If you have heroin in your possession, you could face a drug possession charge. On top of that, there is a potential that you could face a drug trafficking charge if you were traveling with a large enough amount of the drug.
If you have enough heroin that the officer and prosecution believes that you intended to distribute it, then you should be aware that you could face a sale or trafficking charge. In New Hampshire, the laws state specific limits at which you could face trafficking charges.
How much heroin is too much for possession?
If you are in possession of any amount of heroin you may be charged with a Class B or A felony. A Class A felony is typically charged for second offenses and comes with up to 15 years of prison and fines of up to $4,000.
If there is evidence that suggested that you intended to distribute the heroin in your possession, then you will face charges based on how much you had. If you have less than a gram, you could face a fine of up to $100,000 and seven years in prison. For up to five grams, you could face up to 40 years in prison and fines of $500,000. The penalties continue to grow from there. It is possible, especially with amounts over five grams and a second offense, to go to prison for life.
What should you do if you’re facing a drug trafficking charge?
One of the things to know about New Hampshire is that the state does have a drug court that may help you seek alternative penalties for the charges you face. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch: Drug and Mental Health Courts may have alternative options other than imprisonment that you can seek out instead of going through the traditional judicial process.
To help yourself, it’s very important to take steps to prove that you were not intending to sell or distribute heroin, even if you were in possession of it. The charges for possession are still serious, but they are not usually as severe as those for trafficking drugs to others.
