Contact Our Edison Law Office To Speak To The Former Director of the Middlesex County Drug Task Force or A Former Edison Prosecutor On Our Defense Team
If you have landed on this page, it likely means that you have been charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (“CDS”) in Edison Township. Whether this charge arose from possession of cocaine in Edison, heroin, LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine, MDMA (Molly/Ecstasy) or any other drug listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V, is irrelevant. Almost every drug or CDS offense is a felony crime of either the first degree, second degree, third degree or fourth degree that can land you in prison for years. This is the primary reason why you need to select the very best lawyer you can identify to defend your Edison drug possession case at the Middlesex County Superior Court.
Here at Marshall Criminal Defense, our Middlesex County drug possession lawyers take pride in our ability to get the best possible results for our clients. Our impressive track record of success undoubtedly has a lot to do with our exceptional qualifications, including:
- Over 200 years of collective experience defending against drug possession charges at the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick and in Edison Municipal Court
- 15 lawyers that defend criminal charges exclusively
- Former Director of the Drug Task Force for the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office on Staff
- Former Edison Prosecutor on Staff
- Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys
- A long history of victories representing clients charged with drug possession throughout Middlesex County New Jersey
To obtain an immediate free consultation with an attorney who knows how to secure the outcome you need, contact our Edison Office at 732-248-7675. Attorneys are available around the clock to take your call so do not hesitate to contact us whenever the need arises.
Edison Township Possession of CDS Charges
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10, a person can commit a controlled dangerous substance possession crime in a number of ways. Specifically, the statute reads that “It is unlawful for any person, knowingly or purposely, to obtain, or to possess, actually or constructively, a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog…” There are several things that one can glean from even the most cursory reading of this language. First and foremost, the law requires a state of mind of at least knowledge for a person to be guilty of this offense. It is not enough for a conviction to be obtained that a person either recklessly or negligently came to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, they must have had either the knowledge or the intent to do so.
Second, and less favorable to potential defendants, is the fact that possession can occur either actually or constructively Actual possession is easy enough to explain as the situation where an officer actually finds the drug on the person of the defendant. Constructive possession, on the other hand, covers all of those situations where, though not in actual possession, the defendant knows of the presence of the drugs and has both the ability and the intent to exercise control over them. The most common example of constructive possession is where an officer finds the offending substance in a person’s automobile. If the prosecutor can prove that the accused had knowledge of the presence of the drug and the purpose to take, for example, possession the heroin in Edison Township at any point in the future, element can be established under 2C:35-10.
Experienced Drug Attorneys To Defend You In Edison & At The Middlesex County Superior Court
Typically speaking, where the charge is possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), the sentencing guidelines mandate that the offense be treated as either a third degree felony or fourth degree felony.
- Third Degree Crime. It is a third degree felony where the controlled dangerous substance is located in Schedules I, II, III, or IV. It is a fourth degree felony where the controlled dangerous substance is located in Schedule V. A third degree felony can lead to incarceration for between 3 and 5 years, as well as fines, deviating from normal sentencing standards, of up to $35,000.
- Fourth Degree Crime. A fourth degree conviction can lead to incarceration for up to 18 months as well as fines of up to $10,000.
In addition, where the possession charge occurs near a school zone or on school property, the offender will also be required to perform not less than 100 hours of community service.
Edison Drug Possession Attorneys
Any criminal offense that can lead to such heavy fines and lengthy periods of incarceration such those involved with a drug possession offense is worthy of representation by talented criminal defense lawyer. Your first step in this effort needs to be identifying an attorney with the experience and track record of success to ensure you have the best opportunity for an acquittal. The Edison drug possession attorneys at our office include a team with hundreds of CDS possession cases in both Edison Municipal Court and at the county courthouse in New Brunswick under their belt. Our team of former prosecutors and experienced defense attorneys stand ready to help you. Do not hesitate to contact us today at 732-248-7675 for a free consultation about what we can do to help you obtain the best result on your drug possession charge arising in Edison Township.