Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Lawyer

With the explosion of meth labs and marijuana use across Pennsylvania, law enforcement agencies have significantly increased efforts to decrease drug manufacturing.  I defend people against all charge of manufacturing drugs, including:

• Manufacturing methamphetamines
• Marijuana cultivation
• Operating a drug lab

Do not automatically feel like you are facing a conviction or a plea bargain if you have been charged with manufacturing or cultivating an illegal drug or substance.  Although these charges are very serious, a certain percentage of drug charges do not result in a conviction or even a plea bargain.  This is because the prosecution has to overcome many hurdles in its case, such as:

1.    Did the police enter your home or property?  If so, under most circumstances, they needed to have a search warrant when entering either your home or property.

• If the police did not have a search warrant, many time their actions will be found to have been unconstitutional and to have violated your rights.
• An unconstitutional search could result in dismissal of you charges.

2.    Is the search warrant valid?

• Search warrants have to meet strict administrative requirements with respect to what is to be searched and what the police are attempting to seize.
• Search warrants must be very specific.  It is not uncommon for police to go beyond the scope of the search warrant and search or seize something that is not permitted by the search warrant.  If this happens, the charges against you may be dismissed.

3.    Did the police pull you over while you were driving your car?

• If so, they needed to have reasonable suspicion to pull you over and search your car.
• If the police did not have reasonable suspicion to pull you over the stop may be found to be unconstitutional.  If this happens, any evidence seized cannot be used against you.

These are just a few of many questions that need to be answered.  Search and seizure issues are very common in drug crimes.  You need an attorney experienced in these issues.  For more information and for a free consultation, please call me at 412-429-4360, email me at info@gbmlawpittsburgh or contact me through this website to begin planning your defense.