After a drug arrest in Greensburg, you should ask for a lawyer, avoid discussing the facts with police or other people, follow your release conditions, and pay attention to your next court date. The first few hours can matter, but remember that an arrest is only the beginning of your criminal case.
Reach out to Andrew F. Skala, Esq. if you were arrested for a drug offense. Our drug crimes lawyer in Greensburg can help you understand what happens next and what choices you should consider before making decisions about your case.
Do Not Try to Explain The Drugs to The Police
You can provide basic identifying information, but you don’t have to explain where the drugs came from or who they belonged to. Don’t guess, speculate, or try to convince an officer that there’s an innocent explanation. If police want to question you about the alleged offense, clearly ask for a lawyer. Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 540 requires that defendants at a preliminary arraignment be informed of their rights to counsel and to a preliminary hearing.
Exercise Your Right to Legal Counsel Before Discussing The Case
Our Greensburg drug crimes attorney can help you decide how to handle questions about your case. You may feel pressure to tell your side immediately, especially if you believe the police have misunderstood what happened. Trying to explain everything without legal advice can create statements prosecutors later use against you, so just don’t. Our drug crimes lawyer in Greensburg can also begin looking at whether police had legal grounds to stop, search, or arrest you.
Don’t Consent to Additional Searches
If police ask for permission to search your vehicle, home, phone, or other property, you can refuse consent without trying to argue about the reason. Don’t physically interfere with a search. Instead, tell officers clearly that you don’t consent and let your lawyer evaluate whether the search was lawful.
Do Not Delete Messages or Other Evidence
Don’t erase texts, social media messages, photographs, payment records, or other information related to your drug case. Even information you think makes you look bad may help our Greensburg drug crimes lawyer understand what actually happened. If police claim you possessed drugs with the intent to deliver them, communications, packaging, payment records, and other circumstances may become important. Your lawyer needs to know what exists before deciding how it may affect your defense.
Make Sure to Follow Every Release Condition
Getting released doesn’t mean your drug case is over. Follow every condition attached to your bail or release, including attending required hearings and complying with any other restrictions the court imposes. Keep your court paperwork in a safe place and put every date on a calendar. Missing a required proceeding can create additional problems, including jail time.
Find Out Exactly What You’re Charged With
A drug arrest doesn’t tell you everything about your case. The specific charge is crucial. Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 35 P.S. § 780-113, covers drug offenses, including possession and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Simple possession and possession with intent to deliver are different allegations and can carry very different consequences, as the exact wording on the criminal complaint matters.
Before You Make Your Next Move, Know Your Options in Greensburg
The decisions you make immediately after a drug arrest can affect how your case develops. Contact Andrew F. Skala, Esq. at 724-493-9044 or online for your free initial case review. Our Greensburg drug crimes attorney can review the arrest, identify the exact charges, examine how the drugs were discovered, and help you understand your options before the case moves further through the Westmoreland County court system.