Heroin Possession
Mercer County Heroin Possession Defense Lawyer
If you are convicted of possession of heroin and/or distribution of heroin in Mercer County you are exposed to severe penalties such as: incarceration in the New Jersey State Prison with the possibility of a period of parole ineligibility;probation, loss of your driver’s license; community service; and a permanent criminal record. Accordingly, if you find yourself facing a charge relating to possession of heroin, it is important that you hire a defense attorney who knows what to look for to beat the case outright or who, at the very least, is experienced in negotiating a resolution that is in your best interest. Many of the defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are former county prosecutors so they have insight into how a drug-related investigations should be conducted.
With over 100 years of combined experience, the criminal lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have handled heroin possession cases stemming out of all areas of Mercer County, including East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown Princeton, Robbinsville and Trenton. Our heroin criminal lawyers will carefully analyze the facts of your case and determine whether there are any constitutional violations, which if exposed could potentially lead to the State from using the evidence seized by the police against you. If appropriate, our attorneys will work with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office to try to get you into the special probationary programs of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) or Drug Court. If you are facing a possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) charge and you would like to talk with one of our lawyers about what your next step should be, you can call us at (609) 683-8102 to have a free consultation or to set up a meeting at our office, which is conveniently located in Princeton.
Possession of Heroin in Trenton New Jersey
Over the last couple of years, it has become blatantly obvious that the number of people struggling with heroin addiction in New Jersey has grown exponentially. Many people believe that New Jersey’s heroin “epidemic” is a direct result of the fact that the product on the street today is much purer and cheaper than it was years ago. Although there is a perception that heroin use is only found in inner cities, such as Trenton, many individuals facing the charge of possessing this substance are from affluent, suburban areas. We often hear stories of good people becoming addicted to prescription pills and then turning to the cheaper street drug of heroin after running low on funds for oxycodone and other substances. These people then usually start snorting heroin in a powder form and then, to speed up the time it takes to get high, eventually start injecting it with a hypodermic needle. After being caught purchasing or possessing heroin for personal use, they then find themselves facing very serious charges.
In New Jersey, heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (CDS), and therefore, possessing even trace amounts of it constitutes a 3rd degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1) which carries with it 3 -5 years in New Jersey State Prison and a fine of up to a $35,000.00.
Packaging of Heroin
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have represented clients charged with possessing small amounts of heroin for personal use and large amounts of heroin, which was alleged to have been possessed for the purposes of distributing. Heroin is usually packaged and sold in glassine envelopes, sometimes referred to as “decks” or “bags.” The glassine envelopes often bear a stamp, which is essentially a brand name signifying the quality of the product to the user. Ten bags rubberbanded together is referred to as a “bundle.” Five bundles, which are usually wrapped in a brown paper bag, are referred to as a “brick.”
Can the Police Search Your Car?
Our Federal and State constitutions guarantee you the right from being exposed to an unreasonable search and seizure. Typically, after a police officer stops your motor vehicle, he/she needs to obtain a warrant to search it. There are certain exceptions to this rule. One such exception to the warrant requirement is the “automobile exception.” Under Federal law, so long as the officer has probable cause that a car contains contraband, he/she can search it due to the fact that it is readily moveable. However, the New Jersey Supreme Court has interpreted our constitution to afford greater protection. In New Jersey, in order for an officer to be justified in conducting a warrantless search of your car, he/she needs probable cause that the car contains evidence of a crime AND “exigent circumstances” exist, which make it impractical to obtain a warrant.
The experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have gotten drug possession cases dismissed outright by successfully arguing during motions to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless seach of a car that the State could not establish that emergent circumstances existed, which gave an officer a basis to bypass the warrant requirement.
Hamilton NJ Heroin Possession Lawyer
Our legal team has the vast knowledge and experience needed for building a strong legal defense and fighting to keep you out of jail. The facts and circumstances of every heroin possession case are different and unique so if you would like to speak with a lawyer with the know how to help you, contact our firm.
Our attorneys are accomplished litigators who have defending countless possession of heroin cases in Hamilton and other municipalities like West Windsor, Lawrence Township and Pennington. For an immediate consultation with an attorney free of charge, contact our Hamilton Office at 609–414-7775.