Get The Legal Help You Need!
[phonenumber]
Drug possession penalties in Texas can be severe, with the potential consequences depending largely on the substance’s Penalty Group classification and the total amount allegedly possessed. If you were recently arrested or learned that drug charges are pending, you are probably feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what comes next.
The most important thing you can do today is talk to a legal professional who handles these cases every day and who can evaluate the specific facts surrounding your arrest.
Contact The Love DuCote Law Firm LLC at (832) 471-6904 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our drug possession lawyers in Sugar Land, TX, who can assess the charges against you and begin mapping out a defense strategy.
Texas classifies controlled substances into several penalty groups under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, and the group a substance falls into directly affects the severity of the charges you face. Each group is organized based on a drug’s potential for abuse and whether it has an accepted medical use:
Penalties for drug possession in Fort Bend County depend on the type and amount of the substance involved. Under Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.115, even a small amount of a Penalty Group 1 substance can result in a state jail felony:
Beyond incarceration and fines, a conviction of a drug crime in Texas can trigger a suspension of your driver’s license for up to 90 days. Losing your ability to drive legally can affect your job, your family responsibilities, and nearly every part of your daily routine.
Texas drug possession laws impose enhanced penalties if you are caught with drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, youth center, or certain other designated areas. In a community like Sugar Land, where schools and parks are spread throughout neighborhoods near the Brazos River corridor, these zones cover a large portion of the area. An enhanced charge can increase your minimum punishment by adding additional time to any sentence a judge or jury might impose.
A drug possession charge is not automatically a conviction. Depending on how the stop, search, and arrest were conducted, several defenses may apply to your case:
With over 40 years of collective experience, we are committed to putting your needs first and protecting your interests at every stage of the process. Defending clients in Sugar Land, Fort Bend, Houston, Harris County, and Katy, Texas, we have secured favorable case results that include dismissals for possession of dangerous drugs, possession of marijuana, and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance in a school zone. We dig into the details of your arrest, build a defense around the specific facts of your case, and fight for the best possible outcome at every stage.
Yes. Texas law allows prosecutors to charge anyone who had care, custody, control, or management of a controlled substance, even if it belonged to someone else in the vehicle or home. However, the State must still prove that you knowingly possessed the substance, and there are strong defenses available when someone else actually owned the drugs.
Officers can search your vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe it contains contraband. However, simply being nervous during a traffic stop or being in a high-crime area does not automatically give them the legal right to search. If the search was conducted improperly, the evidence found may be inadmissible in court.
Texas law recognizes certain exemptions that may apply in Sugar Land drug defense cases. The most common exemptions include:
Are you or someone you care about facing drug possession charges in Sugar Land, Fort Bend, Houston, Harris County, or Katy, Texas? A strong defense starts with getting the right people in your corner as early as possible, and we are prepared to put our resources and knowledge to work for you. Reach out to our team at The Love DuCote Law Firm LLC at (832) 471-6904 or contact us online as soon as possible.