Fayetteville Drug Crime Attorney
Arkansas takes drug crimes very seriously. If you’ve been charged with possession or trafficking of a controlled substance, you need to find a Fayetteville drug crime lawyer who can provide you with legal advice and representation as soon as possible after your arrest.
Having a lawyer on your side improves your odds of beating your charges and reduces the chances that you’ll face substantial fines and prison time.
Trust the Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC
When it’s time to choose a criminal defense lawyer in Fayetteville to represent you in your drug crime case, turn to the Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC. For years, our team has been helping clients in Fayetteville and the surrounding area, just like you, negotiate favorable plea deals and even get charges dropped entirely. We provide strategic legal defense that focuses on defending your rights while simultaneously pursuing every opportunity to improve your situation.
Fayetteville Drug Crime Lawyer
Call Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC today at 870-376-3068 for your Free Consultation!
Why Hire a Drug Crime Lawyer?
In 2022, 16.9% of the people convicted of crimes in Arkansas were found guilty of drug crimes. In 2023, 69.5% of the people found to be trafficking drugs were found in possession of methamphetamine, making this substance the state’s most serious problem. Almost 44% of the federal charges levied against Arkansas residents that year were for drug trafficking.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you’re facing charges for possession of marijuana or trafficking methamphetamines. Either way, you need to hire a drug crime lawyer who can help you fight your charges and protect your rights both pre-trial and in court.
Your Fayetteville drug crime attorney can explain the charges you’re facing and their potential consequences and help you decide whether you want to take a deal or go to trial at the Washington County Courthouse.
Types of Drug Crimes in Arkansas
There are four types of drug crimes you can be charged with in Arkansas. Each of them is classified differently and carries a different set of penalties:
- Drug possession. Drug possession in Arkansas is divided into actual and constructive possession. The distinction between them is that with actual possession, you have the drugs on you. With constructive possession, they were in your area of control. Penalties depend on what drug you had, how much of it you had, and whether you have a criminal history.
- Drug distribution or delivery. Distribution refers to the sale, gift, or transport of drugs to another person. In Arkansas, intent to deliver is enough to charge you with distribution. Evidence such as text messages, packaging, scales, and large quantities of drugs can be considered proof of intent to deliver. This crime is punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison.
- Drug manufacturing. Manufacturing refers to the production of illegal drugs. Common examples include running a meth lab, pressing counterfeit pills, or creating extracts from marijuana. Drug manufacturing is often prosecuted as a Class Y felony, which carries penalties of 10 to 40 years or life in prison.
- Drug trafficking. Drug trafficking refers to the movement of large amounts of drugs with the intent of distributing or selling them. The amount of each substance you need to have on you to be charged with drug trafficking can vary significantly, and there are mandatory minimums for this charge, which means the judge must sentence anyone convicted of trafficking to prison.
Understanding Drug Schedules
Like the Federal government, Arkansas breaks down controlled substances into different schedules. They include:
- Schedule I. There is no accepted medical use for this type of drug, and a very high risk of abuse.
- Schedule II. There is a high potential for drug abuse, but some accepted medical uses.
- Schedule III. There is a moderate risk for abuse, but it has a recognized medical use.
- Schedule IV. There is a low risk for abuse and a broadly accepted medical use.
- Schedule V. There is low narcotic potential.
Schedule VI. Schedule VI is unique to Arkansas and covers substances like marijuana.
FAQs
The new drug laws in Arkansas focus primarily on regulating the prescription drug market and making minor administrative changes to the state’s medical marijuana program. There have been no recent changes to drug laws that would impact the sentencing of anyone convicted of possession or trafficking, and Arkansas has yet to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
The amount of drugs considered trafficking in Arkansas is defined by weight thresholds that vary depending on the
schedule of the controlled substance in question. If you reach the weight threshold for drug trafficking, you can be charged with a Class Y felony. The exceptions to the rule are fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, which are considered separately.
How much a possession charge in Arkansas may cost you depends on what type of substance you were caught in possession of and how much of it you had. Charges for possession can range from Class A misdemeanors to Class A felonies, so the fines and jail time vary significantly. Some people spend no time at all in jail, while others spend years in prison and pay thousands of dollars in fines.
Drug crimes have a statute of limitations in Arkansas. The statute of limitations for misdemeanor drug charges is one year from the date of the offense. The statute of limitations for felony drug charges is usually three years from the date of the offense. There can, however, be exceptions depending on the specific circumstances. If you’re facing drug charges, you should consult an attorney immediately.
Your Fayetteville Drug Crime Lawyer
If you’re facing charges of drug possession or trafficking, you need a skilled Fayetteville drug crime lawyer on your side. The Law Office of Geoffrey D. Kearney, PLLC, has been handling drug crime cases for years.
Our team is intimately familiar with drug crime laws and knows how to use them to minimize the chances of conviction or help you avoid the worst possible outcomes of a conviction in your case. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.