Minneapolis Lawyer: Drug Possession Defense
If you have been charged with drug possession, including possession of marijuana or cocaine for personal use or possession with intent to distribute, or another felony or misdemeanor drug crime, you face a risk of serious penalties. It is important that you talk to a lawyer at the first opportunity, before you make any statement to authorities. If you try to explain your situation to police, you may permanently damage your case.
Minneapolis Attorney Patrick Cotter
651.686.5347
Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota |
Drug possession defense
Free consultations
Flat fees – no surprises |
Contact me to arrange a free, confidential consultation about a drug possession charge. I will take the time to listen to your entire story, evaluate your case, and explain exactly what I can do for you and how much it will cost. I am an experienced criminal defense lawyer, and if you hire me to represent you, will begin immediately to develop a strong defense, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence and examining the record of evidence being used against you.
I have a record of getting good results for clients I have defended against possession and other drug crimes. I am prepared to handle misdemeanor and felony drug cases in all Minnesota federal and state courts, including those involving the following:
- Possession, possession with intent to distribute, importation of drugs, trafficking
- Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, narcotics, prescription drugs, ecstasy, drug paraphernalia
- Running a meth lab for manufacture of methamphetamine, cultivation of marijuana
Defense against drug possession charges
Were they your drugs? Were you unaware that there were drugs under the seat of a borrowed car? Did a houseguest bring marijuana or cocaine in to your home without your knowledge? If the drugs in question were not clearly in your possession, the entire case against you becomes weak.
Were drugs found during an illegal search and seizure? Under most circumstances, police need a warrant to search your home, your person or your car. If the police illegally expanded the scope of a traffic stop and searched your purse, pockets, glove box, trunk, luggage or some other private area; used questionable witness statements as the basis for a request for a search warrant; or violated your right to privacy in some other way, no evidence collected during the illegal search and seizure can be used against you.
Is it possession with intent to sell, or just for personal use? That is the difference between charging you as a drug dealer, or as an occasional user or addict. A prosecuting attorney’s decision to charge a suspect with a serious felony such as possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, meth or another drug is based on a number of factors. These include the quantity of the drug, the way it was packaged, the presence of large amounts of cash and the presence of equipment such as scales or plastic baggies. There may be alternative explanations for the presence of any of those factors, in which case I, as your lawyer, will work to get the charge reduced to simple possession for personal use.
Making a bad choice does not make you a criminal. If you had illegal substances in your possession, how should the court view your case? As your lawyer, I will take the time to really get to know you, and will then advocate for you before the judge or jury, explaining what happened and working to get the most favorable sentencing alternative possible.
Attorney Patrick L. Cotter ∙ Twin Cities drug possession defense
Cotter Law Office, PLLC
Patrick L. Cotter, Attorney & Counselor at Law
1060 Dakota Drive, Suite 204 · Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Phone: 651.686.5347 · Cell: 651.214.8624 · Fax: 866.686.5488
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