Being charged with any criminal offense is a serious matter. But when you are charged with something like methamphetamine possession, you are facing a particularly difficult battle. Drug convictions carry a certain stigma—one that could hurt your chances of getting a job and affect your personal and professional reputation.
Whether you had meth in your pocket, or if you are being charged because someone shoved drugs under the seat of your car—you are up against some tough consequences. You need someone who has experience defending clients against similar charges, but someone who also knows that each case is unique and deserves an individually tailored defense strategy.
Oregon Meth Possession Penalties
Possession of methamphetamines is considered a Class C Felony charge. This means if you are convicted, you will be labeled as a convicted felon. Because methamphetamines are considered highly addictive and dangerous, they are classified as a Schedule II drug, along with other drugs like cocaine.
If convicted of meth possession, you face a potential 5 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. While judges don’t typically sentence people to this maximum penalty, the possibility exists.
Most meth possession cases end in a plea agreement. This is where you agree to plead guilty to the offense in exchange for a more lenient sentence. If you don’t have a criminal background, you could avoid jail time altogether.
Drug Courts & Sentencing Options
Oregon Drug Courts
Drug court programming may be another option for you. These courts focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment and are available in several jurisdictions. Don’t be mistaken—these programs are not easy. But, if you need help conquering a meth problem, they offer the help you need.
Drug courts include things like drug treatment, counseling, and frequent court check-ins.
Meth Possession Legal Defense Strategies
If your case is handled in the criminal courts, there are numerous different strategies we can use to try and fight the charges against you. The evidence used in your case is crucial to the prosecution gaining a conviction against you. If it is found that this evidence was seized in violation of your constitutional rights, we can motion the court to suppress it, not allowing it at all. If the drugs are not yours, we can also work to exonerate you by aggressively defending your good name.