Shreveport Drug Possession Defense Attorney

A drug possession charge in Louisiana is not something to take lightly, even if the amount involved was small. Louisiana maintains some of the strictest drug laws in the country, and a possession conviction — even for a first offense — can result in jail time, substantial fines, and a permanent mark on your criminal record that follows you for life. If you have been arrested for drug possession in Shreveport, Bossier City, or anywhere in Northwest Louisiana, the most important thing you can do right now is contact an experienced drug charges defense attorney before making any statement to law enforcement.

I have spent my entire career defending clients against drug charges in Louisiana. When you hire me, you get direct access to me — not a paralegal, not an associate. I will review every detail of your case, challenge the evidence, and fight to protect your rights at every stage of the process.

What Constitutes Drug Possession In Louisiana?

Under Louisiana law, drug possession means knowingly or intentionally possessing a controlled dangerous substance without a valid prescription. Possession charges fall into two categories:

• Simple possession — having a controlled substance for personal use, typically a smaller quantity
• Possession with intent to distribute — having a quantity large enough that law enforcement believes you intended to sell or distribute the substance

The line between simple possession and possession with intent to distribute is not always clear, and prosecutors will often push for the more serious charge. The type of drug involved also matters significantly. Louisiana classifies controlled substances into schedules — Schedule I drugs like heroin carry the harshest penalties, while lower schedules carry progressively lighter penalties. Even marijuana possession, while increasingly decriminalized in other states, remains prosecutable under Louisiana law and Federal law.

Penalties For Drug Possession In Louisiana

The penalties for a drug possession conviction in Louisiana depend on several factors including the type of substance, the quantity, and whether you have any prior convictions. Generally speaking:

• First offense simple possession — up to six months in jail and fines. penalties vary by schedule
• Second offense — penalties increase significantly, with longer jail sentences and higher fines
• Possession with intent to distribute — treated as a felony with potential sentences depending on the substance

Beyond the immediate legal penalties, a drug possession conviction can affect your employment, your professional licenses, your housing options, your voting rights, and your ability to receive certain federal benefits. For parents, a conviction can also impact custody arrangements. The consequences extend far beyond the courtroom, which is exactly why fighting the charge aggressively from the very beginning is always the right decision.

How I Defend Drug Possession Charges

Every drug possession case is different, and the strength of any defense depends entirely on the facts. I begin every case with a thorough review of how the drugs were discovered, how the arrest was conducted, and whether law enforcement followed proper legal procedure at every step. Common defenses in drug possession cases include:

• Unlawful search and seizure — if law enforcement searched you, your vehicle, or your property without proper legal authority, the evidence may be suppressible
• Lack of knowledge — possession requires knowing you had the substance; if the drugs belonged to someone else or you were unaware of their presence, that is a viable defense
• Chain of custody issues — the prosecution must prove the substance tested is the same substance seized from you
• Entrapment — if law enforcement induced you to possess drugs you otherwise would not have had, entrapment may apply
• Invalid traffic stop — if the stop that led to your arrest was unlawful, all evidence gathered as a result may be inadmissible

With more than 30 years of criminal defense experience in Louisiana, I know exactly what to look for and how to challenge the prosecution’s case at every angle.

Your Future Deserves a Powerful Defense

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Serving Shreveport, Bossier City, And Northwest Louisian

I represent clients facing drug possession charges throughout Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Lincoln Parish, Webster Parish, Jackson Parish, Vernon Parish, and Natchitoches Parish. If you have been arrested for drug possession anywhere in the region, contact me immediately.

Contact A.J. Hodges, IV About Your Drug Possession Charge

Call 318-990-1089 to reach my Shreveport office. You can also contact me online for a prompt response. Do not speak to law enforcement before speaking to me first.