Las Vegas has very carefully and intentionally developed a reputation throughout the country and even the world as a city where anything goes — so much so that many visitors are surprised to find that they can get arrested for crimes here as in any other city.
This is particularly true of drug charges, which you absolutely might face if a police officer finds you with drugs in your possession. The reality is that many kinds of drugs are still illegal in Vegas, even if they are readily available.
If you were recently arrested on a drug charge of any kind, you can and should fight the charge with the guidance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. An attorney with experience fighting drug charges in Vegas may mean the difference between jail time and dismissal of charges.
Officer, it’s not what it looks like!
One of the most common problems that can occur with drug charges here is when one person is in town for a wild weekend or getaway with a group of others, and police stop the one person holding the supplies for the entire group’s weekend.
Sure, maybe you did have some drugs on you, but now you’re facing a charge of possession with intent to sell, which is not at all the true nature of the situation. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think, even in Vegas.
Whether these are the charges you face or some other category of drug charge, rest assured that your next few steps are very important, and you must choose them very carefully.
Build a strong defense as soon as possible
The reality of the matter is that every day that you wait to begin mounting a strong defense against whatever drug charges you face, the more time the prosecution has to build its case against you.
Now is the time to swing for the fences, not the time to play softball. An experienced attorney can help review all the facts of your case and identify any violations of your rights. If your rights were violated — for example, if police conducted an illegal search — the evidence against you could be suppressed.
There are many tools in the legal utility belt of a skilled attorney, and you may need all of them. These may include objections to search procedures, laboratory testing of evidence, and others. However, you choose to proceed, do so with the help of a skilled criminal defense attorney.