Collins County Methamphetamine Crimes Attorneys

The mental and physical consequences of methamphetamine abuse can be devastating. Unfortunately, the penalties for methamphetamine crimes in Texas are extremely severe as well. Law enforcement agencies are vigorously pushing for more arrests and convictions for crimes involving meth.

For Texans, any crime involving any amount of methamphetamine is a felony. There are no misdemeanor charges for small amounts like there are for marijuana. Furthermore, the secondary consequences if convicted can be extremely detrimental to an individual’s quality of life. They include limited employment opportunities and loss of custody of one’s children.

While a methamphetamine charge can ruin your life and end with prison time, it certainly doesn’t has to. A qualified and experienced Collin County methamphetamine crimes lawyer can use his or her legal resources to ensure a desirable outcome.

Your charges could get dismissed, especially if your rights were violated. Talk to the authorities as little as possible if you or a loved one have been charged with a methamphetamine crime. Then call Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian at (972) 369-0577 as soon as you can to schedule a free consultation to walk through all your legal options.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

A potent, euphoric stimulant, methamphetamine was used heavily by Allied soldiers during World War 2 for combat alertness. But today its medical uses are limited to extreme cases of obesity and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Although methamphetamine is considered a Schedule II drug under federal law because of its limited medical uses, meth is classified as a Schedule I drug under Texas law. It is treated with the harshest drug penalties that exist. This can mean mandatory jail time and a felony on your record that can prevent you from working in many professions in the future.

No matter what amount you are charged with possessing, delivering, or manufacturing, you should retain legal counsel as soon as possible.

Why Should I Choose Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian?

You need a law firm with extensive experience representing individuals charged with methamphetamine possession. As the largest criminal defense law firm in greater Collin County, clients of Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian benefit from a team of attorneys collaborating on their case. Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian is also the only legal firm in Collin County with two Criminal Law Board Certified partners. With decades of combined experience, our attorneys are experts in the court system and law enforcement tactics. We are proud of our reputation for successfully defending the rights of Collin County residents.

Methamphetamine Cases We Handle

With our seven lawyers on staff and years of experience protecting the rights of clients in the greater Collin County area, we have the experience and resources to handle any methamphetamine offense. We can help those who’ve been charged with methamphetamine-related charges including:

• Methamphetamine possession, from <1 gram to over 400 grams
• Drug paraphernalia charges, such as those for baggies, pipes, syringes, or scales
• Possession with intent to distribute (usually occurring with large amounts or in the presence of paraphernalia
• Manufacture or delivery of methamphetamine
• Crimes involving pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, precursors to methamphetamine as outlined in Texas Health Code section 486.001
• Manufacture or delivery of controlled substance causing death or serious bodily injury
• Charges in drug-free zones such as school zones
• Federal methamphetamine charges

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Those arrested for possession of methamphetamine often have many questions. The best way to receive answers to all your questions is to reach out to us online or contact us at (972) 369-0577 to schedule a free legal consultation. Here are a few of the most common questions people have after being charged with such crimes:

What kind of potential consequences could I face if I am convicted of methamphetamine possession?

According to the Texas Health Code, these are the possible penalties for those convicted of knowingly possessing methamphetamine:

• <1 gram: State jail felony punishable by 180 days to 2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines
• Between 1 and 3.99 grams: Third-degree felony punishable by a 2 to 10-year prison sentence and fines reaching $10,000
• Between 4 grams and 199 grams: Second-degree felony carrying a sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines
• Between 200 and 399 grams: First-degree felony including 5 to 99 years in prison along with fines that can reach $10,000
• 400 grams or more: Enhanced felony of the first degree punishable by 20 years to life in prison and fines of up to $100,000

In certain cases, the prosecutor may decide to enhance the charges. They usually raise them to a felony of the next highest degree. You may face stiffer penalties if, for instance, your arrest was made within a certain proximity to a school or playground. This is also the case if you are charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Prosecutors are rarely willing to offer a plea bargain to defendants without legal counsel. But one of our lawyers can help negotiate a favorable arrangement with the prosecutor. In many cases, it is possible to negotiate a reduction or even dismissal of your criminal charges.

The authorities have asked me to plead guilty and cooperate in return for reduced charges. What should I do?

Prosecutors are rarely willing to offer a plea bargain if the defendant has no legal counsel. But law enforcement officials may promise a reduction in charges or penalties in return for a guilty plea or cooperation. In this situation, your best option is to politely refuse to speak with law enforcement or prosecutors and reach out to an experienced attorney for counsel.

An experienced methamphetamine defense attorney will have experience negotiating advantageous plea bargains with prosecutors. They may be able to reduce your prison sentence or even bargain for no prison sentence at all. In all cases, it is best not to say or do anything until you have deliberated on your best course of action with a lawyer.

What defenses are commonly used in methamphetamine possession trials?

The experienced legal team at Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian has built a strong reputation in Collin County for securing favorable outcomes for its clients at trial. While every case is different, federal and state regulations require certain protocols to be strictly followed when making arrests for narcotics. Here are a few of the most common defenses used in drug possession trials:

• Filing a Motion to Suppress Evidence: If your federal rights were violated because of an illegal search or seizure, which can happen with vehicle searches, some or all physical evidence may be eliminated from being used against you by the prosecutors.
• Seeking Dismissal of Charges: If your lawyer’s motion to suppress evidence is successful, there may not be enough evidence left to present that can connect you with the crime, so your attorney can file a motion to have all charges dismissed.
• Pursuing Enrollment in a Drug Court Program: Some individuals accused of crimes involving crystal meth may have the option of deciding to undergo supervision by a drug court, including counseling and drug testing. While not all defendants are offered this option, it can lead to the serious charges associated with your case being dismissed.
• Supplying Evidence for Reasonable Doubt at Trial: If your attorney can show a jury that there is a reason to believe that you unknowingly and unintentionally were in possession of methamphetamine, you may not be convicted of anything. A common example that would lead to reasonable doubt is if the drugs were found in a vehicle or on a property that was used by multiple people.

Methamphetamine Statistics

According to a report by UT-Austin and the Addiction Research Institute, methamphetamine is the largest drug threat to Texas. The report also indicates that most crystal meth in Texas comes from Mexico. It is created with phenyl-2-propanone instead of methamphetamine, making it 95% more potent and powerful than ever.

The problem is not limited to adults, either. According to the Texas Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 8 percent of high school students in Texas had used methamphetamine at least once in their lives.

Contact Us

If you or someone close to you are reeling from the stress of a recent methamphetamine arrest, know that the situation is not hopeless. With the compassionate and trial-tested Collin County legal counsel at Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian, it is possible to put this unfortunate event in the past where it belongs. A trained and qualified attorney can use their extensive knowledge of the court system and prosecutor tactics to get charges reduced or even dismissed and fight for your rights.

To begin the path to the peace of mind you are accustomed to, contact the award-winning legal team at Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian today, online, or at (972) 369-0577, to schedule a completely free legal consultation. We have fought for the rights of many in Collin County throughout the years. We are prepared to fight for yours as well.