Quinnipiac Drug Lawyer
No matter what specific drug crime you were accused of committing, a top criminal defense attorney can help you effectively secure a positive outcome to your case and even address any disciplinary actions your school may take against you.
Are All Drugs Penalized in the Same Manner?
Drug prosecutions can vary wildly based on what type of substance is involved, how much of that substance law enforcement finds in a person’s possession, and what that person intended to do with it. Connecticut adheres to the same five schedules of controlled substances set by the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Typically, offenses involving higher-scheduled drugs are prosecuted more harshly than lower-scheduled drugs, but various extenuating circumstances can make penalties upon conviction more severe. Thankfully, a Quinnipiac drug attorney can help clarify what particular rules and regulations may apply to a specific case.
Can I Be Penalized for Legal Drugs?
Beyond scheduled drugs, Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §21a-245 also makes it a misdemeanor offense to fraudulently obtain, sell, or manufacturer “legend drugs” such as antibiotics and birth control pills. CGS §21a-266 extends the same restrictions to possessing or reselling controlled medications like Percocet and Vicodin, except that this particular offense is a felony.
How Does Alleged Paraphernalia Impact a Case?
If you are found in possession of paraphernalia in addition to drugs, you may be charged more severely. As defined by Connecticut state law, the term “paraphernalia” in this context includes anything that may be used to produce, package, sort, test, or transport a controlled substance.
The way this definition is worded is important, because it allows law enforcement officers a great deal of leeway when determining what constitutes paraphernalia. If someone is found with a significant amount of a controlled substance, even innocuous items like plastic bags and scales could be construed as evidence of intent to distribute, which would result in far more severe penalties upon conviction than a simple possession charge would.
CGS §21a-270 defines various factors a court may take into account when determining whether an item can be considered paraphernalia, including their proximity to a controlled substance, residue of controlled substances, and oral and written testimony from various sources. Representation from an experienced drug lawyer in Quinnipiac may be crucial to contesting these kinds of allegations and minimizing the charges an individual defendant faces.
How Do the School Disciplinary Hearings Affect Me?
The Quinnipiac University Student Handbook establishes that drug-related provisions in Connecticut state law apply to all students and faculty on campus. It also states that, while seeking medical attention for someone suffering from an overdose will not exempt the reporting party from disciplinary action for their own conduct violations, it will be factored into what possible sanctions they may receive from a conduct hearing.
Depending on the circumstances and the specific offense alleged, Quinnipiac students may be subject to loss of access to student events, temporary suspension, removal from campus, or permanent expulsion. However, the Student Handbook also guarantees a number of rights to anyone accused of a conduct violation, including the right to be notified of allegations and associated procedures, the right to bring witnesses in their defense, and the right to appeal. Students and parents of students may also retain outside legal counsel to help plan for school disciplinary actions, although they cannot represent a student in person like they would in a criminal trial.
Talk to a Quinnipiac Drug Attorney Today
Your odds of obtaining a positive resolution to drug charges often depends on the quality of the legal representation you retain. Call Mark Sherman Law today to speak with a knowledgeable Quinnipiac drug lawyer about your case.