Reading Drug Crime Sentencing
Pennsylvania Drug Crime Defense Attorneys
If you are facing a drug crime charge, you should know that law enforcement and the state take these offenses very seriously. Consequently, there are mandatory minimum sentences for state drug crime convictions.
At Emkey Law Firm in Reading, drug crime defense attorney Daniel P. Emkey helps clients understand the possible consequences of the charge and employ aggressive defense strategies that seek dismissal, reduced charges, not guilty verdicts, or reduced or alternative penalties for drug crime charges.
Issues in Drug Sentences
As a former prosecutor, Daniel P. Emkey understands the importance of negotiating to reduce charges. He also knows that police and prosecution sometimes cut corners in their zeal to move drug cases forward. If, after examining the evidence, we find weaknesses in the prosecution's case, we will move to suppress evidence, dismiss, or reduce charges.
There are numerous factors that go into drug crime sentencing.
These can include:
- Whether the alleged crime occurred in a school zone, a school bus or school bus stop.
- The amount of the drug involved.
- The type of drug. For example, marijuana may have less severe penalties than crack cocaine.
- Whether a firearm was used.
- Whether the drugs were allegedly sold to minors.
- The level of charge — felony drug offense or misdemeanor.
Clients may face sentences of up to one year in prison for marijuana possession, up to seven years in prison for felony drug offenses and up to 20 years in prison for drug distribution or trafficking.
How an Attorney Can Help
Berks County drug crimes defense attorney Daniel P. Emkey forces the prosecution to prove its case. For example, if the state says that an alleged drug sale occurred within 500 feet of a school, we measure the distance. If the prosecution charges conspiracy with intent to deliver combined with gun possession (an enhanced penalty), we make sure that the gun was truly in our client's possession.
Alternative Drug Crime Sentencing
If our client is convicted, we negotiate with the prosecutor to obtain alternative penalties for our client. We have successfully placed clients in the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP). We recommend that clients who are addicted to controlled substances receive counseling and treatment instead of jail time.
Contact Us
Contact our office today to learn how our Reading criminal defense attorney can help reduce the penalties in sentencing of drug crimes. Interpreters are available in all languages. We accept major credit cards.
Call us today at (610) 200-6103 and learn how we can advocate for you!
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"Thank you Attorney Emkey for your hard work. I have no doubt the outcome would have been different without you. You are truly a great attorney."- R.W.
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"Never met someone (let alone an attorney) so caring as Dan. You can tell the second you walk into his office that you are in the right place. He's got the nicest office around and his legal assistant was extremely polite. He cared about my family, and m"- G
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"He took the time to explain everything to my family and I. I am very pleased with my outcome. I'm so thankful I was referred to him,"- S.S.
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"Dan helped me when I got my first DUI. He answered the phone on a Sunday and talked to me live and explained to me my options for ARD. He calmed me down, I was very nervous since I never had any prior arrests. Dan also (for no extra cost) represented me fo"- D.M.
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"Mr. Emkey was able to get my DUI charges dropped!! He was very compassionate and kept me up to date on everything that he did. I would hire him again if I needed legal representation!"- T.L.
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"I would absolutely recommend Attorney Emkey. He is very intelligent and compassionate. He answered my very early AM phone calls very graciously and spent a great deal of time explaining things to me that I didn't understand initially. He sensed my anxietie"- J.L.
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"I definitely had a positive experience with the firm. Everyone was very professional and understanding. I appreciated the phone calls to remind me of court dates and also that I could talk to anyone if I had a problem or a concern about something. I'm very"- A.S.
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"Attorney Emkey has always done his best to help me as his client. He makes himself fully available at all times and gets back to you right away. He is genuinely a kind person who stands for what is right and what is wrong and does what he can to accommodat"- D.L.
