Facing Drug Charges in the DFW Area?
Call Fellman Law Office at (214) 530-2056
Drug crimes are among the most complicated and difficult charges to understand. Whether or not the offense is misdemeanor or felony, and its degree, depends on incredibly obscure and hard to understand legal factors such as penalty group, weight, and even the location in which you were arrested.
A conviction for a drug offense can have serious, lifelong, consequences including driver’s license suspension, ineligibility for student aid or loans, loss of citizenship or legal status, loss housing or public assistance.
Getting a Drug Offense Dismissed:
- Pretrial Diversion: Pretrial diversion is a program for certain types of qualifying offenses / offenders where the charge is dismissed in exchange for successful participation in a court-supervised program. Unlike some offenses, there are often numerous pretrial diversion options available for drug offenses.
- Conditional Dismissal: A conditional dismissal is a private agreement reached between your attorney and the prosecutor where the prosecutor agrees to dismiss the charge against you upon proof that you have completed certain conditions. Unlike pretrial diversion, there is no formal supervision by the Court or community supervision / probation.
- Class C Reduction: On occasion, the State may be willing to dismiss a misdemeanor or felony assault charge in exchange for no a contest plea with deferred probation on a Class C (citation punishable by fine only) offense. Because Texas allows you to expunge a Class C offense after deferred probation, this ultimately provides a mechanism to get a dismissal and completely expunge the arrest from your record.
- Plea in Bar: A plea in bar occurs where the State agrees to dismiss one or more charges in exchange for an agreed resolution or plea to some other pending charge.
- Set for Trial: Depending on the charge, the Court, and the prosecutor, the State simply may not have the stomach for a trial. For example, in Dallas County, it is practically unheard of the for a misdemeanor or even state jail drug case to go to trial. It is common for prosecutors to insist on probation or jail right up until a case is set for trial, and then ask your defense attorney, “What’s it gonna take to make this case go away?”
- Acquittal: On occasion, the best way to resolve your case may simply be to set the case for trial and try the case before a jury or a judge. You are presumed innocent, and the State has the burden of proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If you are found not guilty, you receive an Acquittal and are eligible to expunge the arrest immediately
If you have been charged with a drug offense, felony or misdemeanor, including:
- Possession of Marijuana
- Possession of Controlled Substance
- Delivery of Marijuana
- Man / Del of Controlled Substance
- Prescription Drug Fraud
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
You owe it to yourself to at least consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to find out whether your case can been dismissed, reduced, or otherwise kept off your record.
Need Help with a Drug Charge?
If you have been arrested, charged, or have found out that you have a warrant for a drug offense, contact Fellman Law Office at (214) 530-2056 and ask for a free consultation with attorney Marc Fellman.