Ahwatukee Foothills Drug Crimes Defense

Ahwatukee Foothills is a neighborhood located on the southern edge of Phoenix. The majority of residents (around 64%) are married without children. They generally live comfortable, white-collar lifestyles. The largest age group is comprised of people in their thirties (about 20.2% of residents). Like other neighborhoods, Ahwatukee Foothills experiences crime, particularly crimes related to substance use. If you are accused of a crime such as drug possession or sales, it is crucial to retain an experienced Ahwatukee Foothills drug crime attorney to develop a sound defense strategy.

Drug Crimes in Arizona

Drug laws in Arizona are among the strictest in the nation. Chapter 13 of the Arizona Revised Statutes covers drug crime laws. Possession, manufacture, obtaining by fraud, and transporting controlled substances are all illegal acts. Penalties are administered according to the class of felony, which ranges from class 2 to class 5. The severity of penalties depends on the quantity of drugs that are discovered and the circumstances under which they are discovered. If you are arrested for a drug offense or some other crime in Ahwatukee Foothills, you will likely be required to appear in a Phoenix court, as this community is part of the Phoenix jurisdiction.

Drug possession is one of the most common drug charges. You can be charged with possession even if the drugs at issue are not in your pockets or elsewhere on your person. You can be in “possession” of drugs if you have control of them and they are stored at home, in your car, or at your workplace.

It is possible to be charged with possession with intent to sell or distribute if you are in possession of a particular drug according to “threshold limits.” Each drug has a different threshold limit. You can be charged with intent to sell for possessing 1 gram of heroin, 4 grams of PCP, 9 grams of methamphetamine, and 750 mg of crack cocaine.

Methamphetamine Possession, Sale, and Manufacturing Charges

Methamphetamines are considered “dangerous drugs” in Arizona. According to the Attorney General, in 2002 police seized 297 home-based meth labs in Arizona. In response to the large numbers of meth manufacturers, Arizona has enacted some of the harshest laws in the nation against those who possess, sell, manufacture, or distribute methamphetamine. If large quantities are involved, a methamphetamine manufacturer may be prosecuted in federal court and will be subject to mandatory minimum sentences.

Many simple drug possession offenses may fall within the ambit of Arizona’s Proposition 200, which prevents certain drug offenders from being sent to prison. However, methamphetamine abuse is so problematic in Arizona that offenses related to methamphetamine are excluded from Proposition 200 protection. This means that someone sentenced in relation to a methamphetamine crime may be sentenced to prison terms that are much harsher than the punishment for other drug offenses, even if it is his or her first offense. Further, if you have a prior conviction for methamphetamine possession, you may be sentenced to a presumptive term of 2.5 years of imprisonment and will not be eligible for parole. Moreover, if you are charged with methamphetamine manufacture, sale, or possession with the intent to sell, you can be sentenced to a presumptive prison term of 10 years with a mandatory range of 5 to 15 years. The greater the number of offenses on your criminal record, the harsher these sentences become. Even possessing precursor chemical and equipment is a crime in Arizona.

Helping You Protect Your Rights

If you or someone you love is charged with possession of a controlled substance or other drug crime, you should contact knowledgeable Ahwatukee Foothills drug crime lawyer James Novak to review the facts of your particular case and to develop a strong and strategic defense. Contact us at (480) 413-1499 or via our online form.