Lancaster Man Arrested For Drug Possession After Alleged Domestic Dispute

Charges of simple possession are far from being the worst-case scenario when it comes to facing criminal charges for drug offenses, but you should still take your drug possession case seriously.  If you do not have a criminal record, and if drug possession is the only charge you are facing, you could be eligible for a pretrial intervention program through the drug court in your county.  If the judge does not accept you into the drug court program, or if you fail to complete it, your sentence for first offense drug possession could include up to a year of jail time, plus a fine of up to $5,000.  A conviction for a subsequent drug possession charge can carry a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  If you are facing charges for drug possession, contact a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer.

You Can Get Jail Time for Possession of Just One Gram of Heroin

According to Pennsylvania law, you can be convicted of illegal possession of a controlled substance if the prosecution can prove that the substance was under your control (for example, if it was in your apartment, vehicle, backpack, or jacket pocket) and that you were not authorized to possess it.  For example, it is lawful for you to possess the substance if a physician has prescribed it to you.  Most controlled substances are prescription drugs that are sometimes dispensed to patients at pharmacies for use at home.  Therefore, if a police officer asks why there is a prescription bottle of Adderall in your car, you can simply point out that the name on the prescription bottle matches the name on your driver’s license.  By contrast, Schedule I controlled substances are always illegal and have no legally accepted medical uses.  For example, heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance, so if you have even one gram of heroin in your pocket, you can be convicted of drug possession and go to jail.

In the News

Last month, police in Lancaster responded to a call about a domestic dispute.  When they arrived at the apartment, Habib Abuhammad fled through a broken window.  When police caught up to him, they observed that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs, as he was drifting in and out of sleep even while standing up.  In his pockets were seven blue waxy bags, one of them empty, all stamped with the words “Al Pachino,” as well as two syringes, two glass pipes, and a Chore Boy scouring pad.  Abuhammad is facing charges for aggravated harassment, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Contact Gary E. Gerson About Drug Crimes Defense

A drug crimes defense lawyer can help you if you are facing charges for a drug offense such as simple possession, possession with intent to deliver, or possession of drug paraphernalia.  Contact the law offices of Gary E. Gerson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about your case.

Sources:

abc27.com/news/local/lancaster/lancaster-man-charged-with-aggravated-harassment-drug-possession/

lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/manheimtwppd/53783/arrests/abuhammad-habib-1-count-aggravated-harassment-prisoner-1-count-possession-controlled