Minnesota Drug Lawyer – Your Trusted Legal Ally
As a Minnesota and Wisconsin drug defense lawyer, Robert J. Shane has achieved a winning record in defending his clients against drug crimes. The majority of the drug charges handled by Mr. Shane resulted in either an acquittal or dismissal!
I have listed a few of my recent case results:
- Fifth Degree Controlled Substance Crime (4 lbs. marijuana) – Stay of Adjudication
- Fifth Degree Controlled Substance Crime (cocaine) – Diversion
- First Degree Controlled Substance Crime (60 grams of meth) – Dismissed
- Fifth Degree Controlled Substance crime (225 grams of marijuana) – Dismissed
- First Degree Controlled Substance Crime (Methamphetamine) – No Prison Time
- First Degree Controlled Substance Crime (Cocaine) – No Prison Time
- First Degree Controlled Substance Crime (1/2 lbs. opium) – Dismissed
I achieve these results through hard work, people skills, and an ability to locate and exploit the legal loophole. Any criminal defense lawyer cannot guarantee the outcome in a criminal case but it depends on the facts of your case and the lawyer you choose.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a drug crime, call criminal defense attorney Robert J. Shane any time, day or night, at (612) 339-1024 for the “Best Defense,” or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.
Understanding Drug Crime Charges: What the Prosecution Must Prove and Why You Need a Skilled Drug Lawyer in Minnesota
If you are charged with a drug crime, the prosecution must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were aware you possessed a controlled substance. The prosecution is not required to prove you knew the identity of the substance possessed, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, just that you knew it was illegal. You may have a legal defense on this issue and should hire the best drug lawyer in Minnesota.
The prosecution is also required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the substance you possessed was in fact a controlled substance. The strength of the controlled substance or its potency are not elements of the crime that must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Certain drug crimes require the prosecution to prove the quantity of the controlled substance possessed, such as the number of grams, or the number of dosage units. An expert witness from the BCA is called at trial to testify as to the quantity and identity of a controlled substance. This may be a fertile area for reasonable doubt.
A drug crime may involve the sale of a controlled substance which can include the selling, giving away, bartering, exchanging, distributing or manufacturing of a narcotic drug. A sale also includes an offer or agreement to do any of the above. A person may also be charged with possession with the intent to sell the controlled substance. This may occur when a person is caught with a large quantity of drugs which is considered more than a personal use amount.
A drug charge may also be based on the possession of a controlled substance. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the person was consciously aware that he or she in fact possessed a controlled substance or possessed it with some other person. A person charged with a drug crime does not need to have the drug in his actual physical possession but may still be charged with what is called “constructive possession” of a controlled substance. This situation may occur where, for example, the drugs are found by the police on a table in a room where several people were sitting and would have access to the drug. The prosecution would need to prove that each person at the table was consciously exercising dominion and control over the drugs. You may have a legal defense on this issue and should hire the best drug lawyer in Minnesota.