Dallas Cocaine Possession Defense Attorneys

As one of the most aggressively prosecuted drug crimes in Dallas, cocaine possession charges can be exceedingly frightening. You will need to do everything you can now, while you still have the chance, to protect your future. With that in mind, the Dallas cocaine possession defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter will work with you to develop a legal strategy that actively challenges each and every aspect of the charges leveled against you.

Why do I need a cocaine possession lawyer?

A conviction for possession of cocaine could have a serious impact on your life and livelihood. Punishment could include heavy fines, incarceration, probation, and a permanent criminal record. Individuals who’ve been convicted of a felony often cannot pursue certain jobs in some professions or may miss out on other opportunities. To protect your reputation, your livelihood, and your freedom, be sure to hire an experienced attorney to defend you.

Your lawyer will work to build the strongest possible defense on your behalf. This might include arguing that you did not actually possess the drug or were not aware that the drug was on your person. A strong defense could also include questioning the nature of your arrest and identifying mistakes or errors in the case against you.

The charges you face are serious but know that you have the right to hire a lawyer to defend you. With so much on the line, don’t trust your defense to an apathetic, inexperienced, or overwhelmed attorney. Instead, turn to a lawyer who has a record of successfully representing people in situations similar to yours, and trust your case to someone who can put up a strong defense for you.

Possible Charges for Cocaine Possession

Texas has very strict penalties and enforcement mechanisms for drug possession charges. Under Texas law, those charged with cocaine possession are sentenced pursuant to Penalty Group 1 in this state, charges for the alleged possession of any amount of cocaine can be altogether devastating. Depending in large part upon the exact amount of cocaine one is alleged to have possessed, individuals in Dallas may potentially face the following:

  • State jail felony—alleged possession of less than 1 gram
  • 3rd degree felony— alleged possession of 1 to 4 grams
  • 2nd degree felony— alleged possession of 4 to 200 grams
  • 1st degree felony— alleged possession of 200 to 400 grams
  • Life imprisonment—alleged possession of more than 400 grams

While these potential punishments may seem harsh, they aren’t set in stone. Though the potential consequences of any of these charges may be devastating, you must remember that you have not yet been convicted of anything yet. That’s why it’s so incredibly important to have a dedicated and professional team working by your side to mitigate the damage and help you recover from the charges against you. Our Dallas legal team will do everything they can to help keep you from the worst possible case scenario. Call our team today to help us help you.

Cocaine Possession in Texas

Texas law classifies cocaine as one of the most dangerous controlled substances to have in possession. If you are unsure of the laws regarding cocaine possession, you are not alone. Read on to learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on this topic.

Is it legal to possess any cocaine in Texas?

No, it is not legal to possess cocaine in Texas in any amount. In fact, the least possible penalty for cocaine possession in the state is a state jail felony for less than 1 gram – resulting in jail time of up to 2 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The crime classification, jail time, and fine all increase with the amount of the drug in possession. There may also be more strict sentences for those with past criminal records, particularly if they include other incidents of cocaine possession. Although the primary charge filed in these types of cases is cocaine possession, there’s a fair amount of overlap between drug possession and drug trafficking law in the state of Texas. Transportation of a Schedule II drug like cocaine with the intent to give it to another person, even if it’s just to a friend, can be enough to earn a drug trafficking charge. The same is true if you transport cocaine across state lines or even if you transport it accidentally. It’s especially dangerous if cocaine has been transported from one country into another. Though these types of charges can be especially concerning, there are legitimate avenues of defense to downgrade the charges and lessen the consequences.

What determines your exact sentence for cocaine possession?

While the volume of the drug gives a general guide to the penalty, there are really a number of factors that will affect the final sentence, including your criminal history, the judge, and the exact details of your particular case. While there are guidelines for the maximum sentence possible for each level of possession, there are no guarantees. In many cases, a high-quality lawyer can massively reduce or even completely avoid jail time. That’s why it’s so imperative you call our team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter today – we can’t help you figure out how to decide on the proper defense techniques or help you answer difficult questions like this one until you get in touch with us.

Is it possible to avoid jail time for possessing cocaine in Texas?

Yes, it is entirely possible to have the charges against you reduced or dropped, and there is no guarantee that you’ll be forced to spend time in jail. It is critical to hire an attorney with experience defending those who are charged with cocaine possession. Your attorney will determine the best strategy to defend you and will advise you on all of your options, which could include taking the case to trial or negotiating for reduced charges or penalties.

Cocaine Possession Defenses

For a charge as serious as cocaine possession, your attorneys need battle-tested defense methods that are proven to work in the courtroom. There are a few lines of defense that are common and relatively successful across all areas of drug possession law. These include:

  • Unwitting Possession – An unwitting possession defense entitles proving that the person charged with cocaine possession did not know they were in the possession of the drug. This normally entails another person slipping the drug into a package or something else innocuous that the individual who’s been charged delivers without knowing the true contents.
  • Lack of Possession – Another possible defense is that the defendant has been charged with possession of a drug when they never had possession. This typically occurs when another individual, like someone renting their house, possesses a drug on the individual’s property without their knowledge.
  • Abuse of Power by Law Enforcement – This defense constitutes a line of argument that the steps taken by law enforcement in this particular case did not comply with the law. Examples of this include failure to obtain a warrant and illegal search and seizure.

Consult with a Dallas Cocaine Possession Defense Attorney

If you are charged with cocaine possession in Texas, it is necessary to have a qualified and dedicated attorney by your side. These charges can have a serious effect on your future and livelihood, and the attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter are ready to help you fight for what you deserve. For more information about how to handle the consequences of drug possession in Texas, please contact us at (214) 845-7007.

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TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.
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