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The Steps to Take if You're Faced with a Drug Charge

  • By Robert Stahle
  • 09 Jan, 2018
Drug Charges - Felony Drug Offense Attorney - Fitch & Stahle Law Firm - Sioux City - IA

Many people who are arrested on a felony drug offense believe that they should immediately start talking to law enforcement officials, but that may be the worst thing you could do. Instead, here are the exact steps you should follow after you are taken into custody on a drug charge.

Exercise Your Right To Remain Silent

Police officers and detectives may try to intimidate you into talking to them when you are in an interrogation room, but the only thing you should do is invoke your right to an attorney.

If you do so, the police must stop questioning you about anything related to your case. If they violate that law, you can use that against them after you hire a lawyer.

Hire an Experienced Defense Lawyer

After you have invoked your right to remain silent, you should contact a family member to hire a criminal defense attorney to represent you before your first court hearing.

This is important, because an attorney can help ensure that you receive an appropriate bail amount, and help you decide what type of plea you will enter when you face a judge at the first hearing, which is known as an arraignment.

The lawyers at Fitch & Stahle have years of experiencing handling drug cases in the Sioux City area. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony charge, we’ll get you the help that you need.

Understand the Charges Against You

After you have hired a lawyer, he or she will inform you about all the drug charges you are facing. This is important, because there is a big variation between drug possession charges, drug distribution charges, and drug manufacturing charges.

And if you were arrested while trying to sell drugs to minors, or if you gave drugs to someone who sold those drugs to minors, you may be facing a lengthy prison sentence.

In fact, the judge who you see at your first hearing will ask you whether you understand all the charges against you, which is why it’s vital that you hire a lawyer to explain the consequences of each of those charges.

Attend a Pre-Trial Conference

You and your lawyer will then attend a pre-trial conference, where your lawyer may engage in negotiations with the prosecutor to determine whether you are going to challenge some of the evidence, or challenge the legality of your arrest.

It is also the meeting where your lawyer and the prosecutor may be able to negotiate for a lesser sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. This can save the state time and money on a trial, and may also benefit you by providing alternatives such as probation.

If your lawyer is unable to come to an agreement with the prosecutor, however, or if your lawyer advises you to fight the charges, a trial day may be set.

The Importance of An Aggressive Defense Lawyer

If you’ve been arrested on a drug charge, or you are under suspicion of a drug offense, please call the Fitch & Stahle Law Office at (402) 494-3012 to schedule a free consultation.

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