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Accomplished Sevierville Attorneys Serving Clients Accused of Drug Crimes
Protecting people in Sevierville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge facing misdemeanor, felony and federal drug charges
We have a drug problem in this country – and not only because people use drugs. The legal problem is that our drug sentencing laws are incredibly strict and incredibly harsh. The sentencing guides at the state and federal level for drug crime convictions are all aimed at keeping people in jail or prison, and less on the rehabilitation of offenders and other common-sense solutions.
For this reason, among many, the single most important thing you can do if you stand accused of a drug crime is to call a defense lawyer. The Sevierville-based Delius, McKenzie & McCarter is well-known throughout Sevier County, including in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, for offering tough, aggressive defense strategies for clients accused of a drug crime. You simply cannot afford to wait if you are charged; hiring a lawyer from our firm can be the difference between going home and going to prison.
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Common types of drug charges
Most drug crimes fall into one or more categories, including:
- Paraphernalia. You do not actually have to have drugs on you to be charged with a drug crime; owning or being in close physical proximity to paraphernalia – like bongs, syringes or scales, for example – is enough “evidence” for a law enforcement official to charge you.
- Possession. A possession charge means you physically have drugs on your person or in your property. If a cop pulls you over while you’re driving and finds a baggie of marijuana on your passenger seat, or frisks you at a club and finds cocaine or a prescription drug like OxyContin, you can be charged with possession.
- Manufacturing. In Tennessee, manufacturing drugs is a felony crime. So is the cultivation of marijuana plants.
- Trafficking. This is a felony crime, and it encompasses all elements of dealing, selling, manufacturing and transporting illegal drugs. If you stand accused of trafficking drugs you may also face federal charges… even if you never left the State of Tennessee. Further, trafficking drugs in certain areas such as school zones carry harsh mandatory minimum sentences.
As you can see, many of these charges will overlap, making it easier for law enforcement to upgrade your charges and to ensure longer sentencing.
Misdemeanor, felony and federal drug charges
There are only a handful of misdemeanor drug charges in Tennessee:
- Simple Possession
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Faking a drug test
- Casual Exchange of a Small Amount of Drugs
Every other drug offense will be charged as a felony. You will face up to 60 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 if convicted of only one charge. If you face multiple charges and are found guilty of all of them, your fines and prison time can and likely will increase.
Federal charges are even harder. Essentially, every person who is accused of a drug crime by a federal agent – like a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or a park ranger at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – will face federal charges. If you are caught by a non-federal agent while you are on federal lands, you will face federal charges. If you are caught by a local law enforcement official on state-owned property, but that official has partnered with a federal agency, you will face federal charges. And you will face these federal charges on top of your state charges, not instead of them. Furthermore, federal sentencing guidelines mandate that anyone convicted of a drug crime must serve out the full amount of time in federal prison. Thus, if you are charged by the federal government with cultivating 500 marijuana plants and also attempting to sell more than 15lbs of weed, you could conceivably be convicted of 120 years in prison to be served back-to-back, without any possibility of parole.
Fortunately, you do have options if you are facing serious drug charges in Tennessee. The Sevierville-based drug crime attorneys of Delius, McKenzie & McCarter have successfully represented clients in both state and federal courts. We know how serious the consequences are when you are convicted of a drug crime, and we stop at nothing to have those charges dropped completely. If that is not possible, we put our keen negotiation skills to work to have your charges reduced, or we can put our experience and skills to work for you in court to have you acquitted. We do not back down from a challenge, and we do whatever is within our power under the law to protect your future and uphold your rights.
Speak with an experienced Sevierville drug defense lawyer about your case
Delius, McKenzie & McCarter has proudly represented clients in Sevierville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and throughout East Tennessee, in trials and in negotiations. Our success speaks for itself. We promise to never stop fighting for you. To make an appointment with an accomplished drug defense attorney, please call 865-428-8780 or fill out our contact form. Our team offers in-custody visits.