Areas of Law · Forrest Good PLLC
Drug Crime Defense in San Antonio
Drug cases turn on details: how the stop happened, how the search was run, and whether the State can actually tie the substance to you. Those details are where a defense lives.
What Is at Stake
Texas treats controlled-substance offenses seriously, and the charge level tracks the type and weight under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, which sorts drugs into penalty groups; Penalty Group 1 covers substances such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.1 Even a small amount can carry felony exposure: knowing possession of less than one gram of a Penalty Group 1 substance is a state jail felony,2 which is punishable by 180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.3 Larger weights and allegations of manufacture or delivery are charged at higher felony levels, and a second-degree felony alone carries a range of 2 to 20 years.45 The consequences reach your record, your job, and your freedom.
Not every drug charge is a felony. Possession of two ounces or less of marihuana is a Class B misdemeanor, and more than two but not more than four ounces is a Class A misdemeanor,6 with a Class B carrying up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000.7 The exact level depends on the substance and the amount, which is why the details matter so much. Drug cases are also among the most common in the country: more than 1.5 million people were arrested for drug offenses in 2019, more than any other crime category, accounting for one in ten arrests nationwide.8
What to Expect
Forrest Good examines the stop, the search, and the chain of custody, challenges what does not hold up, and builds a defense around your goals. Straight answers and a clear plan from the first call.
- Anyone charged with possession in Bexar County
- People facing distribution or manufacture allegations
- Drivers searched during a traffic stop
- Anyone who believes a search crossed the line
Common Questions
Can a search be challenged?
Frequently. Stops and searches have rules, and evidence from a bad search can be suppressed. Forrest Good looks closely.
Is a first drug offense a felony?
It depends on the substance and amount; some are misdemeanors, some felonies. Forrest Good explains exactly what you face.
Are there alternatives to a conviction?
Sometimes, including diversion or treatment-based options. Forrest Good pursues what your case allows.
What should I have ready when I call?
Have any arrest paperwork, the charges, and any court notices nearby. If you do not have them yet, that is fine; Forrest Good can help you find them.
Sources & Authorities
Statutes and figures on this page link to their official sources. Provided for transparency and general information, not as legal advice.
- Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.102, Penalty Group 1 (lists controlled substances including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.115, Offense: Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 1 or 1-B (possession of less than one gram is a state jail felony; higher weights are charged at higher felony levels). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.35, State Jail Felony Punishment (180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.112, Offense: Manufacture or Delivery of Substance in Penalty Group 1 (felony levels rise with aggregate weight). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.33, Second Degree Felony Punishment (imprisonment for a term of not more than 20 years or less than 2 years, and a fine up to $10,000). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.121, Offense: Possession of Marihuana (two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor; more than two but not more than four ounces is a Class A misdemeanor). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.22, Class B Misdemeanor (punishment of up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000). statutes.capitol.texas.gov ↩
- The Pew Charitable Trusts, “Drug Arrests Stayed High Even as Imprisonment Fell From 2009 to 2019” (more than 1.5 million drug arrests in 2019, more than any other crime category, about one in ten arrests nationwide). pew.org ↩
- State Bar of Texas, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.01 (communications concerning a lawyer’s services). texasbar.com ↩
King William Law Center is a shared office for independent firms. This page is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Forrest Good PLLC, not King William Law Center, provides the legal services described here. The practice of law in Texas is governed by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.9 Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.