Bauer Crider | Kindel & Parry
Call Us Today: 727-275-9822
Bauer Crider | Kindel & Parry
EMAIL
CALL
Criminal Defense Is All We Do – Put Over 100 Years Of Combined Experience On Your Side
Attorneys David Parry, Matthew Kindel and Curtis Crider

Clearwater Drug Crimes Attorneys

In the state of Florida, drug crimes carry some of the harshest criminal penalties in the nation. Many of these penalties carry long-term consequences that will carry into your personal life, even after you are done appearing in court.

At Bauer, Crider, Kindel and Parry, our drug crimes attorneys have 100 years of combined professional experience with two board-certified criminal trial attorneys on our team. This means that we offer a higher standard of representation backed by proven knowledge of this often complex area of the law.

State And Federal Drug Crimes In Florida

Depending on whether your alleged crimes were investigated by the local police department or a federal government agency, there is a wide range of criminal charges that could be brought against you in state or federal court, ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. Our firm can assist and defend you with any of them, including:

Fentanyl is a new epidemic across the United States. Fentanyl use is soaring, and so are overdose deaths related to this highly addictive and deadly drug. In an attempt to combat the rise in overdose deaths, the state of Florida recently enacted tough new laws on fentanyl trafficking. Effective 10/01/22, possession of four grams to 14 grams of fentanyl carries a seven-year minimum mandatory prison sentence and a $50,000 fine; possession of 14 grams to 28 grams of fentanyl carries a 20-year minimum mandatory prison sentence and a $250,000 fine; and possession of 28 grams or more of fentanyl carries a 25-year minimum mandatory prison sentence and a $500,000 fine.

We believe that experience begets competence when it comes to your defense. No matter how daunting a case may seem, our Tampa Bay drug charge defense lawyers draw comfort and knowledge from past experience, which helps us project confidence and make the right strategic choices on behalf of our clients in Florida.

Criminal Defense For Drug Possession

In the state of Florida, possessing even small amounts of certain drugs may result in serious penalties, including large fines and jail or prison time. Our criminal defense attorneys at Bauer, Crider, Kindel and Parry in Pasco County can help protect your rights after you’ve been accused of drug possession crimes.

Our firm has served clients throughout Florida since 1989. With more than 100 years of combined experience in criminal law, our attorneys represent community members in local, state and federal courts, providing comprehensive legal services for all types of drug possession charges.

What Are The Penalties For Drug Possession In Florida?

In the state of Florida, drugs are classified based on the type of drug, the potential medical advantages of the drug and how addictive and dangerous the drug is when used for recreational purposes. The penalties for a conviction for drug possession will range in severity based on the type and amount of drug in question. Examples of penalties for convictions of drug possession charges include:

  • Marijuana: Possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis is a misdemeanor charge. A maximum sentence for conviction of a misdemeanor marijuana charge carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail. A conviction for possession of more than 10,000 pounds of cannabis can result in a 30-year prison sentence and a $200,000 fine.
  • Cocaine: Possessing less than 28 grams brings a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Punishment for any amount over 28 grams brings mandatory minimum sentences ranging from three to 15 years, with fines between $50,000 and $250,000. For possession of more than 150 kilograms, the result is a life sentence without the possibility of parole, as you are more likely to also face distribution and trafficking charges for large quantities of drugs.
  • MDMA/ecstasy: Possession of MDMA can result in up to a five-year prison sentence for less than 10 grams, with penalties as harsh as a 30-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine for possession of more than 400 grams.
  • LSD: Possession of LSD can range from a five-year sentence for less than one gram to a maximum 30-year sentence and a possible $500,000 fine for more than seven grams.

In addition to these illegal drugs, the possession of chemicals commonly used to manufacture drugs (such as the ingredients used to make methamphetamines) is also considered a crime and could result in additional drug charges.

Florida Prescription Drug Charges Defense Attorneys

One of the fastest growing segments of prosecutions by state and federal district attorneys involves the use, sale, distribution and trafficking of prescription drugs. Not only are the authorities going after drug dealers, but they are also charging everyday people who may have made a mistake by carrying drugs without a prescription.

Throughout Florida, when people are charged with prescription drug crimes, they turn to the Pasco County prescription drug crimes lawyers at Bauer, Crider, Kindel and Parry for clear answers about how to handle their case. We are well-known and well-respected throughout the legal community for our litigation and negotiation skills when it comes to any criminal defense matter. For more information about our practice, please contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation at any of our four convenient offices.

We Know People Make Mistakes

As OxyContin, oxycodone, Roxicodone, Valium, morphine and Xanax become more frequently prescribed by physicians, so does the rate at which they are used recreationally and the demand for them grows on the black market. What many people do not realize is that if a friend has a prescription and gives you even a single pill and you are found with that medication on you by the police, you can be charged with a third-degree felony. Even if the friend gave you the pill to help you with an ailment, this still constitutes a crime.

You can even be charged with a crime if you have a prescription legally but are found with a controlled substance, which prescription drugs are, but no valid prescription on you from a valid physician or health care provider. Depending on the amount of pills found on you, the crime can increase to drug trafficking or other drug charges.

In many instances, if you are charged with a prescription drug crime, there are mandatory minimum prison sentences that automatically follow if you are convicted. This is why it is so important to have a skilled drug crime lawyer on your side who will fight for you to try and minimize the impact these charges have on your life.

We Are Here To Help

You can also be charged with a crime if you are found in possession of a prescription pad that does not belong to you or even one sheet that is not filled out but stamped by a clinic or doctor. Our Clearwater prescription drug crimes lawyers know how to investigate these charges to see if a search was valid and evidence was obtained legally. We can help challenge the validity of witness statements and see if there are possible defenses for your actions.

We can also help you if you have been charged with any other crimes, since oftentimes, people who become addicted to these substances end up committing other offenses to further fuel their habit, such as doctor shopping. We are not here to judge you; we are here to help you out of this perilous situation.

Drug Crime Lawyers With Strong Experience

If you are found in possession of the following chemicals, you can be charged with intent to manufacture meth:

  • Phenylacetone
  • Phenylacetic acid
  • Pseudoephedrine
  • Ephedrine

This type of charge is a felony. Additionally, exposing a child to the dangers of a meth lab is a first-degree felony, subject to a five-year minimum mandatory prison sentence.

Another danger of operating meth in a makeshift lab is that it can result in fires and explosions, which often injure and kill innocent people. Sometimes, this can include law enforcement personnel and emergency responders who are called to a meth house.

Causing the death of someone else through the manufacture of meth is a capital felony, punishable by death or life in prison if you are convicted. If you are charged with homicide as an unexpected consequence of manufacturing meth, you will need a law firm that is dedicated to practicing criminal defense. Our Pasco County criminal defense lawyers will work hard to prevent this outcome.

Florida Doctor Shopping Laws

Florida Statute Section 893.13 prohibits the practice of doctor shopping. Doctor shopping is the practice of visiting multiple doctors for the purpose of obtaining a prescription you are otherwise not entitled to fill. When visiting a doctor for the purpose of filling out a prescription for painkillers, every person is required to fill out paperwork declaring that they have not obtained a prescription for the same drug from another doctor in the last 30 days.

Tracking this information was difficult in Florida until recent changes in the law made it easier for both doctors and law enforcement to obtain it. A statewide database has been implemented, which allows law enforcement to obtain information regarding those who are attempting to beat the system.

Our attorneys regularly defend clients charged with doctor shopping involving:

  • Valium
  • Oxycodone
  • OxyContin
  • Roxicodone
  • Adderall
  • Ritalin

Defense Attorneys For Meth Lab Arrests

Meth manufacturing labs and meth use are making a comeback in Florida. This type of drug has always been one of the more addictive and destructive drugs available to people. Meth not only controls your mind, but it also destroys your body from the inside out. Studies have shown that once a person becomes addicted to meth, it is one of the more difficult habits to break.

More importantly, the penalties for meth use and production are very severe and carry minimum/mandatory prison sentences in Florida.

If you have been charged with manufacturing, possession or selling meth, the Tampa Bay meth lab arrest attorneys at Bauer, Crider, Kindel and Parry are here to help you. Contact us today to learn more about our experience and skills and how we can help you. We offer free consultations.

Is It Legal To Grow Marijuana In Florida?

The acts of planting, cultivating, harvesting or processing any drug are called drug cultivation. Any of these acts are illegal in Florida. In some instances, once the drugs from these operations are sold, this can result in federal charges. Even plants that are grown for personal use can lead to very severe penalties and, in many cases, may result in a prison sentence in Florida.

The Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act has increased the penalties associated with all types of charges stemming from marijuana grow operations. Our marijuana grow house attorneys have extensive experience defending people faced with these charges.

We can help you challenge evidence or other aspects of your case arising from:

  • Tips provided by a neighbor
  • Suspicious electric bills you are said to have generated
  • Detection of grow house equipment

Two of our attorneys are certified by The Florida Bar as board-certified criminal trial lawyers. We have the experience, skill and tenacity to negotiate effectively on your behalf as well as aggressively represent you at trial, should that become necessary.

Florida Drug Charges FAQs

What are the penalties for drug crimes in Florida?

Florida can have stringent and sometimes unforgiving penalties for drug crimes. However, the severity of those penalties can depend on numerous factors. For example, misdemeanor drug charges can include up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Felony drug charges can include up to 30 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

The degree of a misdemeanor or felony charge can often determine how much time you spend behind bars and how much you pay. For a better understanding of these penalties, call our lawyers at 727-275-9822. We can fight to eliminate or reduce the severity of your drug crime charge.

When do drug charges become federal?

It often has to do with jurisdiction. If you are accused of trafficking drugs across state lines, you’ll likely face federal criminal charges. However, if you are accused of a drug crime that exclusively took place in Florida or specifically in Clearwater or Port Richey, you’ll likely face state criminal charges.

Is drug possession a misdemeanor or a felony charge in Florida?

In Florida, simple possession refers to drug possession when there is no evidence that the person had any intent to sell, distribute or manufacture the drug. Simple drug possession charges are brought when it seems as though the accused intended the drugs to be for personal use. According to Florida state law, simple possession of any drug, except marijuana, is punishable as a third-degree felony.

What does a prosecutor have to prove?

For a conviction, the prosecutor must be able to prove that the substance found is illegal (which may require a lab analysis), that the defendant knew the substance was illicit and that the defendant had control over the substance’s presence. Possession with intent to sell is a different charge that requires proof of simple possession along with additional proof that the defendant intended to sell or engage in drug distribution.

Consult A Drug Defense Attorney

Because each case is unique, our firm offers in-depth defense strategies tailored to your specific circumstances. We take the time to get to know you and better understand your situation. This will help us properly assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case. By evaluating the details of your case, we can anticipate the prosecution’s approach to building a strong defense on your behalf. However, one of our primary goals is also to help your case reach a resolution in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Your future and your freedom are at stake. Trust our Pasco County criminal defense attorneys to provide you with the aggressive defense your case deserves. We offer a free initial consultation. To book your free appointment, call our office at 727-275-9822 or send us an email. Our legal team is looking forward to helping you with your case and proactively defending your future and your freedom.