Drug Crimes

In Pennsylvania, police and prosecutors treat drug crimes seriously due to the harmful effects that illegal drugs have on communities. As a result, when you face prosecution for a drug offense, you need an experienced defense attorney who can help level the playing field so you can stand up for yourself and fight for a positive outcome to your charges. A lawyer can help you understand the details of your case, walk you through your options, and defend your reputation and future.

Following an arrest on drug charges, you deserve seasoned legal counsel to protect your rights and interests. Contact Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, for an initial case evaluation with a drug crimes defense lawyer to learn how I will advocate for you to help you seek a favorable resolution to your charges.

Why Choose Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, for Your Case?

Facing prosecution for drug offenses can put your freedom, reputation, and future at stake. Your choice of legal counsel can make a difference in the outcome of your case and how you move forward with your life after resolving your charges. Choose Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, to guide you because of my firm’s values, which include:

Collaboration and Input – I believe that every client has the right to decide how their case should proceed. I will help you understand your charges and legal options so you can make informed decisions to protect your interests at each stage of your case.
In-Depth Legal Knowledge and Experience – I have over two decades of experience advocating on behalf of clients facing drug charges and other criminal matters. You can rest assured that hiring me means you’ll have an attorney with the knowledge and insights necessary to handle your case.
Honesty, Transparency, and Respect – You can always expect to receive a clear, honest assessment of your situation, even if you might not hear the news you wanted to hear. However, I will also show respect for the trying situation you face when charged with drug offenses.

Understanding Drug Crimes

Under Pennsylvania law, a person commits a prohibited act if they manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, offer for sell, or possess a controlled substance except as otherwise permitted by law, such as under a drug manufacturing license, a medical practitioner license, or a valid prescription issued by a practitioner in the course of their medical practice. The law also prohibits the possession, use, or delivery of drug paraphernalia – equipment or materials used to cultivate, manufacture, store, package, transport, or consume controlled substances.

I can help you resolve criminal charges involving drug offenses such as:

Simple possession (possession of drugs for personal consumption)
Possession with intent to distribute
Drug trafficking
Drug manufacturing
Possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia

Penalties for Drug Convictions

Penalties for drug offenses in Pennsylvania can vary depending on the nature of the offense, the type and quantity of drugs involved in the offense, or the number of prior convictions a defendant has. For example, a conviction for simple possession may result in a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, while subsequent convictions can lead to penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to $25,000. Possession of controlled substances with intent to manufacture or deliver can vary based on the type and quantity of drugs. Finally, possession or use of drug paraphernalia can impose a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

Drug convictions can have other long-term consequences, including leaving you with a criminal record that may negatively affect your ability to pursue employment, housing, or educational opportunities due to the social stigma of drug offenses. As a result, you need highly experienced and dedicated legal counsel to help you fight for the best possible resolution to your case when charged with drug crimes.

Potential Defenses to Drug Charges

A person charged with a drug offense might pursue various defense strategies to contest the prosecution’s allegations, such as:

Lack of Possession – A defendant may assert that they did not have actual or constructive possession of controlled substances seized by police, such as when officers seize drugs from another person’s room, vehicle, or bag.
Lawful Possession – Defendants may present a valid prescription for a controlled substance to prove they lawfully possessed it.
Failure to Confirm Identity of Substance – A defendant may argue that the substance at issue in the case is not a controlled substance by highlighting the prosecution’s failure to test the substance to confirm its identity.
Unlawful Search – Defendants may seek to exclude evidence of drugs from the prosecution’s case by arguing that police conducted an unlawful search without a warrant or probable cause for a warrantless search.

Furthermore, individuals charged with simple drug possession may claim immunity from criminal prosecution under Pennsylvania’s drug overdose response immunity law, which confers immunity for a defendant if:

Law enforcement became aware of the defendant’s commission of a drug offense because the person transported another individual experiencing a drug overdose to a law enforcement agency, campus security office, or healthcare facility, or
The defendant reported a drug overdose in good faith, based on their reasonable belief that another individual required immediate medical attention to prevent severe injury or death, provided their name and location, cooperated with law enforcement, 911, or emergency services personnel, and remained with the individual requiring medical attention until help arrived

A defendant who experienced a drug overdose can also claim immunity if another individual who transported them for or summoned medical attention could claim immunity under the law.

How Can an Attorney Help You Face Prosecution for a Drug Offense?

Prosecutors will vigorously pursue drug charges against defendants suspected of committing offenses with unlawful controlled substances. As a result, having legal counsel can help you fight to protect your rights and interests in the criminal justice system. Criminal defense lawyer Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, can help you seek a better resolution to your drug charges by:

Investigating your charges to obtain all available evidence, rather than relying solely on evidence during over by police and prosecutors, to ensure that you have as robust a defense as possible
Evaluating the facts and circumstances of your case to identify possible defense strategies to pursue
Helping you understand the nature of your charges and the potential outcomes of your case to assist you with making informed decisions about how to respond to your charges
Testing weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, including seeking to exclude evidence obtained in unlawful searches or to reduce or dismiss your charges for insufficient evidence
Pursuing every avenue to obtain the best possible resolution to your case, even when that means going to trial when you choose to fight your charges or assert your innocence

Contact Our Firm Today for Legal Advocacy

When law enforcement charges you with a drug crime, don’t wait to seek legal help to defend yourself in a criminal prosecution. Contact Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, today for a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable defense attorney to discuss how my firm will fight to protect your rights, reputation, and future from the harshest consequences of an arrest or conviction for drug offenses.

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