Drug Offenses

Drug offenses include crimes involving prescription drugs and illegal drugs. Getting convicted of a drug charge may turn into something more serious than you think. Even possessing a small amount of an illegal drug can have serious consequences. The consequences for these crimes can include incarceration, fines, probation, driver's license suspensions and property forfeiture. For college students, a drug conviction can also result in the loss of student financial aid.

Prescription Drugs

As abuse of prescription drugs has increased in Ohio, laws have gotten tougher, and charges for these offenses have been filed with increasing frequency. Such charges include Possession of Drugs, Deception To Obtain Dangerous Drugs, Illegal Processing of Drug Documents, Trafficking in Drugs, and Forgery.

People that are charged with crimes involving prescription drugs often begin with a legitimate need and a legitimate prescription. That legitimate need can evolve into psychological and/or physical addiction to the medication. The addiction can lead to prohibited conduct to obtain the drugs: buying medication from another person without a prescription, doctor shopping, altering prescriptions, generating counterfeit prescriptions, forging prescriptions, and so on.

Illegal Drugs

Drug charges involving illegal drugs include Possession of Drugs, Trafficking Drugs, Manufacturing or Cultivating Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possessing or Trafficking Counterfeit Controlled Substances, and Permitting Drug Abuse. The seriousness of these drug offenses depends on the type and amount of the drug involved. For example, possessing a small amount of marijuana may be a misdemeanor while possessing large amounts of marijuana is a felony that may require a mandatory prison sentence. Possessing most other illegal drugs (like cocaine, heroine, LSD, PCP, and methamphetamine, ) is always charged as a felony, and the level of the felony depends on the amount of the illegal drug possessed.

Alternatives To Harsh Penalties

Attorney Shawn Dominy provides effective representation for people charged with drug crimes. After years of practicing criminal defense, I have represented numerous clients from all walks of life in drug cases throughout central Ohio. I investigate the facts, analyze the applicable law, challenge the collection and examination of evidence, present mitigating circumstances, and pursue alternative programs. I communicate regularly with you throughout your case, evaluating your circumstances and outlining your options.

Being charged with a drug offense does not have to result in incarceration. I have helped many clients get charges reduced or dismissed, enter into programs such as Intervention In Lieu Of Conviction, and avoid incarceration.

Contact a Columbus, Ohio DUI OVI Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with DUI in central Ohio, contact the criminal defense law office of Shawn R. Dominy, Attorney at Law for an initial consultation about your case.