Drugs seem to sneak into just about every area in the world. Recently, in Port St. Lucie, FL, the police stopped a young man and took him to the police station for booking. The police were prompted to approach the young man because he was walking along at night with a few friends. The activity was suspicious, so the cops approached. When the police approached, one of the officers smelled the pungent smell of marijuana. The police searched the young men because of the smell, and they found some items that made them suspect the intent to sell.
The officers found a jar of marijuana, a small amount of money ($320) and a scale. All those items pointed to the sale of marijuana. The young man who had the drugs was driven to the county jail to face his charges. The other teens stayed and went through questioning. While the officers were questioning them, they disclosed that the jailed teen is the local drug dealer. People refer to him as “the weed dealer.” The teen will be facing some charges, and the consequences will depend on several factors.
Penalties for Drug Charges in Port St. Lucie, Florida
The penalties for drugs in Florida are extensive. The state of Florida tries its best to ensure that drug use and distribution stays at a minimum. The consequences of a drug possession charge can be severe. For example, a person can receive a fine of up to $5,000 and up to five years for possessing drugs. Intent-to-sell crimes are a different sector of crimes that fit the previously discussed incident perfectly. Intent can land someone in jail for as long as 15 years depending on the substance. Schedule I and II items carry the heaviest weight for intent charges. An accused person will want to speak to a St Lucie drug defense lawyer about the case to find a solution.
How an Attorney Can Help
An attorney can help in a number of ways. He or she can protect the client by trying to find a loophole in the system first. Procedural errors are the number one reason that some people end up free of drug charges. A St. Lucie drug defense lawyer can try to decrease reasonable doubt by making the prosecution prove that the drugs belong to the defendant, as well.
If you or someone you know has been through a similar incident as the above-mentioned incident, you may contact our firm at (772) 489-8501.
