Texas Injury Lawyers Blog
Drug abuse comes with harsh legal punishments in Texas.
Teen Charged with Murder after Fentanyl Overdose Kills a 15-Year-Old Highschool Student
If you use the Google search engine, you probably know that today is Fentanyl Awareness Day. This comes just six days after a teenager in the Kyle, Texas area is charged with the murder and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor after a 15-year-old Lehman High School student overdosed on fentanyl-laced drugs. Drug charges are no joke, and they have more repercussions on your life than you might think, especially if you’re a teenager.
Did You Know?
Fentanyl is involved in more deaths in Americans under the age of fifty than any other cause of death, accidental or disease-related, according to the DEA.
Click here to learn more about the dangers of fentanyl poisoning
Consequences of a Drug Charge
Drug crimes have some of the most aggressive sentencing policies of any kind of crime ever since the 1980s “war on drugs” zero-tolerance policies. Unlike many other kinds of criminal activity, these charges can even lead to federal prosecution.
Possession
Knowingly being in possession of an illegal substance is a crime in Texas, and the punishment ranges in severity based on the number of convictions and other circumstances.
Group 1 – illegal drugs in group one includes substances like cocaine, meth, and heroin, among others. Possession of just less than 1 gram of a group one substance is a State Jail Felony, punishable by jail confinement of 180 days to 2 years and/or fines of up to $10,000. The punishment grows in severity the more you possess.
Group 2 – illegal drugs in group two are cannabinoids created from cannabis or marijuana like MDMA and PCP. Possessing between one and four grams of this classification of a substance is a 3rd-Degree Felony, punishable by two to ten years of federal prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Group 3 – Benzodiazepines, Xanax, and other opioids not listed in group one are classified as a group-three illegal substances. Possessing less than 28 grams of a group three illegal substance is a Class A Misdemeanor and punishable by jail sentences of 180 days to 1 year and/or fines of up to $4,000.
Group 4 – the final group of illegal substances includes all opioids not listed in group one or group three and also may include prescription medications and other chemical compounds with the potential for abuse. Penalties for these substances are equal to those group three substances.
Civil Consequences
A drug charge doesn’t just result in jail time and fines. Many people are aware that a criminal record may ruin your chance at many forms of employment, but did you know that a drug charge at 18 years or older can keep you out of college? 66% of colleges across the U.S. collect criminal background information on their applicants, according to a study conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Additionally, a drug charge can disqualify you from receiving federal student aid.
Learn more about what you can about a drug charge from Carabin Shaw.
Facing a Drug Charge in Austin?
The consequences of being arrested and charged with possession could change your life forever. If you are facing a possession charge in Texas, contact the criminal defense experts at Carabin Shaw today at 800-862-1260.