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Dedicated Camden County Criminal Defense Attorney Protects Rights Of Clients Facing Prescription Drug Charges

If you’ve been charged with a prescription drug crime in Camden County, New Jersey, you may or may not be aware of the consequences you are facing. Depending on your particular charges and the facts of your case, you may be facing severe consequences if you are convicted, including fines amounting to tens of thousands of dollars along with years in prison. Moreover, having a criminal record will inflict additional consequences that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

At my firm, The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, LLC, I defend people charged with prescription drug crimes in Camden County. I am firm founder and attorney Stephen R. Piper, and I have the experience and dedication to thoroughly investigate your case. I will take the time to answer all your questions and explain your rights and options, including whether it may be possible to negotiate a plea agreement or whether you have a viable defense you could present at trial. Although you must make the ultimate decision in how to proceed in your case, I will ensure that you understand your rights and the potential consequences of every decision you make. I will fight to protect your rights regardless of how you wish to proceed in your case.

Types Of Prescription Drug Crimes In New Jersey

Under New Jersey law, the misuse, abuse or illegal production, purchase or sale of prescription drugs is illegal. There are multiple statutes criminalizing various types of conduct with respect to prescription drugs. Examples of prescription drug offenses include:

  • Theft of prescription drug pads, blanks or forms: The theft of a prescription drug pad, blank or form from a medical professional
  • Illegal use of prescription drugs: The use of prescription drugs without a valid prescription from a licensed medical professional
  • Illegal possession of prescription drugs: The possession of prescription drugs without a valid prescription; if possessing four or fewer doses, the charge is a disorderly persons offense, but if possessing five or more doses, the charge is a fourth-degree crime
  • Distribution of prescription drugs: The distribution of prescriptions when one does not possess a valid license to prescribe or distribute prescription medication; the severity of the offense depends on the number of doses one distributes
  • Forgery of prescription drugs: The acquisition of prescription drugs by using any writing claimed to be the act of another who did not authorize such an act (for example, passing off a completed prescription as executed by a licensed physician who did not actually complete the prescription)
  • Acquisition of prescription drugs by fraud: The acquisition of a prescription through the use of fraud or misrepresentation

Although some minor prescription drug charges are disorderly persons offenses, many charges are classified as crimes under New Jersey law. You may also face additional charges depending on certain circumstances, such as being arrested near a school zone or in possession of a weapon. In addition, some offenses may be sufficiently severe so as to render a defendant ineligible for drug court.

In all cases, if you are facing prescription drug charges, potential consequences for a conviction include hefty fines and jail or prison time. Furthermore, having a prescription drug conviction on your record will have consequences that follow you for the rest of your life, making it difficult for you to obtain employment, education, credit or housing.

Results-Focused Criminal Defense Lawyer Fights Prescription Drug Charges

As a former prosecutor, I understand how the police and prosecutors investigate and build a case for prescription drug charges. As a result, I am able to identify potential procedural errors that may give a person charged with a prescription drug offense in Camden County a viable defense at trial. Even if there isn’t an apparent legal defense to your charges, I have the experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system to help you explore alternatives to conviction and imprisonment, including transfer to drug court, pretrial intervention and probation.

Depending on the circumstances of your case and your cooperation with various alternative programs, it may be possible to have your prescription drug charges dismissed so that you do not have to live with the long-lasting consequences of a criminal conviction. Throughout the process of facing your prescription drug charges, I will fight to ensure that your rights are protected and observed by the police and prosecutors.

Schedule A Consultation With A Camden County Defense Attorney

If you are facing prescription drug charges in Camden County or elsewhere in South Jersey, you need experienced and aggressive legal representation to best protect your rights and give you the opportunity to obtain the most favorable outcome in your case.

Contact The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case and learn more about your rights and options in facing your prescription drug charges. You can reach me online or over the phone at 856-333-3586.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prescription Drug Charges In Camden County, New Jersey

Do I need an attorney if I intend to plead guilty?

You should never plead guilty or accept a plea agreement from the prosecutor without first speaking with an attorney. An experienced defense attorney will be able to review a proposed plea agreement and advise you as to whether it represents an ideal outcome for you. An experienced criminal defense attorney can also review the facts of your case to advise you as to whether you may have viable legal defenses to your prescription drug charges, which may convince you not to plead guilty and instead proceed to trial to obtain a “not guilty” verdict.

What if I have a prescription for the drugs I’ve been charged with possessing?

In New Jersey, you are required to keep medication lawfully prescribed to you in the original container in which the medication was originally dispensed. You may keep up to a 10-day supply of prescription drugs in another container if you are able, upon request from law enforcement, to produce the name and address of the medical practitioner who prescribed the medication and/or the pharmacist who dispensed it. Refusal to provide this information can be prosecuted as a disorderly persons offense.