When you are charged with possession of marijuana in Richmond Heights, MO, what should you do? What are your legal rights and options? Do you know why there is such a big difference between being caught with more or less than 35 grams of marijuana? Do you know if the police officer performed a lawful search when he or she found the drugs? Are you considering the option of simply pleading guilty to the charge (because you just want to put it behind you)? Are you aware of the benefits of hiring a good attorney to help you through the process?
We Want to Get the Marijuana Charge Reduced So That It Does Not Show Up on Your RecordAlthough it does not make a whole lot of sense, most people in Richmond Heights, MO simply plead guilty when they are charged with marijuana possession. Why does this option not make a whole lot of sense? Because an experienced attorney can almost always get the charges reduced to a lesser offense (like “littering,” which is the deal the prosecutor is usually willing to cut for a first time offender). And in special cases, such a charge can get thrown out altogether (although this normally happens when the officer conducted a Constitutionally impermissible search in the first place).
As of January 1, 2017, the following laws regarding marijuana possession went into effect:
But if you do decide to plead guilty, then there are some things you should know. To begin with, a drug conviction on your permanent record will have a serious impact on your ability to get a good job. A lot of employers run criminal background checks on applicants as a way to screen out potential employees. A marijuana charge can also have a negative effect on your chances of getting certain licenses and governmental benefits. And if your plan is get a decent apartment while you go to college, you should know that a drug conviction can damage your chances of getting a student loan and eliminate you as a candidate by a lot of landlords.
And please do keep in mind the immediate sentence that the court will likely hand down if you plead guilty: less than 35 grams of marijuana in Richmond Heights, MO is a Class A Misdemeanor (which comes with up to one (1) year of jail time and a $1,000 fine); more than 35 grams is a Class C Felony (with a possible sentence of up to seven (7) years in jail and a fine of $5,000). As you can clearly see, talking to an attorney first is probably a far better course of action than pleading guilty!!
Richmond Heights, MO is a city in St. Louis County.
The affordable Richmond Heights, MO marijuana possession attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company, have been helping people with their drug charges for over ten (10) years. Our goal is to make sure that the charges leveled against you do not stay on your permanent record, and do any lasting damage. And we want to do all of this at an affordable price. The fees for a typical St. Louis marijuana possession case start at $450. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today!!
We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019. The initial consultation is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!