Mississippi Drug Manufacturing Defense
Skillfully Representing Clients Accused of Serious Drug Crimes
If you were arrested for allegedly manufacturing drugs in Mississippi, it’s critical to protect yourself by getting legal representation as soon as possible. The right criminal defense attorney for your case can craft a strong defense to avoid or reduce the severe penalties you face if convicted of this serious crime.
When you hire Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, to represent you, you’ll get the legal guidance you need as you navigate the criminal justice system. We understand the complex drug laws that will affect your case, and we’ll use this knowledge to formulate and support a solid defense angle that will get you the best possible outcome. If you’re worried about how your drug charges will affect your future and want to fight the accusations in court, contact our law office to discuss your legal options with our trusted attorneys.
What Should You Know About Drug Manufacturing Charges in Mississippi Before Your Case Begins?
As you prepare to fight the criminal charge you’re facing, it’s essential to understand what it means and how it differs from other drug violations in this state. If you were arrested on a drug manufacturing charge, this means the police believe you’ve been involved in illegally producing, processing, or preparing one or more controlled substances.
So, if you’re found in possession of the chemicals, seeds, or equipment to grow marijuana or make methamphetamine, fentanyl, ecstasy, or other controlled substances, you could face drug manufacturing charges. The same is true if you own or operate a property where drugs are manufactured, supply the equipment or materials to make them, or help package and label the containers for drugs manufactured by someone else.
If there is evidence that you were involved in any of these drug manufacturing steps, you’ll likely face felony charges that can carry stiff penalties, such as prison time and costly fines. This is why it’s important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to guide you through the legal process after your arrest for an alleged drug offense.
Even misdemeanor drug charges, such as drug paraphernalia and possession of small amounts of marijuana, can have harsh penalties that a skilled attorney can help you avoid. However, felony drug convictions often come with mandatory minimum sentences that include several years in prison, so you should protect yourself by hiring a lawyer to build a solid case against serious drug charges like drug trafficking and manufacturing. Contact our law office today to learn how our legal team can defend you against the drug charges you’re facing in Mississippi.
What Penalties Do You Face for Drug Manufacturing Charges in Mississippi?
Drug manufacturing is one of the most serious drug offenses you can face in this state, so you could end up with expensive fines and years in prison if you’re convicted of this drug charge. Your punishment will depend on a few factors, including the type and quantity of controlled substance you’re accused of manufacturing.
More specifically, your penalties will be affected by the category the drug falls into, since this state divides different controlled substances into five schedules based on their accepted medical uses and potential for abuse. If you’re charged with manufacturing drugs that have zero or few medical uses and a high potential for abuse, you’ll likely face severe penalties if convicted. Consider the five drug schedules in this state:
- Schedule I: These controlled substances have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Examples include heroin, LSD, peyote, marijuana, and ecstasy.
- Schedule II: These drugs have a high potential for abuse and limited accepted medical uses. Examples include cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, codeine, opium, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin.
- Schedule III: These drugs have a moderate to low potential for abuse and some accepted medical uses. Examples include anabolic steroids, ketamine, testosterone, and Tylenol with codeine.
- Schedule IV: These controlled substances have a lower potential for drug abuse and several medical uses. Examples include Ambien, Soma, Xanax, Valium, Tramadol, Darvocet, and Ativan.
- Schedule V: These drugs have the most accepted medical uses and the lowest potential for abuse. Examples include Lomotil, Lyrica, Motofen, and Robitussin AC.
Generally, if your drug crimes involve Schedule I or II drugs, you’ll face the harshest possible penalties since these are considered the most dangerous controlled substances. So, if you’re accused of manufacturing drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, or heroin, you could be sentenced to up to $50,000 in fines and up to 8 years in prison. This is the typical punishment for less than 2 grams of Schedule I or II drugs.
Being caught with higher quantities of these drugs can lead to harsher penalties, since the prosecutors could claim you made the drugs with the intent to sell them rather than for personal use. For this reason, drug trafficking and manufacturing charges involving large quantities of controlled substances often have mandatory minimum sentences. For instance, if you’re arrested for allegedly manufacturing 2 to 10 grams of a Schedule I or II drug, you could face 3 to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
Higher quantities, such as 10 to 30 grams, could result in 5 to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000. You could even get life imprisonment and up to $1 million in fines for manufacturing more than that, especially if there are aggravating factors, such as manufacturing drugs in the presence of minors.
If your drug crime involves Schedule III or Schedule IV drugs, your penalties will likely be less severe, though they will still include fines and prison time. For example, manufacturing less than 2 grams of Schedule III or IV drugs could lead to up to 5 years in prison, up to $5,000 in fines, or both. Manufacturing 30 to 500 grams of these drugs could lead to up to 20 years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, or both. Manufacturing the same amount of Schedule V drugs could lead to up to 15 years in prison, up to $50,000 in fines, or both.
While the penalties are often based on the schedule the controlled substance is in, certain illegal drugs can lead to shorter or longer prison sentences than others, based on how dangerous they are. For example, drug trafficking, manufacturing, or possession charges involving meth are often more severe than those involving marijuana. In addition, you could face harsher penalties if you have prior criminal convictions on your record. If you have questions about the possible punishment for a drug crime in this state or want to know how to fight your charges through the criminal justice system, contact our law office today for help from a lawyer in achieving a favorable outcome.
How Can an Attorney Defend You from Drug Manufacturing Charges?
Facing drug trafficking, manufacturing, or drug possession charges in Mississippi can be scary, as a conviction could lead to jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges, and other consequences. Fortunately, there are several defenses you can use to prove you’re not guilty of the drug crimes you’ve been accused of.
A skilled defense attorney can review the details of your drug crime case before determining the best approach to the legal process. Some of the most common drug crime defense options include:
- Mistaken identity
- Lack of knowledge or intent to commit a drug crime
- An illegal search and seizure on the part of the police
- Lack of probable cause for an arrest
- Challenging the evidence against you, such as lab results, witness statements, or videos
If these or other common drug crime defense options don’t get your charges dropped or reduced, your attorney might try to get a plea deal or help you get involved in diversion programs, such as drug court, to avoid severe penalties. If you’re ready to discuss your legal issues with a caring attorney, contact our law office to schedule an initial consultation.
Are You Ready to Hire a Mississippi Drug Manufacturing Defense Attorney?
The legal team at Tannehill Carmean, PLLC, has successfully handled many cases for clients facing charges involving illegal drugs. We know how devastating it can be to realize you could end up with jail time and other harsh consequences if convicted of a misdemeanor or felony drug crime. That’s why we work hard to achieve the most favorable outcomes for our clients, minimizing the negative effects of serious criminal charges whenever possible.
Whether you were charged with drug manufacturing, possession of drug paraphernalia, drug possession, or other offenses involving illegal drugs, we’re here to fight the criminal charges for you. Contact our law office by calling 662-200-8734 to speak to an attorney who has the legal knowledge and experience to get the best possible outcome on your case.
