Austin Drug Offense Attorneys

In 1963, the firm of Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C. was founded to provide aggressive and effective representation for people charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses in communities throughout Texas. Based in Austin, our expertise extends to Hays, Bastrop, Williamson, Comal, Caldwell and Burnet Counties. Our four decades of service in the courtroom have given us experience that few Texas criminal defense law firms can offer.

If you are facing drug charges, let our experience before state and federal judges and juries work for you. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss the circumstances of your narcotics charges with one of our knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers. You can reach us by phone at (512) 476-4873, by email at pminton@mbfc.com, or by filling out this form.

Drug-related crimes are the most frequently charged offenses in the state of Texas. The FBI reports that in 2007, drug abuse violations resulted in the arrest of 136,361 Texans. In fact, drug-related crimes are so numerous that special drug courts have been created in certain counties. For example, the Travis County Adult Drug Diversion Court was founded in 1993 and is designed to provide court-supervised treatment as an alternative to traditional criminal sanctions.

Understanding drug offenses can be quite difficult. The basic types of drug offenses, by increasing levels of punishment, are:

• Simple possession
• Possession with intent to deliver
• Manufacturing, selling, or delivering
• Conspiracy to manufacture or sell
• Continuing criminal enterprise (where at least five people collaborate to sell drugs in a business that generates considerable income).

All mind-altering drugs are categorized according to Schedules I to V, and it is a drug’s schedule that determines the severity of the offense and the appropriate punishment. The drugs in Schedule I are those that have no medical use and have a high potential for abuse. Schedule I includes marijuana, heroin, LSD, and Ecstasy. The drugs in Schedule II have some medical use (therefore, they require a prescription), but also have a high potential for abuse. Schedule II drugs include cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, Oxycontin, and opium.

The drugs in Schedules III, IV and V have medical uses, with each schedule having a lower potential for abuse than the schedule before it. Schedule III drugs include Vicodin, anabolic steroids and codeine. Schedule IV includes tranquilizers and sedatives, while Schedule V includes drugs like cough medicines with codeine.

The drug offense attorneys of Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C. defend many kinds of drug cases including charges of:

• Possession
• Distribution
• Interstate and international trafficking
• Cultivation and manufacturing

• Maintaining a house where drugs are sold or kept
• Illegal Internet narcotics sales
• Illegal possession of prescription drugs
• Money laundering

The penalties for drug offenses escalate depending on the nature and quantity of the drug at issue and the defendant’s prior criminal record. Depending on the circumstances, these offenses can result in a broad range of potential criminal and administrative consequences, including probation, imprisonment, property forfeiture and court-ordered drug treatment counseling. Although drug charges can seem insignificant at first, they can transform into substantial legal problems with long-lasting and far-reaching consequences, affecting your family your finances and your freedom.