How Can Aggravating Factors Affect My Drug Charges?

Certain drugs have been decriminalized in some states, but that’s not the case in Minnesota. Being caught possessing any drug leaves a person open to being charged with a drug crime and facing hefty penalties. Furthermore, the penalties for a drug crime may worsen due to aggravating factors. Understanding these aggravating factors is important when facing drug crime charges to better build a defense strategy. 

Drug charges, whether misdemeanor or felony, carry heavy consequences that can stick with a person for the rest of their life. Facing criminal charges may be scary and confusing. At a minimum, you’re facing fines and probation, and you could face many years in prison. At Knutson + Casey, we are determined to help our clients reach favorable resolutions that benefit their best interests.

How May Aggravating Factors Affect Drug Charges?

Aggravating factors negatively impact drug charges. Their presence often means more severe penalties. Drug possession crimes are serious on their own, but if an aggravating factor is identified, then the accused faces much harsher penalties.  

Drug crimes in Minnesota are serious, and are even more serious if there are aggravating factors present in a case. This is why it’s important to contact an experienced attorney to help guide you through the process and help you develop a strong defense.

Aggravating Factors That Affect Drug Charges in Minnesota

Aggravating factors are circumstances surrounding a crime that are sufficient to raise its severity and punishment to the aggravated version of the offense. Aggravating factors are generally laid out by statute and vary depending on the jurisdiction and specific underlying offense. In Minnesota, aggravating factors in drug charges include:

• The drug offense was committed for the benefit of a gang
• There were several acts of drug possession perpetrated in at least three separate counties in the state
• The circumstances of the drug offense lead law enforcement to believe that the accused held a significant position in the drug scheme.
• The person accused of possession did so in a school zone, correctional facility, drug treatment facility, or park.
• There were at least three different transactions associated with the drug offense during which time the accused transferred the drug or actually sold
• There was a large amount of controlled substance found in their possession
• A firearm was used in the commission of the crime

The above is not a complete list of aggravating factors, just a few that may affect a drug charge. When included in a drug case, aggravating factors increase the severity of the penalties the accused will face.

Contact Our Experienced Drug Charge Defense Attorney at Knutson + Casey

We all make mistakes. At Knutson + Casey, we believe that everyone has the right to a passionate and skilled defense attorney, no matter the charges. Our firm has worked on criminal cases of all kinds and have handled various drug crime cases. Though a dismissal can’t be promised, we can promise to exhaust our resources to fight aggressively for your rights. 

Drug charges may have hefty penalties, especially when paired with aggravating factors, so it’s necessary to have an experienced attorney at your side. We have helped thousands of clients across Southern Minnesota, and we hope to help you, too. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation by calling (507) 344-8888 or completing our contact form.