What are the Penalties for Heroin Use or Possession in Houston?
Texas is known to have some of the strictest drug laws.
Possessing a certain amount of heroin could even land an individual in jail for 99 years! That is a stiff penalty in anyone’s book. With heroin use on the rise in Houston, you must understand the types of consequences and punishments you could be facing for a related crime.
As the drug becomes more readily available and affordable, the DEA has reported an uptick in the number of crimes they have seen related to heroin. They have also stated that they will be increasing the number of resources used to cut down on these drug crimes, meaning they will be swiftly charging, prosecuting, and convicting individuals when they can. Now is more necessary than ever to be informed on the penalties associated with heroin crimes.
Heroin Possession Penalties in Texas
The most common crime related to heroin is possession. This is the easiest crime for an officer to catch an individual in, making it the most frequent charge. The exact sentence will depend on a variety of factors, such as the location of your crime (was it in a drug-free zone?), if you had a firearm on you, and other aggravating details.
You will face the following possession penalties:
- Less than 1 gram: Up to 2 years in state prison and $10,000 in fines
- Between 1 and 4 grams: Up to 10 years in jail and $10,000 in fines
- Between 4 and 200 grams: Up to 20 years in jail and $10,000 in fines
- Between 200 and 400 grams: Up to 99 years in jail and $10,000 in fines
If you are charged with trafficking, distributing, or selling heroin, you will be up against even more severe consequences.
Facing heroin charges? Do not wait to contact a seasoned drug crimes lawyer! Call our firm today.