Former County Prosecutors With Over 200 Years Of Experience To Defend Your Charge For Possession of Cocaine, Heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, Methamphetamine, Prescription Drugs Or Another CDS
Few varieties of criminal charge in Burlington County arise more often than drug possession. While the majority of these cases once involved municipal court offenses for possession of marijuana, the terrain has definitely changed with a much higher percentage now being third degree crimes at the Superior Court in Mount Holly for possession of cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and other controlled dangerous substances (“CDS”). We are happy to know that you are taking your arrest seriously by doing your research regarding defense attorneys. The truth is that hiring a skilled attorney if probably the best thing you can do to help yourself if you were arrested for possessing drugs in Mt. Laurel, Evesham, Burlington Township, Pemberton, Medford or another local municipality.
We are the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, a criminal defense firm comprised of ten (10) lawyers. The majority of our team are former prosecutors who have served in position like Director of the Drug Task Force, Major Crimes and the Trial Division. The collective experience of our team is over 200 years. If you have been charged with CDS possession in Burlington County, we are well equipped to protect your future. Do not settle for empty statements regarding qualifications and insist on a genuine track record span a long period. This is exactly what you will acquire if you choose to hire our lawyers to handle your drug case. For a free consultation, call our Mt. Holly Office (609-491-2110) or Mt. Laurel Office ((856) 234-8900) for a free consultation.
Charged With CDS Possession in Burlington County
There two varieties or grades of possession offense that someone can face in New Jersey. The first is an indictable charge, a felony that some in the form of a fourth degree or third degree crime. This type of violation falls within the jurisdiction of the Burlington County Superior Court. The second type of drug possession is one that is a disorderly persons offense. This is a misdemeanor and is limited to cases involving less than 50 grams of marijuana, hashish and 4 or fewer dosage units of a prescription legend drug. Charges of this nature fall within the authority of the municipal court in Bordentown, Delran, Moorsetown, Cinnaminson, Eastampton or another local town.
In terms of what is required to secure a conviction for either class of possession charge, the proofs are the same. N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 requires that the accused knowingly possess, either actually or constructively, controlled dangerous substance that has not been acquired in accordance with a valid prescription. Actual possession occurs where someone has cocaine, LSD, ecstasy or another drug under their direct control. Constructive possession applies to those situations where someone does not have cds directly on them but is aware of the location of the drug and has the ability and intention to exercise control over it in the future.
If you are convicted of possession at the upper court or in a municipal court, you face a slew of penalties. The period of incarceration is up to 6 months for a disorderly persons offense, up t0 18 months for a forth degree crime and up to 5 years for a third degree crime. The fine is $1,000 for a disorderly persons offense for possession. Fourth degree possession charges typically involve a fine that can reach $15,000 (marijuana is $25,000). The fine for a third degree possession charge involving heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, MDMA, Molly or other Schedule I, II, III or IV, is 35,000.
Accomplished CDS Possession Lawyers in Burlington County
Irrespective of the type of drug that you arrested for possessing in Burlington County, our attorneys have the know-how to secure the best result in your cds case. We encourage you to contact our office to speak to an attorney immediately. You may also consult detailed drug possession articles prepared by our lawyers in the following areas:
- Cocaine Possession
- Heroin Possession
- Prescription Drug Possession & Distribution
- Marijuana Possession
- MDMA, Ecstasy & Molly Possession
- LSD Possession
- Methamphetamine
- Xanax
- Oxycodone/Oxycontin
- GHB
- Mushrooms
- Methadone
To speak to a lawyer in more detail about a drug offense, call (609) 491-2110. Initial consultations are free.