Drug Crime Defense in Mount Vernon: Attorneys Fighting for Your Rights
Being accused of a drug crime in Mount Vernon, Washington, is a scary and frustrating experience—the outcome of which can have long-lasting and detrimental effects on your life.
Navigating Skagit County criminal courts is less frightening if you count on the trusted expertise of knowledgeable and nonjudgmental Washington State defense lawyers. Our firm has been a long-time trusted practice, providing the best defense possible to our clients throughout Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region.
Trusted, Aggressive Representation When Facing Drug Charges
The seasoned criminal defense attorneys at Washington Criminal Attorneys, PLLC, understand that being convicted of a drug crime charge in Skagit County and Mount Vernon goes beyond just the stigma of having a criminal record. It can also lead to jail time, fines, child custody problems, asset seizure, and issues with employment and finances.
Our drug crimes attorneys have deep knowledge of Washington’s drug crime statutes and the local rules regarding all criminal cases, enabling them to formulate a strong, effective defense with the goal of reducing the impact these serious charges have on your life.
Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor offense for simple drug possession or are accused of a felony drug offense for the sale, manufacture, distribution, or trafficking of illegal drugs, our Mount Vernon, Washington, drug crime attorneys are ready to defend your case with the aggressive stance necessary to minimize the long-term consequences of a conviction.
Our top priority is protecting your freedom by seeking to have your charges dropped or reduced or negotiating alternatives to jail or prison.
What Are Considered Drug Crimes in Mount Vernon?
Drug crimes in Mount Vernon, Washington, are outlined under the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act and further codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) under Chapter 69.50. As such, drugs are categorized into Schedules, ranging from Schedule I through Schedule V, with each schedule determining the penalties of specific drug crimes.
For example, knowingly possessing a controlled substance without a valid prescription is a prosecutable offense under RCW 69.50.4013. Possession, Use of Controlled Substance is a gross misdemeanor punishable with up to 364 days in jail and steep fines, depending on the criminal history of the offender.
More serious drug offenses, including felony drug charges involving dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, put offenders at risk of longer periods of incarceration and more exorbitant fines. Luckily, we have the resources, knowledge, and experience to minimize the fallout of being charged with a drug crime in Mount Vernon and Skagit County.
Skagit County’s Drug Court system emphasizes diversion and treatment for individuals charged with drug crimes in Mount Vernon. For instance, with the passage of SB 5536 in 2021, which reclassified drug possession as a gross misdemeanor, your Mount Vernon drug crimes lawyer can often work with prosecutors to lessen this type of offense and ensure minimal impact on your life.
FAQs From Our Mount Vernon Drug Crimes Attorneys
What Should I Do First When Charged with a Drug Crime?
It is important to contact a competent drug crimes attorney immediately after your arrest or while you’re being investigated. Avoid speaking with law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office until your attorney is present.
What Are the Potential Penalties for Drug Crimes in Mount Vernon?
The possible penalties for defendants adjudged guilty of a drug crime in Mount Vernon depend on several factors, including the type of drug and its scheduling by the federal government, the defendant’s criminal history, and whether any extenuating factors exist, such as selling drugs within close proximity to a school.
Persons found guilty of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with the intent to manufacture or deliver drugs may face:
Schedule I or II Controlled Substances
The RCW 69.50.401 states that “A controlled substance classified in Schedule I or II which is a narcotic drug or flunitrazepam, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, classified in Schedule IV, is guilty of a class B felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or (i) fined not more than $25,000 if the crime involved less than two kilograms of the drug, or both such imprisonment and fine; or (ii) if the crime involved 2 or more kilograms of the drug, then fined not more than $100,000 for the first two kilograms and not more than $50 for each gram in excess of 2 kilograms, or both such imprisonment and fine.”
Amphetamines
According to RCW: “Amphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, or methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, is guilty of a class B felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than ten years, or (i) fined not more than $25,000 if the crime involved less than 2 kilograms of the drug, or both such imprisonment and fine; or (ii) if the crime involved 2 or more kilograms of the drug, then fined not more than $100,000 for the first 2 kilograms and not more than $50 for each gram in excess of 2 kilograms, or both such imprisonment and fine. Three thousand dollars of the fine may not be suspended. As collected, the first $3,000 of the fine must be deposited with the law enforcement agency having responsibility for the cleanup of laboratories, sites, or substances used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers. The fine moneys deposited with that law enforcement agency must be used for such clean-up cost.”
Schedule I, II, or III Controlled Substances
Persons convicted of a drug crime involving these substances are guilty of “a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20, except as provided in RCW 69.50.475.”
Schedule IV Controlled Substances
With the exception of flunitrazepam, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, individuals found guilty of drug charges involving these drugs under the RCW face “a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20.21 RCW; or (e) A substance classified in Schedule V, is guilty of a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.”
Marijuana
Cannabis charges (RCW 69.50.4014) in Mount Vernon, Washington, can result in various penalties and punishments depending on the amount of possession, sale, or distribution.
What Are Some Drug Crimes Defenses?
Although each case differs, our expert team will consider several potential defenses against drug charges when determining the best course of action in your case. Some of these include chain of custody issues or issues arising from illegally performed searches and seizures by law enforcement.
Compassionate, Aggressive Representation for Drug Crimes
If you have been arrested for a drug crime in Mount Vernon or Skagit County, or if you’re under investigation for illegal drug activity, you probably have many questions.
Washington Criminal Attorneys, PLLC strives to help our clients understand the charges they’re facing, what they can expect before, during, and after arrest, and the potential consequences of a drug conviction.
Facing drug charges in Mount Vernon, Washington, without the help of an experienced drug crimes attorney is a foolhardy move. A competent, knowledgeable drug crimes lawyer can investigate the validity of the charges against you, challenge any evidence presented in your case, and work with the prosecutorial team in your case to improve your chances of a dismissal or lesser charges being levied.
Trust our legal team of Washington criminal attorneys to become trusted advocates who represent you at each stage of the proceedings against you in your Skagit County drug crimes case.
