Breckenridge Fentanyl Attorneys
Aggressive Legal Defense for Fentanyl Offenses in Breckenridge, CO
Downtown Breckenridge is a wonderful place to stroll around and enjoy great shopping. If you like outdoor activities, you can’t beat the local skiing and snowboarding. Breckenridge is also home to Isak Heartstone, a charming 15-foot tall sculpture created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo using scrap wood and recycled materials. You can find Isak along the Trollstigen Trail.
While there are many sites to explore in the beautiful city of Breckenridge, you may still find yourself on the wrong side of the law. When it comes to drug crimes, recent legislation in Colorado has dramatically increased penalties for the sale or possession of fentanyl. The law was passed in response to the rise in fatal fentanyl overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 150 people die from fentanyl overdoses every day in the United States.
With all the uproar over fentanyl, even people found in possession of small amounts of the drug now face serious jail time in Colorado. But other drugs are often laced with fentanyl, so you may be charged with possession of fentanyl without even being aware you had it.
If you are facing fentanyl-related drug crime charges in Summit County, turn to Whitaker & Penix, LLC. Kylie Whitaker and Ehren Penix have years of criminal law experience, and they are familiar with the local courts and judges of Breckenridge, CO. We will review your situation and advise you on the best strategy for protecting your freedom.
Whitaker & Penix, LLC has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the independent rating agency Super Lawyers selected Kylie Whitaker as a Rising Star among attorneys in Colorado.
Call an aggressive Breckenridge drug crime defense lawyer at (970) 368-0602 to schedule a free consultation today.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. There were over 900 fatalities caused by fentanyl overdoses in Colorado in a recent year. In the past, doctors frequently prescribed pharmaceutical fentanyl to treat severe pain, but now most fentanyl is illegally made and distributed.
Fentanyl can be lethal in very small doses, as little as two to three milligrams. And because fentanyl is often added to other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, many of the people who have died from a fentanyl overdose didn’t even realize they had taken the drug. Recently, five people died of fentanyl overdoses after taking cocaine that they didn’t know was laced with the drug.
Legal Penalties for Fentanyl in Colorado
House Bill 22-1326 contains harsh penalties for the sale or possession of fentanyl. Fentanyl possession now carries up to 180 days in jail and two years of probation for a first offense and up to 364 days in jail for a third offense and all future offenses beyond that.
The new law makes possessing between one and four grams of fentanyl compound a Level 4 drug felony. A fentanyl compound may be another controlled substance that’s been combined with a few milligrams of fentanyl.
Penalties for distributing drugs that contain fentanyl under House Bill 22-1326 are extremely harsh. For example, possession with intent to distribute between 4 and 50 grams of drugs that have been laced with fentanyl is a Level 2 drug felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 16 years.
Defendants may be charged with a Level 1 drug felony and receive a jail term of up to 32 years for fentanyl distribution in the following circumstances:
- It leads to someone’s death
- Possessing more than 50 grams with intent to sell
- The fentanyl originated outside of Colorado
- Possession of a pill press or other manufacturing equipment
Legal Defenses for Fentanyl Crimes
The new Colorado law places a heavy burden on defendants to demonstrate that they didn’t know that the substance they possessed contained fentanyl. This hurdle is particularly high for people charged with distribution.
Your Breckenridge, CO criminal defense lawyer can investigate the circumstances behind your arrest and build a strong case on your behalf. Effective defense strategies for people facing fentanyl charges in Colorado include:
- The drugs didn’t belong to you.
- You didn’t know it was a controlled substance.
- Witnesses against you are not reliable.
- You are a victim of entrapment by the police.
- You were falsely accused.
- Police committed an illegal search and seizure.
- There is insufficient evidence for the prosecution to prove its case.
- You were a victim of police misconduct.
Protecting Your Freedom in Breckenridge, CO
If you’ve been confronted with fentanyl charges in Breckenridge, there may be sentencing options that allow you to avoid jail time. The criminal defense attorneys at Whitaker & Penix, LLC will pursue every opportunity to get the charges against you dropped or reduced.
Reach out to us at (970) 368-0602 to learn more today.