Have you been arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in Boston? A charge of this nature can have a serious impact on your personal and professional life. There are multiple different drug crimes that are recognized by Massachusetts, each of which carries their own set of penalties and consequences.
Among these charges are:
Drug possession: A drug possession charge can occur when someone has one or more illegal narcotics found in their possession by law enforcement.
Drug possession with intent to distribute: This crime occurs when someone has one or more illegal narcotics found in their possession with the intent of selling those narcotics for profitable hain. If you are found guilty of this drug possession with intent to distribute, and intend, to sell those drugs to a minor, you will face enhanced charges and sentencing for endangering a minor.
Drug manufacturing: This crime occurs when someone is producing an illegal narcotic, whether or not they are directly selling it or intending to sell it.
Drug distribution: This crime occurs when someone is delivering, smuggling, or transporting illegal narcotics.
If you have been arrested for possession of a drug with intent to distribute, you are facing a felony charge.
How Does A Judge Prove Possession With Intent To Distribute?
In order to be brought up on charges for drug possession with intent to distribute, a judge must be able to prove a handful of factors. In order to be charged, the police must have probable cause to infer that you have transacted drugs in the past, or have intention to do so in the future.
Police officers use evidence from the arrest to make this inference. For example, if there are an usual amount of bags or storage containers for the substance laying around, or as scale to weigh out quantities of a substance, this leads police to believe there is intent to distribute, and they arrest you on such grounds. The police report will then be considered evidence as you are tried for the charge.
In addition to bags and scales, excessive amounts of money can also be an indicator that you are possessing drugs with the intent to sell them, as it suggests you the money is a product of the drug transactions. All evidence can be disputed with the help of a criminal defense lawyer in court. Never assume that you don’t have the right to fight back against a charge. A smart Boston criminal defense lawyer will stop at nothing to contest any and all evidence possible, so that you may be able to see reduced penalties or charges dropped entirely.
What Are The Penalties For Selling Drugs In Boston?
Anyone who is charged with drug possession with intent to sell crime in Boston will need the help of a lawyer to defend them against the penalties they might face. The courts will take several factors into consideration when deliberating upon your case in court. Among these factors are: the type of drugs that were in possession, the quantity possessed, why the drug was in possession, and if minors were involved.
If you have been charged with drug possession charges with intent to sell in Boston, you could be faced with penalties such as:
- Financial penalties such as fines
- Court-mandated drug rehab, inpatient or outpatient drug treatment programs
- Probation
- Registration as a drug offender
- Community service
- Time in state jail or federal prison
The full set of penalties surrounding this law are laid out in Section 32 of Massachusetts General Law. If your intent to sell charges includes a minor, or you sold drugs on school property, you will likely face much more serious consequences. Schedule a consultation with Toland Law as soon as you have been charged to start building a strong case for your defense.
Schedule A Consultation With A Boston Drug Crimes Lawyer If You’ve Been Arrested For Selling Drugs
A charge of this nature can change your life forever. Don’t delay and schedule a consultation with a Boston criminal defense lawyer as soon as you have been arrested. At Toland Law, we have extensive experience defending those arrested for drug crimes, and will help you build a strong case to defend yourself before a judge. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult to contest the evidence of the case on your own. With a hardworking attorney by your side, you can rest assured knowing you have high quality legal counsel by your side, who cares about the outcome of your case just as much as you do.