Heroin Defense Lawyers in Tuckerton, New Jersey Will Work to Clear Your Charges
Heroin has become increasingly common in New Jersey, and because of the availability of the drug, New Jersey has sanctioned tougher penalties in order to combat it. With law enforcement's attention on heroin, more users and providers are getting arrested.
With substantial amounts of heroin making its way into the NJ pipeline, heroin has become less expensive and more dangerous. Heroin in New Jersey ends up being purer than normal heroin supplies across the US. Because of the easy availability and strength of the drug, many teenagers are becoming addicted to heroin in NJ.
Defeating a heroin charge requires a smart legal strategy so you can combat heroin possession or distribution charges. Your rights need to be protected in the event of severe drug charges like possession or distribution.
Charged for a heroin drug possession crime in Tuckerton, New Jersey? Secure counsel from the heroin attorneys at Villani & DeLuca before time runs out.
Heroin Arrests According to New Jersey Law (N.J.S.A 2C:35-10)
Heroin possession is a 3rd degree felony in New Jersey and comes with a five-year jail term and a substantial fine of up to $35,000.
Are you grappling with heroin addiction in New Jersey? Heroin is destroying the well-being of many young people in New Jersey annually. If you are a heroin addict and have been arrested and charged with a drug crime, contact a NJ drug defense attorney for help.
NJ Drug Possession Attorneys with Extensive Experience
Partner Carmine Villani, Esq. has been defending clients for heroin possession and distribution crimes since Villani & DeLuca opened in 1996. As a past criminal prosecutor, Mr. Villani has experience on both sides of the court (defense and prosecution), which can be leveraged to help your legal strategy.
Protect Yourself from These Serious Heroin Charges
Heroin convictions come with harsh penalties, both regarding jail time and potential fines and in terms of future employability. The penalties for a conviction can be as much as 20 years in prison for a multiple offender of heroin-related violations.
Your verdict has a lot to do with the variables of your arrest. The total number of ounces of heroin on your person during your arrest will factor into whether you should be charged with possession or distribution. Conditions like school zones also play a major role.
Simple Heroin Possession in NJ
If you are arrested for possession of heroin, prison is not inevitable. Your drug defense lawyer can push for conditional discharge or a Pretrial Intervention (PTI), if it is your first offense. There are other considerations that may cause your charges to be reduced or dropped, including possibly unlawful search and seizure, which an educated criminal defense attorney will assess.
You do not need to be in possession of a very large amount of heroin for an arrest to result in intent to distribute charges. Convictions for intent to sell heroin can face five years in prison with a top fine of $75,000 and a withdrawn driver's license.
Heroin Distribution and Intent to Distribute Laws in New Jersey
Heroin distribution is no different than intent to distribute in the eyes of NJ drug laws. 3rd degree heroin distribution involves less than 0.5 ounces of heroin, while weights of more than 5 ounces count as a crime in the first degree. A jail sentence of 10-20 years and a $500,000 fine may be the result of a first degree heroin conviction.
Heroin Distribution and Possession in or Near a School Zone
Fines and other penalties like prison time are increased substantially when the heroin charge occurs in or near a school zone, which includes school buses and extends to areas up to 1,000 feet from the building or vehicle. If you are picked up in a designated school zone, there is a fixed prison sentence with fines of up to $150,000 if convicted. Your lawyer should be experienced in drug crimes so that your heroin charges are kept to a minimum in the event of a conviction.
Don't Permit Heroin Charges to Ruin Your Life
Irrespective of being arraigned with heroin-related charges in New Jersey, you have many options available to pursue with an experienced NJ drug crimes law firm. With a solid defense, your heroin lawyer can help your case.
Was the search and seizure of the drugs and paraphernalia legally authorized and correct procedure followed? If not, you have the grounds for a potentially very strong case. The drug defense lawyer you hire will point out any unlawful procedures that led to your arrest.
Another means to avoiding heroin prosecution may be to pursue a conditional discharge, depending on your criminal record. Conditional discharge is a way of avoiding a criminal record under the condition that you will go on probation.
If you are a first-time offender, prison time is unlikely if your lawyer and the prosecution agree to a Pretrial Intervention (PTI). This program is designed for rehabilitation rather than imprisonment and enables defendants to undergo drug treatment therapy to ward off further drug-related crimes and arrests in NJ.
Villani & DeLuca Heroin Defense Attorneys are Ready For Your Call
Talk with the lawyers at Villani & DeLuca in a free assessment in order to discuss your heroin charges. We are available at your convenience, night and day. Start arranging your defense in Tuckerton with a phone call to (732) 709-7757.