South Carolina Drug Crimes Attorney
Being charged with a drug crime like possession or trafficking is a difficult situation to be in. Life after a conviction is even more difficult because a conviction can have far-reaching effects on many aspects of your life. If you have been accused of committing a drug crime in South Carolina, our attorney at The Law Offices of R.F. Johnson Jr. knows how to reduce the chance that you will be convicted.
We have helped clients throughout South Carolina avoid convictions, and in cases where avoiding a conviction entirely was not possible, he has helped his clients to minimize the negative effects of their convictions on their lives.
You need a defense attorney before you talk to the police. Call 803-462-4427 for a committed and aggressive protection of your constitutional rights.
Convictions Carry Multiple Consequences
If you have been accused of a drug crime, you may know about some of the consequences that you may experience if you are convicted. The penalties for drug charges in South Carolina are assessed based upon your prior criminal record if you have one, as well as the type and quantity of the drug you are arrested with. The following examples are just a few of South Carolina’s penalties for drug offenses.
If you are arrested with under 10 grams of cocaine and it is your first offense, you are likely to be fined $5,000 and sentenced to two years in jail. If this is not your first offense, fines can be even greater, and sentences increase to between five and 30 years.
First-Time Marijuana Offenders In South Carolina
First-time offenders who are arrested for possession of under an ounce of marijuana could spend up to 30 days in jail. If you have over an ounce of marijuana in your possession, your sentence could be as much as five years for a first offense. Repeat offenders can expect increased sentences based on how many prior offenses they have had as well as how much marijuana they have at the time of their arrest.
Being convicted of possessing two grams or less of heroin could result in a fine of $5,000 and two years in jail. A distribution conviction or subsequent possession convictions can add up to fines up to $50,000 and sentences of up to 30 years.
Of course, fines and jail time are not the only ways that you will be affected by your conviction. Employers ask questions about drug offenses, on job applications. Careers that require security clearances or professional licenses can be difficult to pursue after a drug crime conviction because your conviction could affect your eligibility for the clearance or license that you need. Housing, student loans and other things that you may want or need can become difficult to obtain when there is a conviction on your record.
Ways To Minimize The Consequences
If you have been accused of a drug crime, your freedom is at risk in many ways. The Law Offices of R.F. Johnson Jr. will help you protect your freedom by seeking dismissals of charges and reductions of penalties, whenever possible. The options that are available in your case vary, depending upon the circumstances of your case.
Contact Us
Attorney Ronald F. Johnson understands that it can be hard to know whether a particular option that is offered to you as a means of resolving your drug case is a good option. He will help you to understand any and all options that are presented to you in light of the things that you identify as your main priorities.
Call us today at 803-462-4427 or use our online contact form to learn more about how we can help you to fight for your legal rights.