Bethesda Drug Arrests and Cases

Going through a drug arrest can be stressful and complicated. Understanding Bethesda drug arrests and cases are critical if someone is facing drug charges. There are many benefits to learning more about how the Bethesda drug arrest process and read through common cases. There are several charges someone could face if they were arrested on drug charges. Evidence plays a major role in drug cases and can influence the outcome of the trial. An attorney can fight the state’s charges and evidence on the person’s behalf.

If you are facing drug charges or have been arrested for drug possession, consult an attorney. A skilled drug lawyer can assist you during this process. Learn more about Bethesda drug arrests and cases, and receive the legal representation you deserve.

Drug Arrests

Drug offenses can include being charged with possession, possession with intent to distribute, or distribution. There are some other rare things if a person has a large amount of it. There is also conspiracy charges if a person is acting with somebody else and people are involved, but those are the primary the most significant ones, and they are fairly common.

If the officer has probable cause to believe that a person is in possession of narcotics, they can search that person. If they do not have it, they need consent. Now, they can do a pat down for the officer’s safety, but they cannot stick their hands in someone’s pockets unless they could feel something that could be a weapon of some sort.

Jury Trial and Bench Trials

Possession cases can be either in front of a judge in a district court or a jury trial in circuit court. A person actually could also have a bench trial in circuit court if that person wanted to. But if they are dealing with a felony of possession with intent or distribution, they cannot have a trial at a district court in front of a judge; a person has to go to circuit court. Now, in a circuit court, they have the option of having a jury trial or a bench trial.

Length of Cases

A possession drug case in Bethesda is quicker because it all stays in the same court unless a person is taken to jury trial. In that situation, from start to finish, the individual is looking at maybe a couple of months.

If someone is dealing with a felony case, it could take longer. In Bethesda drug arrests, a person has a preliminary hearing within thirty days of being formally served the paperwork. After that, if it proceeds to a circuit court, they will have an arraignment date, which could be anywhere between weeks to a month or so. Then, they will have a motions hearing date possibly a couple of months after that, followed by a trial date. And then, they are going to impose probates, which often times can happen if there are unresolved issues in advance of trial. Essentially, a circuit court case can be several months.

Evidence and Elements

They have to prove the nature of the item, that it is illegal, that a person knew it, and that they possessed it. If it is a felony case, then that person might have distributed it or they are was intending to distribute it. They can do that by officer testimony, phone conversations, wiretaps, text records, eyewitnesses, undercover operatives, confidential informants, and observation of what the police officer saw.

Usually, the element of who possessed it and whether the possession was an amount to indicate a felony applies.

Constitutional Issues and Sentencing

There certainly could be search and seizure violations for warrants, wiretaps, and things of that nature. Especially in the case because, if the key evidence is not coming in, then the prosecutor will have a hard time building their case. Similarly, if the evidence does come in and the defense is contemplating whether to go to trial or not; they just have a big influence of how defenses should proceed.

There has been a huge push recently for treatment in lieu of incarceration as the thinking is that punishing people is not a deterrent because when they finish a person’s sentence in jail, they still have the desire to do the wrongful behavior whereas if they get somebody treatment, a lawyer could take away the desire and will never see them again in the courtroom for having committed another offense. That is why there is a strong push for that. Exploring those options could be very helpful.

Consulting an Attorney

Going through a drug arrest and case can be very difficult and stressful if someone does not have legal representation. A lawyer has the skills and knowledge to fight the State’s evidence on their client’s behalf and represent them in court. If you have been arrested for drug charges, consult a dedicated attorney who can help you through this process. Bethesda drug arrests and cases can be challenging without legal advice from a lawyer.