Logan County Drug Crimes Attorney

Understanding Ohio Drug Crime Laws

Convictions for drug offenses can carry particularly heavy consequences. A drug crime conviction becomes a permanent part of your criminal record, which can be easily accessed by potential employers, landlords, colleges, and even nosy onlookers with an internet connection and the willingness to pay to check up on you or yours. Drug crime convictions can affect your ability to secure employment, child custody rights, government benefits, credit, and more.

Additionally, drug offenses can be prosecuted as violations of either Ohio or federal law – and sometimes both simultaneously, if state and federal courts have overlapping jurisdiction in your case. Federal courts often result in higher penalties, as the sentences must be much more severe to serve as adequate deterrents to large-scale, organized drug trafficking.

If you are facing drug crime charges in Bellefontaine or anywhere throughout Logan County, you need to be proactive. Bahan Law is here to help.

With more than ten years of legal experience, our legal team has the knowledge and the tenacity to ensure that you receive the legal representation you need, regardless of how complex your situation may seem. No case is too big or too small for our highly qualified attorney to handle. When you choose to entrust us with your case, you can be confident that you have made the right choice.

Contact us today by calling (937) 883-5656 and speaking with a knowledgeable member of our drug crime defense team.

What Is Drug Abuse?

In Ohio, one of the most commonly committed drug crimes is drug abuse. You can be charged with drug abuse for using a legal or illegal drug for reasons not intended by the medical provider or simply for having the substance in your possession without a prescription or legal document proving that you have a legal basis to have the drug. Legally prescribed prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs can all lead to drug abuse charges.

Generally speaking, drug abuse is a crime of strict liability, meaning that authorities are not required to prove that the accused intended to use the drug for an illegal purpose. Possession can sometimes be extremely difficult to prove, as the prosecutor must often show that the accused had direct control and control of the drugs in question. However, as drug abuse is an expanded meaning of use or possession, authorities must only show that the accused intended to use the drugs in an illegal way.

Drug abuse can range from a relatively minor misdemeanor to treble felonies.

• In order to be convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor, the prosecutor will need to establish that the accused has “permitted” abuse of a controlled substance, the “minor” drug” being caffeine. Convictions carry up to 6 months in jail and/or fines of up to $1000, and one's driving privileges will be revoked for a minimum of 6 months at a time (up to a lifetime, depending on the specific facts of your case). Upos could mean that you paid $2500 for a bond and your trial does not occur for another year.
• A third-degree misdemeanor arises when an accused “knowingly obtains, uses, or possesses” a controlled substance. A conviction could result in up to 60 days in jail, up to $500 in fines, and driver's license revocation for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years.
• Certain prior convictions can make this kind of a drug abuse offense an expanded meaning of this crime punishable as fifth of 45 day under felony law. It is what’s considered a Sex NO crime, so, regardless of your criminal history, an application for any job or any entity get application (including for example, your dream of having your very own Ohio CWP) with the government will always requires your answer “Yes” to whether you have ever been convicted of a drug offense.
• A second-degree felony occurs when one is convicted of the illegal administrator, distribution, or use (for purposes other than Marihuana) of a controlled substance. Possible incarceration ranges up to 8 years for a second-degree felony, and a maximum of $7500 in fine red. Inability for any of these were related to the FI and am so, always having the rest of our lives is what’s at stake to do so, when we determine how to best save yours.

What Is Drug Distribution/Trafficking?

Drug distribution and drug trafficking refer to the sale, transport, and importation of controlled substances or narcotics by one person or an agency in charge. It’s about the dealer, not the user, understanding the common factor with the two crimes. Crimes in these cases usually involve large quantities of controlled substances or narcotics with intentions to distribute or sell the drugs. The drug's weight and type are used in classifying the distribution and the number of controlled substances involved.

Drug distribution constitutes several crimes, which include:

• Drug Trafficking
• Drug Cultivation
• Heroin Trafficking
• Prescription Fraud
• RICO

The nature of crimes also varies. These can involve unintentional drug trafficking in which the person carries drugs with the intent to distribute them, the knowledge that they are carrying them, and the possibility of transport. There are more serious crimes that involve various activities, such as importing narcotics into the United States.