Available 24/7 Free Consultations
(617) 513-9444
Available 24/7 Free Consultations
(617) 513-9444
Request Free Consultation

Concord Drug Charges And Gun Offenses Defense Lawyer

If the police found drugs in your home, in your car or even in your pocket, you may still have a viable defense to the charges that will be filed against you. Do the charges fit the facts? Can the authorities connect the drugs to you? Did the police violate your constitutional rights during their investigation, their search or your arrest? Speak with a Concord drug charges and gun offenses lawyer at Spring & Spring by calling (617) 513-9444.

If you are charged with any type of drug crime, from simple possession to trafficking, Attorney Chris Spring will provide you with the aggressive and sophisticated representation you deserve. Attorney Spring also defends every type of gun crime in Massachusetts. See examples of the firm’s success stories in drug crime and gun crime cases.

Why Choose Our Drug and Gun Crime Lawyers in Concord, MA

  • We can clarify any questions you have and respond to your concerns with tailored, trustworthy legal advice.
  • Every client is important to us. You will receive individual, focused, one-on-one attention from Attorney Spring – not a paralegal or assistant – at every stage of your case.
  • With over 20 years of experience as a former prosecutor, Attorney Spring knows exactly how to attack the government’s case against you.

Arrested on Drug Charges? Caught With a Gun? Understand Your Rights.

It is extremely important to understand and protect your rights as someone arrested or accused of a drug or gun crime in Middlesex County. First, be careful what you say. Any statement you make to the police will likely end up hurting you in court. You do not legally have to answer any police-asked questions, other than giving your name. Instead of answering and putting yourself at risk of saying the wrong thing, express that you wish to call your lawyer before you are interrogated.

You have the legal right to have an attorney present while the police are questioning you about a supposed crime. Calling a Concord drug charges and gun offenses attorney after you’ve been booked into a local police station gives you a trained professional to guide you through interrogations. Your lawyer can tell you what to say and what not to say during police questioning to protect you from self-incrimination. Then, your gun and drug crime lawyer can guide you through the rest of the criminal justice process.

Contact Attorney Spring immediately to schedule a free consultation at your home if you are charged with a drug or a gun offense. Attorney Spring accepts cases in every city and town in Middlesex, Essex, Worcester, Suffolk and Norfolk Counties.

Skilled Drug Crime Defense by a Former Prosecutor

If someone accuses you of a drug crime or brings official criminal charges against you, protect your rights by hiring a skilled and experienced drug and gun crime defense attorney in Concord to represent you immediately. Attorney Spring is a former prosecutor who understands how the other side works. As a defense lawyer, Attorney Spring has successfully defended every type of drug crime:

  • Drug possession— Knowledge of, and control over, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, OxyContin and other prescription drugs.
  • Possession with intent to distribute— A crime that usually involves a larger quantity of narcotics along with circumstantial evidence suggesting that the defendant planned on selling the drugs.
  • Distribution of drugs— An offense that often results from an undercover drug buy or an observed transaction.
  • Drug trafficking— Extremely serious charge alleging the defendant sold, or possessed with the intention of selling, a large amount of drugs.
  • School zone or park zone enhancements— Additional mandatory minimum jail time applies if certain drug crimes are committed within 300 feet of a school or 100 feet of a park.

Many drug crimes are felony offenses. A relatively small quantity of drugs can result in a substantial state prison sentence. Prior drug convictions often lead to mandatory prison time, even if the second offense involves a small amount. Because of the harsh mandatory minimum prison sentences that exist in Massachusetts, you need a lawyer who is willing and able to aggressively attack the Commonwealth’s evidence.

Attorney Chris Spring handled hundreds of drug prosecutions as an assistant district attorney for Middlesex County and has tried many drug cases in front of juries. As a former prosecutor, he knows how undercover operations are conducted and how to pick apart the Commonwealth’s evidence. Attorney Spring has had success with motions to dismiss and motions to suppress by challenging the constitutionality of traffic stops, the issuance and execution of search warrants, and the searches of his clients, their homes and their cars.

Possible Defenses to Drug Crimes

A defense attorney can give you important information about Massachusetts’ laws and your rights as a suspect or defendant. The most important reason to hire a defense lawyer, however, is for a strong, tailored defense strategy to help you minimize the charges and penalties you face. The right defense strategy is vital to your future as a criminal defendant.

Common defenses in drug crime cases include:

  • The drugs belong to someone else
  • Lack of knowledge or intent
  • Unlawful search or seizure
  • The seized substances cannot be found
  • The substances seized were not drugs
  • You had a prescription for the drugs
  • Entrapment/planted drugs
  • Drug trafficking involvement by force or duress
  • Good Samaritan immunity (for an overdose)

At Spring & Spring, our lead attorney and his associates can create a strategy that best suits your needs. We will look at your criminal history, the circumstances of the alleged crime, the charges brought against you and other elements to determine the right defense tactic. In addition to defending hundreds of clients charged with drug crimes in his career, Attorney Spring has written an article entitled ‘A Step-By-Step Approach to Defending Drug Cases in Massachusetts.’

Aggressive Defense of Gun Crimes by a Former Prosecutor

Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. For instance, merely carrying a firearm without a valid permit carries a mandatory minimum of 18 months in jail. Possessing or carrying a gun in connection with a drug crime, a burglary or any felony can add years of prison time to the underlying offense.

Attorney Spring has handled every type of firearm offense:

  • Carrying a firearm
  • Possessing a firearm without an FID card
  • Possession of a high capacity firearm
  • Possession of illegal weapons or ammunition
  • Discharging a firearm near a building
  • Being an armed career criminal

Being convicted of a gun crime in Massachusetts can lead to a misdemeanor or felony on your permanent record. Your sentence for a conviction can include hefty fines, months to years behind bars, mandatory community service and the loss of your rights, such as the right to bear arms and vote.

What Must the Prosecution Prove in a Gun Crimes Case?

In a gun crime case, as in any criminal case, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution. It is the prosecution’s responsibility to prove the defendant is guilty of the crime in question beyond a reasonable doubt. If you are being charged with a gun crime in Concord, the prosecutor on your case must establish four main elements to achieve a conviction:

  1. The item in question is actually a firearm. Under state law, a firearm is a weapon capable of discharging a bullet or shot with a barrel of less than 16 inches.
  2. You were in possession of the firearm, meaning it was on your person or in your home or vehicle.
  3. You were knowingly in possession. If you didn’t know the firearm or weapon was in your possession, you cannot be convicted of a gun crime.
  4. You broke a firearm law, such as failing to have a valid permit to possess the weapon or unlawfully discharging a weapon.

Your Concord gun and drug crime lawyer understands the burden of proof that must be met in a gun crimes case, as well as how to contest the prosecutor’s points for a strong defense. Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony gun crime charge, your lawyer can build a powerful legal strategy in your defense.

Gun Crime Defenses

The strength of your defense can make all the difference to the outcome of your gun crime case, as well as your future. While your lawyer may recommend a plea deal as the best route, he or she may also be able to defend you against charges using a different tactic. Your lawyer will tailor your defense according to your unique situation.

Common defenses to gun crimes in Massachusetts are:

  • Insufficient evidence
  • Lack of criminal intent
  • Self-defense
  • Defense of others or of property
  • The alleged firearm was not a firearm
  • You didn’t know you were in possession of the gun
  • You had a permit or license to possess the firearm
  • Illegal search or seizure
  • Police misconduct/entrapment

Your lawyer can also use your criminal history in your favor if this was your first offense or first firearms offense. Your attorney can demonstrate that you have a clean record and a good character. This could lead to a reduction of the charges against you, as well as lesser penalties for a gun crime conviction. Hiring the right attorney can provide the strongest possible defense on your behalf.

When to Hire a Defense Lawyer in Concord

Every criminal defendant in the US has the constitutional right to a defense. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, the courts will appoint a low-cost or free public defender to your case for you. It is ideal, however, to hire an experienced private defense attorney in Middlesex County. A defense lawyer will have the time and resources to dedicate to your case and fight for a favorable outcome.

The right defense lawyer will have the ability to negotiate between you and the prosecutor, increasing the chances of achieving a satisfactory deal. Your lawyer can also file motions, such as a motion to dismiss the case or suppress evidence, to help your case. Finally, if your case goes to trial, your lawyer can represent you in court to fight for a positive outcome. Learn more about how a defense lawyer can help you by contacting Spring & Spring today.

Contact a Concord Drug and Gun Defense Lawyer Today

Attorney Spring accepts drug-related and gun-related cases in Middlesex, Essex, Worcester, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties.  Contact the firm today to arrange a free, confidential consultation. Chris Spring will travel to your home to discuss your case and your options.