Even Small Criminal Cases Are Worth Fighting
If you have never struggled with addiction, then the memoirs of a recovering addict during his or her days of using read like an adventure story. The protagonist communicates with drug dealers in euphemisms; they wait for just the right moment to hand over the drugs. No one is sure who to trust. The protagonist and his friends-for-now live precariously, couch surfing or coming up with the rent money just in time to avoid eviction. They get the money by stealing or worse. Police, snitches, and death lurk around every corner. The only ways out are the grave, a long prison sentence, or sobriety. The chances of landing on the third option instead of the second are greater the fewer prior convictions you have. If you are facing charges for an offense that is a consequence of your addiction, contact a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer.
Pretrial Intervention for Drug Cases Is an Exit Ramp From a Dangerous Game
In Pennsylvania and in other states, there are people serving long prison sentences for minor crimes such as drug possession or petty theft. They got there because of multiple convictions, some of which likely resulted from guilty pleas. These defendants might have thought that pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges and getting a probation sentence was the best-case scenario. The trouble is that, even though a probation sentence and a misdemeanor conviction on your record might not seem like a big deal, if you get arrested for another minor offense, the judge has the right to give you a harsher sentence. Worst of all, your experiences with criminal court have done nothing to address your underlying addiction. You are still buying illegal drugs and stealing to afford them, and before you know it, the court is considering you a habitual offender.
Therefore, if you have been arrested for the first time on drug charges, it is important to have your criminal defense lawyer advocate for you to get into a drug court program, also known as pretrial intervention. You complete addiction treatment and comply with other requirements similar to a probation sentence, but if you do this successfully, you emerge from the experience without a criminal record.
In the News
Earlier this month, a judge in Columbia County sentenced Larry Todd Wilcox to 20 years in prison for possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The reason for such a long sentence is that Wilcox, 56, has an extensive criminal record, going all the way back to when he was 14. He has been convicted 30 times, for offenses such as drug possession, drunk driving, theft, and driving with a suspended license. Wilcox and the judge acknowledged that his addiction was the impetus behind his crimes.
Contact Gary E. Gerson About Criminal Defense Cases
A criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing charges for drug crimes, and you want to avoid a downward spiral of repeat offenses. Contact the law offices of Gary E. Gerson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about your case.
Source:
pennlive.com/news/2024/01/pa-man-with-30-convictions-in-40-years-sentenced-to-long-prison-term.html
