Las Vegas Methamphetamine Charges

Possession of methamphetamine without proper authorization is against the law in Nevada and a conviction of drug charges involving methamphetamine carries potentially stiff penalties including imprisonment and fines. If you have been busted by Las Vegas police on charges of possessing, selling or manufacturing crystal meth, you should contact an experienced Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer without delay. Your future may depend on the attorney you select to defend you.

The Las Vegas methamphetamine defense attorneys at Adras & Altig have more than a decade of experience fighting for the rights of Nevada residents and visitors who have been arrested on meth charges. As hard-nosed criminal defense attorneys, Paul Adras and Stephen Altig are reputable and respected and care about their clients. The law firm of Adras & Altig is committed to the belief that no one’s life should be wrecked by a one-time mistake.

The attorneys at Adras and Altig understand all aspects of Nevada criminal laws related to methamphetamine possession and sale. We have been successful getting possession of controlled substances charges reduced or dismissed. If you have not had previous meth convictions, we will seek to get you enrolled in a drug diversion program and get the pending charges dismissed after you complete the program. We work diligently to find resolutions to drug charges that protect the interests of our clients.

Laws and Penalties on Meth Possession in Nevada

Methamphetamine is a powerful drug that creates a euphoric effect and is highly addictive. Because of the high potential for abuse of methamphetamine, it is categorized as a Schedule II drug. Its street names include crystal meth, speed, Christina, Tina, tweak, ice and crank.

Meth usually comes as a white powder and is snorted, swallowed, smoked or injected with a syringe. The abuse of meth can cause severe, long-term health problems including physical dependence and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and paranoia. Individuals who become addicted to meth often abuse it regardless of the consequences to themselves or their loved ones. They need treatment for their addiction rather than imprisonment.

You may have wondered about how much meth constitutes a felony. Under Nevada Revised Statutes, a charge of simple possession of methamphetamine for personal use is a Category E felony under Nevada law. Possession may be actual possession on your person or constructive possession, meaning under your control.

A conviction carries a sentence of one to four years in prison. The court will typically suspend the prison sentence and grant probation if it is your first offense of meth possession and you have not previously failed to complete a court-assigned drug treatment program.

Las Vegas is a party town and meth is a club drug. Many people are arrested for possession of meth each year. Our criminal defense attorneys have seen a number of people who were in the wrong place get wrongly charged with possession of a controlled substance that belonged to someone else. If you were unaware of the bag of crystal meth under the seat of your rental car, for example, you cannot be convicted of meth possession. Our legal team will analyze the circumstances of your arrest and work to get the charges dismissed or reduced.

What to Do If You Are Charged with Meth Possession (NRS 453.336)

If you have been arrested on charges of meth possession, do not delay in contacting a knowledgeable defense attorney at Adras & Altig to review the facts and discuss your legal options. Possession of meth is a felony charge. A conviction of drug possession charges will give you a criminal record. That can make it more difficult to get a job and limit your opportunities to further your education.

You should contact a lawyer as soon as you are permitted to make a phone call and before giving a statement to Las Vegas police. If the police try to question you, politely decline to answer the officer’s questions and ask to speak with a lawyer.

It’s a big mistake to try to talk with the police and prosecutor on your own and throw yourself on the mercy of the court regarding meth possession charges. By talking with police, you will simply be helping them make a stronger case against you. Do not jeopardize your case by talking to police without the representation of a knowledgeable drug crimes attorney.

The prosecutor will not go easy on you just because you are representing yourself.

Talk to a meth defense lawyer who will fight for what is best for you. If you are facing a first-time drug possession charge, we should be able to have the charge dismissed if you complete a court-assigned drug treatment program known as Nevada Drug Court. Some clients need treatment for drug addiction to regain control of their lives.

Our goal is to find a resolution that has the least negative impact on your life.

Possession with Intent to Sell Methamphetamine (NRS 453.337) (NRS 453.321)

According to the Nevada Revised Statutes:

• A charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell it is a Category D felony. If convicted, you may receive one to four years in Nevada state prison and fines of up to $5,000.
• A first-time conviction of selling meth is a Category B felony with a possible sentence of one to six years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
• Subsequent convictions for selling meth carry tougher penalties.

Our knowledgeable defense team may be able to point to the circumstances of the arrest and make a strong argument that the circumstances do not prove intent to sell methamphetamine.

Meth Trafficking Laws in Nevada (NRS 453.3395)

Nevada with its sparsely populated frontier border is a point of importing methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico and a trans-shipment location, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center. Trafficking meth generally involves larger quantities of the drug and is a serious crime. The penalties upon conviction depend on the quantities of drugs involved.

Police may charge you with a Class C felony of trafficking of meth if the quantity involved is 28 grams up to 199 grams, under Nevada law NRS 453.3395.

The potential punishments increase for drug convictions involving quantities of more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.

If you are busted with a large quantity of meth ranging from 200 grams up to 400 grams, you may be charged with a Class B felony. Conviction of a Class B felony of meth trafficking carries a prison sentence of two to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000.

If the quantity of meth is 400 grams or more, you may be charged with a Class A felony meth trafficking charge. A conviction of this serious drug crime carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. You may be eligible for parole after five years.

Hiring a Drug Crimes Lawyer if Arrested on Charges of Crystal Meth Possession

If you have been arrested on crystal meth charges in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Nevada, you should speak with an experienced meth defense attorney immediately. Our knowledgeable Nevada criminal defense attorneys at Adras & Altig are proud of the legal representation we provide clients. Using a team approach, our defense lawyers are more about getting results and less about ego.

We will conduct a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding your meth arrest. We will evaluate whether the police officer who busted you followed the correct procedures in stopping you and carrying out a search of your property. If the officer did not adhere to the law and the evidence against you was obtained through an illegal search, our legal team may be able to get the drug charges against you thrown out. We have had success doing this in certain cases.

We respect our clients and work hard to provide personalized legal representation and to be responsive to our clients. At Adras & Altig, it’s not about the number of clients we represent. Rather, it is about the quality of the representation we provide. We are here to help you, not judge you. Everyone deserves a second chance.

If you call with questions and we are tied up in court, we will do our best to return your call by the close of business when possible. Contact us to use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with Adras & Altig. Let us discuss how we can assist you.