Defending Against Drug Related Charges

Washington Drug Crime Defense

Drug charges can affect far more than a criminal record. Depending on the charge, a conviction can threaten a person’s freedom, employment, housing, professional opportunities, immigration status, and financial stability. The consequences can be especially serious when the State alleges delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent to distribute.

Nicole Dalton is an experienced Washington criminal defense attorney who takes a detailed, trial-focused approach to drug cases.

Washington drug law has changed substantially in recent years. After the Washington Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Blake, simple possession is generally a gross misdemeanor rather than a felony, and the State must prove that possession was knowing. At the same time, delivery, manufacture, and possession with intent to deliver remain felony offenses.

That distinction makes the facts of the case critically important.

A small amount of a controlled substance allegedly possessed for personal use presents a very different case from an allegation that drugs were possessed for distribution. Police and prosecutors may rely on quantity, packaging, cash, scales, text messages, statements, surveillance, or other circumstances to argue that a person intended to deliver drugs. Those conclusions should not simply be accepted at face value.

The Investigation Matters

Drug cases often turn on how the evidence was obtained, not merely on what police claim they found.

A strong defense may require careful examination of:

• why police stopped or detained the person;
• whether officers had lawful authority to arrest;
• whether a warrant was valid and properly executed;
• whether a search exceeded its lawful scope;
• whether information from an informant or witness was sufficiently reliable;
• whether statements were obtained lawfully;
• whether the State can prove knowing possession;
• whether evidence actually supports an allegation of intent to deliver;
• laboratory testing, chain of custody, and identification of the alleged substance; and
• whether police or prosecutors complied with constitutional, statutory, and court-rule requirements.

Ms. Dalton makes extensive use of pretrial motions when the facts and law support them, including motions seeking suppression of evidence or dismissal of charges. A successful suppression motion can fundamentally change—or sometimes end—a prosecution.

Drug Charges We Defend

Dalton Law Office represents people accused of Washington drug offenses including:

• Knowing possession of a controlled substance
• Possession with intent to manufacture or deliver
• Delivery of controlled substances
• Manufacture of controlled substances
• Drug-related charges involving methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin or fentanyl, psilocybin, prescription and legend drugs, and other controlled substances
• Unlawful cannabis-related offenses
• Drug cases involving searches of vehicles, homes, bags, phones, or persons

Drug cases can involve complicated questions of constitutional law, police procedure, forensic evidence, and statutory interpretation. The earlier those issues are identified, the more options may be available to the defense.

Washington Drug Law Is Changing

The law governing simple possession in Washington has changed dramatically over the last several years. Those changes affect not only potential penalties, but in some cases the rules governing police investigation, warrantless arrest, and search.

We discuss those changes in more detail here: Washington’s Drug Laws Have Changed.

Talk With a Washington Drug Defense Attorney

If you have been arrested, charged, or are under investigation for a drug offense, Dalton Law Office can evaluate not only the charge itself, but how the investigation was conducted and whether the State’s evidence was lawfully obtained and can actually prove the offense alleged.

Call  360-213-0013  to speak with Dalton Law Office about your case. We are here help.