Methamphetamine Possession, Distribution & Sales in Johnson County
Meth Charges are Serious. Contact a Johnson County Drug Defense Attorney Today!
People who are charged with Methamphetamine (meth) drug offenses often face a unique set of circumstances. Because meth is extremely addictive and the high generally last for a long time, it can severely impact a person’s ability to retain function at work or school. While this should mean that there is a greater focus on helping and providing treatment for anyone impacted, in reality, it causes law enforcement and prosecutors to treat users harshly. Your best chance for a fair fight is to hire a Johnson County drug defense attorney.
Penalties for Meth Possession and Distribution
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of meth is Level V felony offense, and penalties are highly dependent on criminal history. They can range from 10 months to 42 months imprisonment.
If there is no criminal history, the charge starts with presumptive probation. Often this means, that you will be ordered to obtain treatment and submit to random drug testing. Jail time prior to the start of probation is common. This can create an issue since attending school or having a job is a requirement to be eligible for probation. It is important to have a Johnson County drug defense lawyer that can work with prosecutors to ensure that the jail time doesn’t cause you to lose your job.
Distribution of Methamphetamine
The penalty severity for distribution of meth (or possession with intent to distribute) depends on the amount. Although any amount of meth may support a distribution charge or possession with the intent to distribute, having over 3.5 grams of meth creates a presumption that you intended to sell it. A distribution case with a very small amount of meth will subject a person to a Level IV felony offense. Sentencing guidelines range from 14 months imprisonment to 51 months imprisonment, depending on criminal history. By contrast, if the amount of meth is greater than 100 grams, it will be defined as a Level I felony offense with penalties ranging from 138 months imprisonment to 204 months imprisonment.
Prosecutors in Johnson County are Aggressively Targeting Meth Manufacturing, Distribution and Possession
While the number of methamphetamine labs in Kansas has declined sharply over the past 15 years – largely due to aggressive law enforcement raids and prosecution – recent news reports suggest that meth addiction is a key factor in the state’s recent increase in crime. News reports also point to the fact that Kansas is directly on the “meth route” from the southern border to the major cities in the northern Midwest.
You Need a Highly-Experienced Johnson County Meth Defense Lawyer
As a result, prosecuting meth crimes continues to be a top priority for Kansas District Attorneys. If you have been charged with running a meth lab, distributing meth or possessing meth for personal use in Johnson County, you need a drug crime lawyer who has the skills and experience to protect you. Johnson County defense attorney Jerry Merrill has helped numerous clients avoid serious and life-altering penalties for meth and other drug crimes by asserting defenses such as:
- Failure to establish reasonable suspicion
- Failure to establish probable cause
- Conducting searches and seizures without valid search warrants
- Obtaining confessions without reading suspects’ Miranda rights
- Failure to maintain chain of custody
- Failure to conduct laboratory testing to prove that a substance is in fact methamphetamine
- Inadequate evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
Regardless of the facts of your case – even if the police arrested you in a meth lab or with a needle in your arm – you have defenses available. Johnson County defense attorney Jerry Merrill can help you, and you can contact our firm 24/7 for a free and confidential case evaluation.
Facing Meth Charges
Facing meth charges can be an overwhelming experience. Emotionally speaking, it’s best to keep your head above water by connecting to a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible for professional assistance. Often the best defense focuses on whether the search conducted by law enforcement was proper, and requires extensive knowledge of search and seizure laws. In addition, if you are suffering from a meth addiction, it is often important to be proactive and begin treatment prior to being ordered to by a judge. A Johnson County meth attorney will be able to direct you to valuable resources which are authorized by the district court to engage in treatment.
Contact an Experienced Johnson County Meth Attorney for Further Guidance
If you’ve been charged with a meth-related drug crime (i.e., possession, possession with intent to distribute, or distribution), then it’s important that you contact a skilled Johnson County meth attorney for assistance with your defense. I’m Jerry Merrill, a criminal defense attorney in Johnson County. I have extensive experience on all sides, having worked as a prosecutor, pro tempore judge, and as a defense attorney. Through this, I have unique insight into the case strategies that work, and those that don’t.
I understand that criminal litigation can be fraught with emotional difficulty, and as such, I strive to make myself available to clients at all times so that their questions and concerns can be handled in a timely manner. I provide my personal phone number to clients so that I can respond to their calls and texts on the same day.
Call (913) 815-0705 for a free consultation. We serve clients from Johnson County, Olathe, Shawnee, Overland Park and more!