Drug possession with intent to sell is a serious criminal charge, with penalties that could leave you out of work, struggling to make ends meet, or even behind bars. The type of drug you possessed and the amount of the drug both play a role in the severity of the charges you face.

You will likely want to consult a drug possession for sale defense lawyer in Cincinnati, OH if you believe you will face drug crimes charges. We can discuss your rights, what to expect, and the possible consequences of a conviction.

Call us today at 513-929-9333 to talk to a member of our Cincinnati team.

Understanding Drug Possession for Sale Charges in Cincinnati, Ohio

Under Ohio law, you can face intent to sell charges without ever having any plan to put the drug up for sale. If police accuse you of possessing more of a drug than would be usual for personal use, drug possession for sale charges are likely.

To convict you of possession with intent to sell, the prosecution needs to show you knowingly:

  • Sold or attempted to sell the drug
  • Prepared the drug for sale, shipping, or distribution in some other way
  • Otherwise demonstrated you knew the drug would be sold

However, the prosecution sometimes tries to claim something as simple as having a scale or bags in your possession qualifies as proof of your intent to sell. We can aggressively fight these accusations, putting a robust defense strategy into place to hopefully clear your name or reduce the charges you face.

Possible Penalties Stemming From a Cincinnati Drug Possession for Sale Conviction

If convicted of drug possession with the intent to distribute, the severity of your sentence will depend primarily on the details of your case. Depending on the amount and type of drug you possessed, you could face:

  • Significant fines
  • Time in jail or prison
  • A mandatory minimum jail sentence, in some cases
  • Probation, also known as community control

In addition to criminal penalties, a felony drug conviction could haunt you for years to come. You may lose your job or get kicked out of school. The court system may limit the time you get to spend with your children, and it may even be more challenging to get a new job. You will need to explain your conviction every time someone runs a background check for work, a new apartment, or to obtain many professional licenses. You could also face a driver’s license suspension.

Defending You Against Cincinnati Drug Possession With Intent to Sell Charges

Our team fights to get our clients a more favorable outcome in their Cincinnati criminal case. What this may look like for you depends heavily on the facts of your case, and the strength of the defense strategy we can build. Some of the most common tactics we use to help our clients clear their name or reduce the penalties they face include:

Trying to Get the Charges Dropped

Sometimes we can convince prosecutors to drop all charges against one of our clients if we can provide evidence to definitively prove their innocence. We may also challenge whether police had the right to stop you or search your vehicle or home. If we can show they violated your rights, we can try to convince the judge to bar the prosecution from presenting any of the evidence the police gathered. This may also lead to dropped charges.

Negotiating a Plea Deal for Reduced Charges

Negotiating a plea deal is one of the most effective tactics we have for our clients who face serious drug possession for sale charges. If we can negotiate with prosecutors to charge you with drug possession or another lesser crime in exchange for a guilty plea, you can often avoid serving significant time in jail or prison.

Taking the Case to Court

If there is no other way to clear your name, we are not afraid to take your case to court. We will argue your defense, presenting facts that may create reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors.

Since most of our clients hope to avoid incarceration, we often encourage those with strong cases against them to plead guilty to a charge that does not require a mandatory minimum sentence and then negotiate a plan for community control. While we will work aggressively to prevent a conviction, agreeing to the stipulations of community control is more appealing to many of our clients than facing months or years of incarceration.

Are you or someone you know facing drug charges in Cincinnati, OH? 

If you are facing drug charges, you need to speak with an experienced drug crimes attorney as soon as possible. The Law Offices of Steven R. Adams is recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and is one of U.S. News' Best Law Firms.  Please contact us online or call our Cincinnati office directly at 513-929-9333 to schedule your free consultation.