Tippecanoe County Drug Crime Attorney
Drug charges and allegations can have serious consequences that affect nearly every area of life in Indiana. Speaking with a knowledgeable Tippecanoe County drug crime lawyer may help you better understand drug crime allegations and your options for defense.
Police Departments in Tippecanoe County commonly investigate drug charges through traffic stops, search warrants, confidential informants, surveillance, electronic evidence, and forensic drug testing. In Tippecanoe County communities such as Lafayette, West Lafayette, Battle Ground, and Dayton, even one drug allegation can change your life, leaving you wondering about your future.
About The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley, P.C.
At The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley, P.C., we are an Indiana criminal defense law firm dedicated to representing clients in criminal matters. We handle both misdemeanor and felony cases across Indiana, even those involving complex drug allegations with extensive evidence and significant financial stakes.
The firm doesn’t work as a high-volume operation. In fact, our lawyers prefer to work together when taking on significant cases. This means that at least two lawyers and a paralegal will often review large amounts of evidence, brainstorm defense strategies, and stay connected with you and your family. Our team also possesses the capacity to thoroughly examine extensive evidence, such as body camera recordings and digital surveillance.
Our Indiana criminal defense lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience in criminal defense law. The firm even includes one former prosecutor who spent years working as a felony prosecutor and homicide detective. Our former prosecutor understands how prosecutors think when building and filing serious criminal allegations.
There are only six Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists in the entire state of Indiana. Five of those six attorneys work at The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley, P.C. All of our attorneys are not board-certified, but five of them are.
You wouldn’t want just any doctor working on your serious medical condition. When it comes to major allegations like felony drug crimes, many people want a Tippecanoe County drug crime attorney who has advanced trial skills and focused criminal defense experience.
Understanding Drug Crime Allegations in Indiana
Drug crimes cover a wide range of low-level possession allegations and high-level felony accusations involving dealing, manufacturing, and drug trafficking. Many factors influence the severity of drug allegations, including the substance involved, the amount of drugs allegedly found, your criminal history, and whether prosecutors believe drugs were intended for distribution.
Drug offenses are often more complicated when multiple people, firearms, or interstate activity are involved. Large-scale drug investigations can also result in dozens or even hundreds of pieces of evidence.
According to the United States Sentencing Commission, in 2024, 39.8% of arrests were for drug-related crimes. Of these cases, 62.4% were for methamphetamine, and 16.7% were for fentanyl.
Drug Crime Laws in Indiana
Indiana’s drug crime laws are outlined throughout Indiana Code § 35-48. Indiana’s drug crime statute contains laws related to controlled substances, simple and habitual drug possession, dealing and manufacturing allegations, felony classes, and sentencing ranges. Penalties depend on the circumstances and the alleged drug’s schedule classification.
Drug crime statutes can be found in Indiana Code § 35-48-4. The law helps explain important terms, classifications, and definitions found throughout Indiana’s drug laws. Some drug allegations can be charged as misdemeanor offenses, while others can result in felony penalties.
Felony drug crimes may lead to time in prison if convicted. Drug crime penalties can include jail or prison time, probation, fines, court-mandated drug treatment, driver’s license impacts, and challenges to employment or professional licensing. Some convictions may cause long-term issues related to housing opportunities, Indiana gun ownership, and education options.
Hire a Drug Crime Lawyer
When searching for information, many people who have been arrested or are under investigation want to know what might happen to them. They want to understand both the immediate implications of their current situation and the future consequences and risks associated with the allegations they’re facing.
When you hire a drug crime lawyer, it can help you better understand the evidence against you, navigate the court process, and work toward finding applicable defense options.
Our attorneys can give each case the time and attention it deserves in Tippecanoe County. Because we take on far fewer cases than most criminal attorneys, we don’t have to rely on phone calls or assembly line representation with our clients. We devote a great deal of time to each complex felony and drug crime case.
FAQS
How Many Grams Is a Felony in Indiana?
Whether a drug offense is charged as a felony in Indiana depends on what drug it is, how much was in your possession, and whether prosecutors feel you intended to sell it. Many controlled substances can result in felony charges even in small amounts, especially certain narcotics such as heroin, methamphetamine, or fentanyl. Other factors like previous convictions, firearms, or evidence of dealing activity can also enhance the charge.
What Happens if You Get Caught in Possession of Drugs?
If you have been charged with possession of a controlled substance in Indiana, the police may arrest you or criminally charge you after conducting an investigation. The specific accusations leveled against you could result in either misdemeanor penalties or felony charges. This could mean days in court, drug probation, fines, or jail time.
What Is the Three-Strike Rule in Drugs?
Indiana isn’t considered a state with a three-strike law targeting drug crimes specifically. While that may be the case, past felony convictions can be used to enhance penalties in future criminal prosecutions. A prosecutor can always ask for habitual offender enhancements or increased sentencing when an individual has two or more prior convictions, especially in cases involving serious felony charges such as dealing charges or repeat offenses.
What Is the Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Drug Possession?
In Indiana, simple possession does not always lead to mandatory minimum sentencing. Sentencing ranges are often based upon what drug was allegedly possessed, the quantity involved, and the defendant’s criminal history. Aggravating factors may also influence sentencing. Enhancement penalties and advisory sentencing ranges do apply to some felony level drug offenses. However, other measures, such as probation and fines, may be considered.
Contact The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley, P.C., Today
At The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley, P.C., our attorneys exclusively represent criminal defendants in Indiana. Our firm features five of Indiana’s six Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists. We can help you in your legal process. Contact us today for a consultation.
*Andrew Baldwin, Kathy Perry, Kelly Pyle, Maxwell Wiley, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.