Facing Drug Charges in Franklin? A Drug Crimes Lawyer Can Protect Your Freedom and Future
The state of Tennessee imposes harsh penalties for drug crime convictions, including long prison sentences, massive fines, and a permanent criminal record. Even a seemingly simple drug possession arrest can result in jail time, a suspended driver’s license, job loss, and long-term damage to your reputation. When your freedom, career, and family are on the line, working with an experienced Franklin criminal defense lawyer is one of the most important decisions you can make.
At Byron Pugh Legal, our seasoned drug crimes attorneys aggressively defend clients facing drug-related offenses at every level—from possession and distribution to trafficking and prescription drug charges. Your drug crimes attorney will fight to protect your constitutional rights, challenge unlawful searches, weaken the prosecution’s evidence, and pursue reduced penalties or full dismissals whenever possible. In many cases, our drug crimes lawyer team is able to advocate for treatment or counseling programs instead of incarceration.
If you’ve been arrested or are under investigation for a drug offense, don’t wait. Call Byron Pugh Legal at 615-255-9595 today to schedule your free consultation with a trusted Franklin drug crimes lawyer and take the first step toward protecting your future.
Tennessee Drug Possession Laws
The illegal possession of any amount of a controlled substance may constitute a crime in Tennessee. The law defines controlled substances to include illegal drugs such as LSD, heroin, ecstasy, and other street drugs. Some pharmaceuticals used in medical treatment, such as steroids, sedatives, depressants, painkillers, etc. are also regulated as controlled substances.
The law categorizes controlled substances into drug schedules, ranging from Schedule I to Schedule VII. The scheduling of a controlled substance has an effect on the penalties a conviction may be subject to. A drug possession attorney in Franklin, TN can advise you on how the classification of the substance may affect your potential penalties.
Drug possession charges in Tennessee are classified as simple possession, possession with the intent to sell, or drug trafficking or manufacturing.
Simple possession
This refers to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. The controlled substance should have been ideally under your control, such as on you in person, in your car, or your home. In most cases, simple possession is a misdemeanor for first-time offenders. Subsequent offenders or those found with more than half an ounce of a controlled substance, could have their charges elevated to a felony.
Possession with the intent to sell
Based on the amount of the controlled substance you’re found with, you might be charged with possession with the intent to sell, even if it wasn’t your intention to sell drugs. The prosecution typically uses the presence of items such as scales or bags to prove their case. Under Tennessee law, possession with intent to sell is a felony.
Drug manufacturing or trafficking
You could face manufacturing charges whether or not you intend to sell and distribute the drugs or keep them for personal use. Drug trafficking and manufacturing charges are handled based on both federal and state laws.
Several factors will be considered to establish whether the drugs were intended for personal use, sale, or distribution:
- Amount of the drug – the higher the amount the more difficult it is to argue they were intended for personal use.
- Huge sums of cash were found near the drugs.
- The packaging of the drugs.
The presence of any other materials close to the drugs that would suggest distribution, selling, or manufacturing.
Of course, every case is different, and you want to discuss your case with a drug crimes attorney in Franklin, TN to learn more about your legal options.
Penalties for Drug Crimes
The laws governing drug crimes are complex. The specific charges along with the potential penalties are largely based on the schedule of the drug and the amount involved. Moreover, there are federal penalties that are assessed on a separate set of factors from state penalties.
Still, penalties may include incarceration, probation, and fines. Even first-time offenders could face penalties that include years of imprisonment and substantial fines as outlined below:
Simple Possession and Casual Exchange
This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to a year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. Even though simple possession is the lowest-level drug offense, the consequences can still affect your employment, your ability to qualify for housing, and even your professional licenses. A conviction may remain on your record unless later expunged, which is why working with a drug crimes lawyer early in your case is essential. Many first-time offenders qualify for diversion programs, conditional dismissal, or treatment-based alternatives—opportunities a skilled drug crimes attorney can help secure.
Possession With Intent to Sell
This is a more serious charge, which is elevated to a felony. It carries penalties of 1 to 6 years imprisonment and fines. Felony charges come with long-term consequences, including the loss of voting rights, difficulty finding employment, and potential loss of child custody rights. Prosecutors often rely on circumstantial evidence, such as packaging materials or text messages, to elevate a simple possession case into an “intent to sell” case. A knowledgeable drug crimes attorney can challenge these assumptions, suppress unreliable evidence, and push for reduced charges or alternative resolutions.
Selling a Controlled Substance
This is a serious felony charge that applies to those found with intent to sell more than one-half ounce of marijuana. Potential penalties include 15 to 60 years imprisonment if found with more than 300 pounds of marijuana. Selling a controlled substance—even for a first-time offender—can lead to mandatory minimum sentences, meaning the judge is required to impose a certain amount of jail time. Penalties increase dramatically depending on the drug schedule, location of the offense, and presence of minors or weapons. A drug crimes lawyer can examine whether the search, seizure, or arrest violated your constitutional rights and fight to reduce or dismiss charges before the case ever reaches trial.
Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy to Traffic
The penalties here are quite substantial. Plus, if you’re found near state lines or a school, the penalties become even harsher. Trafficking charges often involve complex investigations, confidential informants, controlled buys, or federal task force involvement. Even being loosely associated with a group can trigger conspiracy charges. These cases frequently involve mandatory minimum prison sentences and federal enhancements. A drug crimes attorney experienced in conspiracy cases can challenge unreliable witness statements, question the credibility of informants, and work to separate your actions from those of others involved.
Drug Manufacturing or Cultivation
Producing a controlled substance, whether by cultivation or manufacturing, is a felony, which carries mandatory minimum sentencing and hefty fines. Manufacturing cases often involve allegations of running a grow operation, participating in a meth lab, or producing synthetic drugs. These investigations usually rely on surveillance, property searches, and chemical evidence—all of which must be handled properly by law enforcement. A drug crimes lawyer can scrutinize warrant procedures, identify chain-of-custody issues, and challenge the government’s interpretation of equipment or materials found at the scene.
Keep in mind that some offenses will carry federal penalties based on the type of drug and the amount. If the defendant is found to be transporting drugs across state lines, or distributing drugs with a firearm, this is in violation of certain federal laws, and it could lead to multiple serious charges.
Federal penalties for drug crimes may be a lot harsher in terms of longer sentencing, heftier fines, and no parole. The experienced drug crimes lawyers at Byron Pugh Legal can thoroughly investigate your case, identify weak points in the prosecution’s case, and work to have your charges reduced or eliminated.
Understanding Your Defense Rights Under Tennessee Drug Laws
If you have been charged with a drug crime in Tennessee, the first thing you want to do is seek legal counsel. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you understand the nature of the charges brought against you, and develop a strategy to defend you.
The earlier a drug crimes lawyer gets involved in your case, the more opportunities there are to protect your rights, challenge unlawful police conduct, and shape the direction of your defense. A proactive drug crimes attorney can intervene with prosecutors early, potentially preventing enhanced charges from ever being filed.
There are several ways to defend a drug charge depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. Here are some of the most common defenses used to fight drug charges:
Illegal Search and Seizure
Evidence is considered inadmissible if it was obtained through an unconstitutional search, such as without probable cause or a legal warrant. Many drug arrests stem from searches that violate the Fourth Amendment. If law enforcement searched your vehicle, home, or belongings without proper legal authority, a drug crimes lawyer can file a motion to suppress that evidence. If critical evidence is thrown out, the prosecution’s entire case may collapse. A skilled drug crimes attorney will closely analyze every step officers took leading up to the arrest.
Invalid Traffic Stop
Any evidence obtained following an invalid traffic stop can be thrown out. There must have been a lawful cause for the initial stop. Police must have reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle. If the stop was based on a hunch, profiling, or an unlawful checkpoint, your drug crimes lawyer can challenge the legality of the stop. Without a valid stop, any evidence discovered afterward—drugs, paraphernalia, or statements—may be excluded, dramatically weakening the state’s case.
Lack of Proof of Intent
For charges such as possession with the intent to distribute, the prosecution has to prove that you intended to sell the drugs. Lack of paraphernalia such as scales, baggies, ledgers, and cash could defeat this. Intent is often assumed by prosecutors based on quantity alone, even when no real evidence of selling exists. A drug crimes attorney can demonstrate that personal use, not distribution, was the more likely explanation—potentially reducing a felony offense down to a misdemeanor. This distinction can mean the difference between years in prison and the possibility of probation or dismissal.
Entrapment
It’s illegal for law enforcement officers to coerce you into committing a drug crime that you would not have committed otherwise. Entrapment cases often involve undercover officers or confidential informants who pressure, manipulate, or threaten individuals into committing offenses they otherwise would not have committed. A drug crimes lawyer will examine recordings, police reports, and witness testimony to determine whether improper inducement occurred—opening the door to full dismissal of the case.
No Knowledge of The Drugs
You can’t be held legally in possession of drugs if you weren’t aware of their presence. For instance, if they were hidden in a borrowed car. Actual knowledge is a requirement for possession. A drug crimes attorney may argue that the drugs belonged to someone else, were planted, or were hidden without your awareness—especially in shared spaces, borrowed vehicles, or multi-occupant residences. Proving lack of knowledge can be a powerful way to dismantle the prosecution’s case.
Mistaken Identity
The police sometimes arrest the wrong person. An attorney could help you argue that you were misidentified as the perpetrator. Mistaken identity commonly occurs in drug investigations involving surveillance footage, dark environments, multiple suspects, or confidential informant tips. A drug crimes lawyer can challenge weak eyewitness testimony, review video evidence, and expose inconsistencies in police reports that cast doubt on whether you were truly the person involved.
Illegal Lab Testing
Your attorney will examine the methods used by the drug lab to check for errors in the handling and testing of evidence that could potentially compromise the results. Crime labs must follow strict protocols when handling, storing, and testing substances. If contamination, improper storage, or equipment malfunction occurred, test results may be unreliable. A drug crimes attorney can subpoena lab records, challenge certifications, and even demand independent testing—sometimes resulting in evidence being ruled inadmissible.
Our drug crime defense team has decades of experience defending the rights of clients just like you, and helping them maintain their freedoms. We will discuss the charges against you in detail and give you realistic legal options for your defense. Every case is different, and the right defense strategy depends on the facts, the evidence, and how law enforcement handled your arrest. With a seasoned drug crimes lawyer and a strategic drug crimes attorney team on your side, you gain the advantage of experience, precision, and aggressive courtroom advocacy.
How a Franklin Drug Crimes Lawyer Can Fight to Protect Your Freedom
From the moment you contact us, our team will go to work to build the strongest possible defenses against the charges brought against you. When your future, freedom, and reputation are on the line, working with a seasoned drug crimes lawyer can make all the difference. The following are some of the ways a Franklin drug crimes lawyer from Byron Pugh Legal can help protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome:
Assessing The Evidence
We will thoroughly go over the evidence collected by the prosecution, including any drugs, photos, videos, paraphernalia, statements, records, etc. to look for irregularities that could work for your case. A skilled drug crimes lawyer knows that many drug cases rely heavily on flawed. Your drug crimes attorney will examine how the proof was collected, stored, tested, and documented. Chain-of-custody issues, missing reports, contaminated samples, or unreliable witness statements can all severely weaken the prosecution’s case—and your lawyer will use those weaknesses aggressively in your defense.
Challenging The Search
If the police didn’t have probable cause for the search that led to your arrest, we could have the evidence thrown out. Illegal searches are one of the most powerful defenses available to a drug crimes attorney. If law enforcement violated your constitutional rights during a vehicle stop, home search, or personal search, your drug crimes lawyer can file motions to suppress the evidence. When critical proof is excluded, it can lead to reduced charges—or even full dismissal of the case.
Negotiating With The Prosecution
Prosecutors are well aware that most drug cases have vulnerabilities. A lawyer might be able to negotiate with them to reduce or drop the charges in exchange for a plea. An experienced drug crimes lawyer understands how prosecutors evaluate risk and case strength. Your drug crimes attorney may be able to negotiate reduced charges, alternate sentencing, probation, or diversion programs instead of jail or prison time. Strategic negotiation often protects clients from felony convictions and long-term consequences.
Representing You in Court
In case a plea deal doesn’t work, our team will fight for an acquittal during trial. We will present the strongest case possible and work to undermine the prosecution’s evidence. If your case goes to trial, your drug crimes attorney will aggressively challenge every aspect of the prosecution’s argument. A trial-ready drug crimes lawyer will cross-examine officers, challenge lab testing, expose unreliable witnesses, and hold the state to its burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Strong courtroom advocacy often forces prosecutors to reconsider their case.
Pursuing Alternative Penalties
if you’re found guilty, we can advocate for alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service, probation, rehabilitation programs, and more. Even in difficult cases, a compassionate drug crimes lawyer can fight for rehabilitation-based sentencing instead of incarceration. A knowledgeable drug crimes attorney can advocate for drug court, treatment programs, suspended sentences, or reduced probation terms—helping you avoid life-altering prison time whenever possible.
Our drug crimes attorneys have extensive experience dealing with Tennessee’s complex drug laws and sentencing guidelines. We can easily spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and build a strong defense to avoid you getting convicted or at least lower the charges you could face. When you hire a Franklin drug crimes lawyer from Byron Pugh Legal, you gain a powerful legal team committed to protecting your freedom, your future, and your rights.
Byron Pugh Legal is Ready to Protect Your Future | Contact Our Firm Today
Being convicted of a drug offense can impact nearly every part of your life long after the case is over. Beyond jail time and financial penalties, a conviction can limit your access to housing, restrict employment opportunities, affect professional licensing, and interfere with government benefits. In some cases, it can even impact your right to own or possess a firearm.
Working with an experienced drug crimes lawyer gives you immediate protection against these long-term consequences. A dedicated drug crimes attorney understands how prosecutors build these cases and how to dismantle them using strategic legal defenses. When your reputation and freedom are at stake, you should never face the system alone.
At Byron Pugh Legal, every lawyer on our defense team is focused on safeguarding your rights and fighting for the strongest possible result. Our attorney team works aggressively to pursue dismissed charges, reduced charges, alternative sentencing, and record-clearing opportunities whenever possible.
If you are under investigation or have already been arrested, do not wait. The earlier you involve a Franklin drug crimes lawyer, the more options you may have. Contact us to speak to a criminal defense attorney at Byron Pugh Legal today to schedule a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward protecting your future 615-255-9595
