Accused of Producing Drugs on Your Own? Contact Our New Jersey Drug Defense Lawyer Today
At the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC, our New Jersey criminal defense lawyer handles the full spectrum of drug charges, including home-based production cases. If you are accused of producing drugs in your home, you could face a very serious felony charge in New Jersey—even with very limited alleged production. You need strong legal representation. Contact our New Jersey drug crimes defense lawyer for immediate help.
We Defend All Types of Home-Based Drug Production Charges in New Jersey
Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility
Under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. § 2C:35-4), it is unlawful to operate a facility specifically for the production of controlled dangerous substances. Notably, the statute targets people who maintain premises where drugs are manufactured on any scale. It is a serious crime. A charge could be a first-degree felony (indictable offense) in New Jersey. If you are facing a criminal charge under this statute, contact a defense lawyer right away.
Manufacturing, Distributing, or Dispensing Controlled Dangerous Substances
A person engaged in alleged home-based drug production in New Jersey may also face a criminal charge under N.J.S.A. § 2C:35-5. The statute makes it a crime to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances without legal authorization. A charge under this statute could be brought in a number of different specific circumstances—from synthesizing and packaging to selling and delivering drugs. Depending on the situation, the offense can be charged as third degree, second degree, or a first degree felony (indictable offense).
An Overview of Your Defense Options for Home-Based Drug Production
Were you or your family member arrested and charged with a home-based drug production offense in New Jersey? You have the right to raise a zealous defense. The best defense strategy for any specific drug production case will vary based on a wide-range of case-specific factors. Some potential defense strategies include:
- Insufficient Evidence: The burden of proof rests on the shoulders of the prosecution. A foundational defense strategy involves challenging the prosecution’s evidence. If it is inadequate to prove guilt beyond a reasonable, charges must be dismissed.
- Unlawful Search and Seizure: You can raise a Fourth Amendment defense. Police need a search warrant or probable cause to conduct a search of your person or property. You have the right to contest the legality of how law enforcement gathered evidence. If your rights were violated during the search, the evidence might not be admissible in court. Without evidence obtained from an illegal search, the case may be dismissed outright.
- Lack of Knowledge: If you did not know drugs were being produced in the home, you may have a defense. Indeed, asserting that you were unaware of drug production activities on your property may be a viable defense strategy.
- Duress: In some cases, duress may be a viable defense. It generally involves arguing that you were compelled to participate in drug production under threat of violence or harm. It is a defense that acknowledges involvement but only under coercion.
- Plea Agreement: An aggressive defense is not always the most sensible defense. If the prosecution has strong evidence, negotiating a plea deal may be the best path forward. A plea agreement should always be negotiated by an experienced defense lawyer.
Why Trust New Jersey Defense Lawyer Matthew V. Portella
Drug manufacturing charges carry very serious criminal penalties. Home-based drug production cases can be felony offenses in New Jersey. Any person charged with a crime needs a high-end lawyer on their side. Our founding attorney Matthew V. Portella, Esq. has more than 30 years of criminal defense experience. We are proactive, aggressive, and committed to personalized advocacy for clients. Along with other things, our New Jersey home drug production defense lawyer will:
- Hear your story and answer questions about the charges;
- Investigate the allegations—gathering evidence to build a defense; and
- Develop a personalized strategy focused on protecting your rights and your interests.
Contact Our New Jersey Drug Production Defense Attorney for Immediate Help
At the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC, our New Jersey drug crimes defense lawyer has the experience that you can trust. Are you facing home-based drug production charges? We can help. Contact our criminal defense team today for a fully confidential initial consultation. With an office in Haddonfield, we defend home-based drug production charges throughout the State of New Jersey. From our legal offices in Haddonfield, we defend drug charges throughout New Jersey including in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Cumberland County, and Salem County.