How Prior Convictions Can Affect Your Current Drug Case

If you plead not guilty in a criminal case, you have the right to a fair trial with twelve unbiased jurors.  One way that the courts protect against juror bias is by letting your lawyer and the prosecution speak up if they think that a prospective juror has already made up their mind, before they even hear the facts of the case, whether to find the defendant innocent or guilty.  Another way is to ensure that the jurors do not have any outside knowledge of the defendant or the case; this is why jurors are not allowed to see any news coverage of the case, if journalists are reporting on it, and why lawyers and witnesses are not allowed to mention the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any, during the trial.  In other words, your trial is about whether you committed this crime, not about whether you ever committed another crime in the past.  When it comes to sentencing, though, prior convictions matter.  If it is your first offense, you might even be able to avoid a conviction, or even a trial, through a pre-trial diversion program.  For repeat offenses, though, the sentences get tougher every time, and the bond amounts get higher.  Whether or not you have prior convictions, a Florida drug possession attorney can help you get the best possible outcome in your drug possession case.

Why Your Co-Defendant’s Bond Amount Is Higher Than Yours

In February 2022, Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at a residence in Homosassa.  They found 482.6 grams of methamphetamine, as well as an assortment of other drugs, including LSD and the prescription drugs Diazepam, Alprazolam, and Oxycodone.  They arrested all four occupants of the house and took them to jail, but their charges and bond amounts vary:

• Melissa Ann Parker, 41, faces charges for trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances (four counts), and possession of drug paraphernalia. She has four prior felony convictions, and her bond amount has been set at $53,000.
• Anthony Fusco, 53, faces charges for drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond amount has been set at $3,000.  His bond amount has been set at $3,000.
• Danny Lee Green, 38, is also charged with drug possession. He has four prior felony convictions, and his bond amount has been set at $2,000.
• Holly Christine Beams, 30, faces charges for drug possession. Her bond amount has been set at $2,000.

Remember that, even if the police and the media describe you as a career felon or a habitual offender, you still have the right to a fair trial and to representation by a lawyer.

Contact FL Drug Defense Group About Criminal Charges for Methamphetamine Possession

You need a defense lawyer whether your best hope is drug court, probation, or a best-case scenario prison sentence.  A Central Florida criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for possession of methamphetamine or another controlled substance.  Contact FL Drug Defense Group in Orlando, Florida to discuss your case.

Sources:

chronicleonline.com/news/local/swat-teams-arrest-four-on-drug-charges/article_4b3931d0-c3e6-519f-ac40-f6740339cd81.html

wfla.com/news/local-news/citrus-county/nearly-500-grams-of-meth-found-in-citrus-county-drug-bust/

chronicleonline.com/news/local/crime-report-from-feb-17/article_3e481888-39ff-533a-8597-e29403e945df.html