Naperville Drug Possession Lawyer

DuPage County Attorney Representing Clients with Drug Possession Charges

Being arrested for drug possession can disrupt your life. Whether you have a good career that could be turned upside down or are struggling with an addiction, going through a drug crime prosecution can be very stressful. You may worry about how an arrest could impact your career or educational prospects, or about the effect it will have on your lifestyle. You should know that the seriousness of the case depends on a number of factors, including which substance was involved and whether you have any prior convictions. It is important to remember that an arrest is not a conviction, and that you still have a chance to defend yourself in court.

Appelman Law LLC is an experienced criminal defense team. We are skilled in helping those facing drug possession charges fight back. Many people who are facing these drug charges have strong legal defenses they are unaware of before speaking to a proven attorney. Our team will carefully review your case in order to determine how best we can represent you. We can sometimes have felony possession charges reduced to misdemeanors and are even able to have some cases dismissed entirely. We are available to begin working on your best defense as soon as we hear from you.

Drug Possession: Felony or Misdemeanor?

Drug possession can be charged as a felony or as a misdemeanor depending on the particular circumstances of the case. Offenses involving only possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use are often treated as misdemeanors. You should know that while possessing cannabis is now legal in Illinois, possessing excessive quantities can still lead to an arrest and conviction for a drug crime.

Cases involving harder substances are typically taken more seriously. If you were arrested for possession of a substance like heroin or methamphetamine, you are more likely to face felony charges. You may also face felony charges if you have prior offenses for drug possession. If this is your first offense, you may be charged with a felony, or an attorney may be able to have your charge reduced to a misdemeanor. There is also generally a correlation between the amount of the illicit substance found and the degree of the crime charged.

Defending a Drug Possession Case in Illinois

Our legal team is well-versed in a number of highly successful defense strategies that can be implemented in drug possession cases. We review each case carefully to determine which strategy is likely to be the most effective for you. Defense strategies we use include:

• Attacking the possession element - People may be arrested for "possession" when they are not legally in possession of the illicit substance. We may be able to argue that you were in the proximity of drugs rather than in possession of them.
• Asserting search & seizure protections - Police must generally perform a search in order to find illicit drugs in someone's possession. We will investigate to determine whether this search may have been in violation of your constitutional rights. Whether you were in your car, your home, or on another party's premises, you likely have certain legal protections against unreasonable searches.
• Questioning lab results - People have been arrested before for possessing illicit substances that turn out not to be illicit substances after all. When a drug possession arrest is made, the police must submit a sample to a laboratory for testing, or they may not be able to prove that the substance found is what they claim it is.

These are only a few of the defense strategies our team commonly uses during drug possession cases.

Contact a Naperville Drug Possession Attorney

Brett Appelman is a highly experienced drug possession attorney and is very knowledgeable in the area of drug crimes. At Appelman Law LLC, our team will strive to provide the best legal representation possible in your case. To begin with a free consultation, please contact us at 630-717-7801.