Drug Paraphernalia in Fredericksburg

Paraphernalia is defined by Virginia Code, stating all equipment, products, and materials of any kind which are either designed for use or which are intended by the person charged for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, reducing, processing, preparing, strengthening, taking, analyzing, packaging, repacking, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing marijuana or any controlled substance into the human body is considered paraphernalia.

This includes obvious things like pipes, bowls, bongs, blunts, or spoons for heating heroin, as well as common household items that are used for other things such as scales, baggies, flower pots, blenders, or capsules. Virtually anything and everything can be considered drug paraphernalia based on the circumstances.

The ambiguity of what can be classified as drug paraphernalia in Fredericksburg can cause problems for the defendant who may have had no intention of using something as paraphernalia. That is why it is important for people who have been charged with paraphernalia possession to seek the legal counsel of an experienced drug defense lawyer well-versed in local drug policy, who can use their knowledge to build a case.

Paraphernalia Discovery

Police officers often discover drug paraphernalia in Fredericksburg during searches and/or raids. Most charges follow search incidents to arrest on probable cause stops when the officer suspects the person is using drugs but is unable to find anything other than the paraphernalia. Raids are far less common and usually result in more serious drug charges, such as possession with intent to distribute.

Treatment of Paraphernalia Possession

Paraphernalia possession is Class 1 misdemeanor. Oftentimes, drug paraphernalia in Fredericksburg charges result from police stops where the officer cannot charge a person with anything else. A possible scenario might be a person smoking a joint in their car and getting pulled over. The officer might smell marijuana and suspect that someone has been smoking it, but rolling papers are all they are able to find after searching the car.

Normally, a person being charged with paraphernalia possession will not be arrested. They will receive a summons to court. There is no mandatory minimum sentence, and if it is the individual’s first offense, there is a good chance they will receive a more lenient penalty.

Penalties

Ignorance of the law is not a defense to the law. However, an individual has to have the criminal knowledge that the item possessed was, in fact, paraphernalia being used for a criminal substance. The prosecution must convince the judge or the jury that the individual knew that they were selling these items for illegal purposes.

Possession of drug paraphernalia in Fredericksburg is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a first offender can face up to 12 months of jail and a fine of $2,500. If an individual is 18 or older and they are caught selling paraphernalia to a minor who is three years the person’s junior, they person could be facing a Class 6 felony, and a five-year prison sentence.

Possession of paraphernalia is a Class 1 misdemeanor regardless of what drug it might be used for, so prosecutors cannot elevate the charge to make it something more than what it is. However, sentences might increase with subsequent paraphernalia charges. Judges tend to be lenient with first offenders, but a person who has previous paraphernalia convictions on their record may receive a jail sentence similar to those for other Class 1 misdemeanors

Rights of a Person Caught With Paraphernalia

A person has the right to remain silent, and it is a good idea for anyone who is being questioned or arrested by a police officer to use that right. Normally, when an individual is arrested, the police do not know what the person knows, and that person should not help the police prosecute them by giving them information.

A person suspected of possessing drug paraphernalia in Fredericksburg has the right to an attorney. A lawyer can put a stop to police questioning and will do everything they can to keep the individual out of jail, either at the time of the arrest or when the case is seen by a judge. If you have been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, contact a qualified drug attorney who will advocate for you.