufacturing, planting, harvesting, compounding, processing, storing, ingesting, or injecting controlled substances.
Drug possession under Pennsylvania law generally constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, although certain exceptions exist, such as lesser charges and penalties for possession of marijuana in an amount for personal use. However, with a prior offense on your record, you could be subjected to harsher penalties for simple possession of controlled substances: up to three years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
In drug possession cases, prosecutors in Pittsburgh may file criminal charges over both actual and constructive possession. Actual possession is more clear-cut, involving controlled substances found on one’s person. Even in cases arising out of actual possession, however, a skilled defense strategy can still challenge weaknesses.
In charges involving constructive possession, the controlled substance was not found on your person but instead in a place where you are alleged to have knowledge and control over the drugs, such as in your home, your car, or stashed in a hiding place elsewhere that you allegedly knew about. Constructive possession cases offer more opportunities for your defense attorney to challenge the prosecution’s assumptions, particularly if someone else had access to these environments.
Possession With Intent to Deliver
You don’t have to be a drug dealer to be hit with a charge of possession with intent to deliver (PWID) drugs in Pittsburgh. For one thing, the crime of PWID under Pennsylvania law encompasses any of the following activities:
- Selling drugs
- Transporting drugs
- Manufacturing drugs
- Distributing drugs for free at a gathering (social distribution)
Whether the prosecutor accuses you of furnishing drugs for others attending a party or selling drugs for profit, you could face the more serious consequences of PWID charges instead of simple possession charges.
Even if there isn’t sufficient evidence for the prosecution to charge you with drug trafficking, the government may build its PWID case against you based on subjective evidence such as:
- The quantity of the controlled substance you possess, which, in the eyes of the prosecutor, is too large to constitute possession solely for personal use
- The proximity of equipment such as scales or baggies that could be used for measuring or packaging drugs for delivery, regardless of whether any evidence that you were actually doing so exists
- A large amount of money in the vicinity, which the prosecutor may argue could have been related to drug sales
It’s possible to effectively challenge the prosecutor’s assertions, but a successful defense often depends on having skilled, dedicated legal guidance.
PWID is a felony offense in Pennsylvania, and it carries harsh penalties, potentially amounting to years or even decades in prison, depending on factors such as the type and amount of drug and any prior record you may have. To minimize the consequences of this legal issue, you need dedicated professional representation.
Drug Charges Involving Weapons Offenses
Drug crimes often go hand-in-hand with gun charges, which can lead to multiple charges and enhanced severity of your legal troubles. Hadeed Law routinely assists clients facing both drug charges and weapons charges, including unlicensed possession of a firearm or unlawful ownership. Attorney Samir Hadeed is committed to helping his clients:
- Understand what’s at stake in these complex legal issues
- Challenge the prosecution’s arguments and evidence
- Present the strongest possible defense
When a gun is involved in drug crime allegations, it can trigger harsher penalties, including longer prison terms. A defense attorney who understands the nuances involved in both drug crime and gun crime cases can help you put together the most comprehensive defense strategy possible.
Drugged or Drunk Driving (DUI)
If you’re accused of operating a vehicle with drugs of any kind in your system, or an amount of alcohol that exceeds the legal limit or that impacts your ability to drive or be in control of a vehicle safely, you could be charged with driving under the influence (DUI). Under Section 3802 of Chapter 38, Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, it’s against the law to drive while you have any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance in your system under any circumstances or any amount of a Schedule II or Schedule III controlled substance that hasn’t been medically prescribed for you.
In Pennsylvania, drug DUIs expose you to the same harsh consequences imposed on drunk drivers with the highest BAC level, regardless of the amount of controlled substances allegedly in your system at the time of the incident.
Public Intoxication
In Pittsburgh and elsewhere in the state, it’s illegal to be “manifestly under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance” in a public place to such an extent that you are deemed to be endangering yourself, others, or property. Under Section 5505 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 18, public drunkenness can constitute a summary offense punishable by up to $500 in fines for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a subsequent violation.
Underage Drinking
For defendants under age 21, consuming alcohol is a violation of Section 6308 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 18. This crime is a summary offense that can lead to up to $500 in fines or up to $1,000 in fines for a subsequent violation. Harsher penalties may be imposed if the underage defendant operates a vehicle after alcohol consumption (underage DUI). Often, underage drinking charges that arise out of incidents in bars, clubs, or liquor stores also involve the use of fake ID cards, which itself is a violation of Section 6310.3 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 18.
Drug Charges Arising Out of Traffic Stops
Charges of drug- and alcohol-related crimes can arise out of various situations, from an officer witnessing the alleged incident to uncovering incriminating evidence during large-scale investigations. However, in attorney Samir Hadeed’s extensive experience, most drug charges in Pittsburgh begin with traffic stops.
During a routine traffic stop, police officers may overstep the bounds of their authority and conduct an unlawful search of your vehicle based on what they claim is “probable cause.” In fact, this judgment of whether officers actually have probable cause that permits a search of the vehicle is often flawed, and it can be challenged by an experienced attorney who knows what to look for and how to position your arguments.
Because evidence acquired unlawfully can be suppressed and excluded from your case, successfully challenging the legality of the traffic stop or the search of the vehicle can result in dropped or reduced charges or a stronger defense. Through skillful execution of this strategy, Hadeed Law has secured results for clients charged with offenses such as drug possession, intent to distribute, trafficking, and manufacturing.
Defenses a Drug Charges Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, Can Develop for You
How can a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer defend against charges when the police have already acquired evidence against you? Depending on the circumstances, there are numerous paths that could prove effective, including defenses based on the following arguments:
- False allegations or mistaken identity, in which your attorney may argue that the evidence against you does not tie you to the drugs beyond a reasonable doubt, or that a witness was mistaken or lying
- Lack of knowledge of the drugs’ presence or of having control over them, especially in cases of constructive possession charges
- Lack of intent to deliver in the context of PWID charges, which involves establishing that, while you had drugs in your possession, they were only for personal use
- Possession of a valid prescription for medical use of drugs that are classified in Schedules II through V
- Improper procedures for obtaining and processing evidence against you, including law enforcement entrapment, unlawful search and seizure, or gaps in the chain of custody while law enforcement was in possession of the evidence
- Insufficient evidence to prove all elements of the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt
Not all drug charge cases will proceed the same way, which is why having a dedicated attorney on your side to prepare a customized defense strategy is essential. Depending on the specific facts of your situation, you may benefit from a combination of strategies, such as motioning to have some evidence against you suppressed while also building strong arguments to present in court.
How Hadeed Law Can Help
When you need a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer who is ready to provide full-service legal support, you need Hadeed Law. Attorney Samir Hadeed will:
- Thoroughly investigate the case to gather evidence and identify opportunities for challenging law enforcement procedures
- Develop a personalized defense strategy based on the specifics of your case
- Represent your interests in every stage of the legal process, every hearing, every filing, and every proceeding
- Consider all avenues for a favorable resolution and advise you on the pros and cons of taking a case to trial, accepting a plea deal, or seeking entrance into a diversion program
Mr. Hadeed considers every client’s unique circumstances, including their individual goals, and he fights for the most favorable outcome possible in your situation.
Why Choose Hadeed Law as Your Pittsburgh Drug Crime Lawyer?
Hadeed Law is known throughout Western Pennsylvania for strong capabilities both in and out of the courtroom, representation for a breadth of criminal legal issues, and advocacy for resolutions with clients’ individual needs in mind.
A Blend of Negotiation and Trial Skills
Whether your case goes to trial, ends in a plea deal, or offers grounds for entry into a pretrial diversion program, you’re in good hands with attorney Samir Hadeed on your side. Mr. Hadeed’s skills in both negotiation with prosecutors and preparing and presenting cases in court ensure that you’re ready for any path.
Comprehensive Criminal Defense Services
Drug crime charges can sometimes accompany other accusations. Mr. Hadeed defends clients against an array of criminal charges, including gun crimes, assault, robbery, and more. He also handles expungement, helping those who are eligible under state law get offenses removed from their records.
A Focus on Favorable Outcomes That Match Your Goals
While Hadeed Law is committed to securing the most favorable outcome possible, attorney Samir Hadeed recognizes that individual clients may have different needs. Whether you prefer to avoid going to court or you want your chance to present your case before the jury, that goal should factor into your legal strategy. Mr. Hadeed will base your legal strategy on your priorities.
Contact a Pittsburgh Drug Crime Lawyer at Hadeed Law Today for a Free Consultation
Pittsburgh prosecutors don’t take drug charges lightly, and neither should you. Having an attorney fighting for you means having the strongest possible chance of minimizing consequences.
You don’t need to take on costs or obligations just to make sure you understand your legal options. A free consultation with attorney Samir Hadeed allows you to get your questions answered and your case reviewed.
For help from a drug charges attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, contact Hadeed Law online or call 412-275-5413 today.