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Cocaine charges depend on the alleged incident and amount of cocaine in possession. Charges involving the intent to manufacture, distribute or deliver the drug carries a penalty of up to $100,000 in fines and 40 years in prison. First-offense cocaine possession could carry a fine of up to $5,000 and one year in prison.
If you are charged with possession of cocaine, a first offense is a misdemeanor, and the maximum penalties are one-year jail, a $5000 fine, or both. A judge can also suspend your driving privilege for up for 5 years and impose surcharges totaling $2500. Any second or subsequent offense for possession of cocaine is a Class I felony. Class I felonies have maximum penalties of 3.5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. There are additional surcharges with this felony conviction that can total up to $5000. Were you on school grounds or other protected buildings with your cocaine? The court must also impose 100 hours of community service.
Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, manufacturing/delivering of cocaine, or very large amounts of cocaine in your possession can lead to even harsher felony-level penalties. Many times, when cocaine or other drugs are discovered, so is evidence of other crimes. For example, possession of drug paraphernalia is a very common charge that comes right along with drug possession cases. A criminal charge for possession of drug paraphernalia has maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Cocaine charges in Bayside
I got caught with a very small baggy of cocaine in my car, what happens now? Cocaine is considered a Schedule II substance under Wisconsin law. Schedule II substances are known to have an increased level of abuse that can lead to dependence on the drug, whether it be psychological or physical dependence.
Criminal charges and potential penalties for cocaine can vary depending on the amount of cocaine in your possession, whether you are under the influence of cocaine, and what you are doing with it.
If you are driving under the influence of cocaine, you will be cited with what is called Operating with a Restricted Controlled Substance. There is a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal drugs in your system, such as cocaine. Cocaine or cocaine metabolites in your system at the time you are driving can land you an OWI, regardless of whether you are under the influence of the cocaine at the time. This is the same for marijuana, heroin, and other illegal drugs. While you cannot be charged with possession for something that is in your system, an OWI will result in a driver’s license revocation, large fines, and possible jail time.
How long will a cocaine possession charge stay on my record?
A felony or misdemeanor cocaine conviction will stay on your record for the rest of your life. Even if the misdemeanor or low-level felony is expunged, that record is merely sealed, but never goes away. Any felony conviction will also have a lifelong ban from possessing firearms and a temporary ban on civil rights such as voting until those rights are restored.
How do I beat my cocaine charges?
Police generally encounter cocaine when they are searching a person, their vehicle, or their home. In order to do these searches, police must have a legal basis. That legal basis can be following an arrest, a search warrant, or for many other reasons. However, if the police obtain any evidence illegally, you may be able to suppress it, and then it can no longer be used against you. The attorneys at Grieve Law regularly practice throughout the North Shore and Bayside, and have vast experience getting cases reduced or even dismissed altogether.
It is important to have an aggressive, knowledgeable attorney by your side when facing criminal drug charges. A criminal conviction can be life-changing, and if there is a way to get the charges to go away because of an overzealous police action, that is precisely what we will work toward. Remember, you are only guilty if you are convicted.
