Even first-time drug offenses may carry extremely serious criminal penalties. Fortunately, an experienced criminal defense lawyer knows proven defense strategies to protect you against accusations or charges that don’t warrant the offense. Facing a drug crime accusation may seem impossible to overcome, but things aren’t lost just because you’ve been accused.
At Knutson + Casey, our defense attorneys know how to build effective defense strategies to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. The sooner you contact us, the better chance you have to protect yourself, your rights, and your future.
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An experienced defense attorney knows how to look at a case and find the best strategy to achieve the best results. Whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony drug crime, the defense attorneys at Knutson + Casey will work tirelessly to find the best strategy.
The most common defense strategies in drug crime cases include:
One of the best and most commonly used tactics in a drug crime case is challenging the evidence found by law enforcement. If an attorney is able to prove that the search (which uncovered the illegal substances) was unlawful, that evidence becomes inadmissible in court. Without proper probable cause or a search warrant, the evidence found by law enforcement may not have been obtained legally and may not be used against you in court.
Eyewitness testimony is flawed and unreliable. A good defense attorney carefully examines eyewitnesses and their testimony for flaws that demonstrate their client’s innocence or may establish reasonable doubt.
The burden of proof rests with the prosecution. They must demonstrate that you were in possession of drugs or that you were committing another drug crime. It’s not a criminal offense to be close to drugs or be in the same space as an illegal substance. A strong defense attorney builds a case that demonstrates you did not knowingly commit the offense or that you were unaware of the presence of illegal substances.
Entrapment refers to situations when the alleged offender (defendant) wasn’t inclined to break the law but was induced by a government agent. Proving government inducement and the absence of the defendant’s predisposition to commit the crime establishes illegal entrapment.
Drug tests in crime labs may be inaccurate depending on who’s conducting the test and the equipment used. Challenging the test accuracy can be an effective method of establishing reasonable doubt.
In cases of drug possession, a common defense is the idea of unwitting possession. Intent is a significant component of criminal charges. If the defendant had no idea that they had illegal substances on them, there was no intent to commit a crime.
Law enforcement reads you your rights, but they don’t need to explain them to you. When you’re facing drug crime accusations, it’s essential to understand your rights to protect yourself against unfair convictions and sentencing. The best thing you can do for yourself is to contact a drug crime defense attorney as soon as possible.
The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty to convict you. At Knutson + Casey, we know that law enforcement and prosecutors stop at nothing to get their convictions. This is why we stop at nothing to ensure our client’s rights are protected. We have helped thousands of clients across Southern Minnesota, and we want to fight for you, too. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation through our contact form or call (507) 344-8888.