Nashville Drug Charges Defense Lawyer - Criminal Defense Attorney
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Nashville Drug Charges Defense Lawyer

Drug Charges Defense

Philip N. Clark, Esq.

If you’re looking for an attorney who can defend you against drug charges, you’ve come to the right place. Attorney Philip N. Clark understands the seriousness of drug charges and how they can impact you and your loved ones. People often believe drug charges are minor offenses; however, they can cause significant harm to your reputation and future opportunities.

 

Whether you are facing charges for possession of marijuana, prescription narcotics, heroin, or cocaine, you need a competent and knowledgeable drug charges attorney who will work diligently for you and with the utmost professionalism. Give Philip N. Clark a call or request a consultation right away.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT DRUG CHARGES

 

There are five types of drug-related charges in the state of Tennessee.

 

  • Simple Possession, Casual Exchange
  • Possession with Intent
  • Sale of a Controlled Substance
  • Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy
  • Drug Manufacturing

 

Simple Possession, Casual Exchange – If you have been arrested for a small amount of a controlled substance (typically less than .5 grams), you may be charged with simple possession, casual exchange. This is a Class A misdemeanor, which may result in incarceration of up to 11 months, 29 days and a fine of up to $2,500. A second offense or greater may face a Class E felony, which carries a potential sentence of one to six years and a fine of up to $3,000. In addition to jail and fines, the judge may require you to complete a drug education class.

 

Possession with Intent (known in many states as intent to sell or distribute) – Tennessee has determined that possession of certain amounts of drugs indicate that the drugs one possesses is for more than recreational use (a strong sign that one intends to sell the narcotics). Possession of items like scales used to weigh drugs for resale, bags or other containers used to package drugs, large quantities of unclaimed cash, etc., can contribute to the elevated charge of intent to distribute. This does not mean the offender is presumed guilty of a felony drug crime; the state of Tennessee must still prove possession of the drugs with intent to sell or distribute beyond a reasonable doubt. Possession with intent is a serious charge with serious penalties. Intent to distribute is a felony offense in Tennessee. A felony conviction can carry highly destructive life consequences, including loss of voting rights and firearm privileges, large fines, exclusion from certain categories of employment, probation, and possibly prison time.

 

Sale of a Controlled Substance – Sale of a controlled substance in Tennessee is a felony; any sale, regardless of the amount, is classified as a felony offense in Tennessee. When sale of a controlled substance is charged, a law enforcement officer has typically directly observed a drug sale or the sale involved a confidential informant or undercover officer. The sentence is generally determined by the type and amount of drug(s) involved, location of the sale, and the number of prior felonies on the record of the person being charged.

 

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Possession of drug paraphernalia in Tennessee is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in jail. Many common household items often serve as a basis for drug paraphernalia charges. For example, a kitchen spoon is perfectly legal to own and possess, but if it is burned on the bottom and the handle has been bent, it could be considered drug paraphernalia. Certain factors are used to determine whether an object is drug paraphernalia:

 

  • Statements by the owner or anyone in control of the object concerning its use.
  • Prior convictions, if any, of the owner or of anyone in control of the object for violation of any state or federal law relating to controlled substances or controlled substance analogues.
  • The existence of any residue of controlled substances on the object.
  • Instructions, oral or written, provided with the object concerning its use.
  • Descriptive materials accompanying the object that explain or depict its use.
  • The manner in which the object is displayed for sale; for example, bongs sold in tobacco shops are often clearly marked as being for use with tobacco/ hookah.
  • The existence and scope of legitimate uses for the object in the locale or community.
  • Expert testimony concerning its use.

 

For more information on drug charges in Tennessee, take a look at Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-401 et seq.

DUI Attorney Philip Clark
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Nashville Drug Charges Defense Lawyer

Satisfied Client Stories

  • I live out of state and hired Philip to represent me on a domestic assault case. He took care of everything before I returned to court. I walked in and out in less than 30 minutes. Philip was able to get my case dismissed after I finish a short class. I don't even have to come back to court!! He is great!!

    M.L.

  • I got a state citation and was going to lose my job. I hired Philip Clark. He met me at court and got my case dismissed so it didn't go on my record. I was very grateful. He is a good lawyer and helps people a lot.

    Gary

  • I hired Mr. Clark to help me when I was arrested for possession with intent to sell and a possession of a firearm during a felony. I was super nervous because these were felony charges. Mr. Clark explained that the police were charging me with the highest charge they could and that he could probably get it reduced. He explained that the possession charge with intent was based on the weight of the weed and nothing else and that the gun charge would be reduced once the weed charge was reduced. I was worried about jail time and he told me to just be patient. I explained that I didn't have lots of money, but could pay if I had a little time. Mr. Clark kept in touch with me and met me just before court. We walked into court and he got the charges reduced to misdemeanors and no jail time. I thought it would take all day and maybe get continued but we were out of there in less than an hour. I could not have been happier with the results. Mr. Clark was easy to talk to and really listened to me. I would hire him again if I ever got in more trouble and I definitely recommend him for anyone that needs a good lawyer.

    Branden

  • A friend of mine contacted PNC Law for legal advice. Philip was quick to respond and offered sound advice to help out. Because of the guidance and suggestions provided by PNC law, the situation was able to be resolved quickly and effectively. PNC law is the perfect option for anyone in the Nashville area in need of sound legal advice.

    Jim

  • Philip N. Clark is the most conscientious criminal defense attorney in Nashville that I know. Whether retained by an individual or appointed by the court, Philip cares about each client and provides a zealous defense. For me, Philip is an endless source of knowledge when it comes to criminal law. For many years, he has been my mentor on issues involving probable cause, search and seizure, negotiations, trial procedure, and much more. In addition to bringing authenticity and over twenty years of law enforcement experience to his work as a criminal defense attorney, his work ethic and sincere dedication to his clients have earned him my respect time and time again.

    Kim

  • I have known Philip Clark for almost 30 years. He is a former Police Sergeant and a U.S. Army veteran. He is trustworthy, very qualified and a great attorney. I never imagined that I would need an attorney for any criminal matters but when I found myself in a bad spot, I called Philip. I had an ex-wife that took an order of protection out on me for no reason. She and I tried to reconcile after some years, it failed and we had some words, nothing more, and she told me not to speak to her anymore. I agreed and did just that, so I was very surprised when I was served with the order. Philip explained that an Order of Protection was civil in nature, but violations of this order were criminal. He also explained that if the Order was granted that I could not own or possess a gun for one year. Before I could even begin to worry about anything, Philip started asking questions and gathering information. He put me at ease and I just let him do his thing. The case started in General Sessions and Philip quickly informed the judge that it should not be heard in that court because we had actually been married. The case moved to Circuit court and Philip had it dismissed. It was very reassuring to have Philip on my side. I never expected to be in court over something like this but Philip told me that sometimes bad things happen to good people. He was right, I had not done anything wrong, but could have lost my guns due to someone else's lies. I really learned from this and one thing I learned for sure is that I will never go into court without Philip on my side. He was the best!! Do yourself a favor if you find yourself in trouble, call him!! You will not regret it!! I know I didn't.

    Keith

  • We hired Philip to help with a legal matter that we needed taken care of quickly and painlessly. I can happily say that he made us feel very comfortable and was always there to answer any questions we had. He always answered calls or responded very to quickly to emails/calls. We got the results we wanted and would highly recommend him. I hope we never need an attorney again, but if we do I would not think twice about hiring him. And if he could not help us I would 100% trust any recommendation he had.

    Matthew

  • My roommate and I got into an argument and he was the first to call the police. Somehow he convinced them to take me to jail, even though I was the one with bruises. Mr. Clark represented me and took the time to explain everything to me. He told me that I could not go to my house because the Order of Protection was in place. I had no idea and might have been arrested. Mr. Clark was great about answering my calls and text. When my court day came, he was very confident in the courtroom and you could see that he knew the judge and the district attorneys. He had me sit in the courtroom and then later, told me that my case was dismissed and I could leave. I was both surprised and relieved!! I highly recommend Mr. Clark for anyone who may need criminal defense. He was a great help to me!!

    I.M.

  • Philip is knowledgeable and efficient. Will continue to refer and use his services. Philip was able to keep a former employer from harassing me.

    Cherie

  • I was looking for legal advice and came across Philip's contact information. First, Philip is the one who actually answers the phone, not some lengthy machine. He was very attentive the entire time we spoke about my situation. He gave me direct feedback and his advice actually helped me to stay out of court. He seemed genuinely interested in helping me and not just after a paycheck. While I did not go on to hire him, I do certainly recommend him. Thank you very much for the help, Philip!

    Jason

  • Mr. Clark was a tremendous help in advising me of what I can/cannot do legally in monitoring suspicious activity at a neighbors home. He was very specific as to my rights in terms of surveillance and advising me of the proper channels and verbiage for reporting activity. He was very thorough, and honest in his advice. This was not a situation in which I needed an Attorney (although I was not sure), and he gave me sound advice and we are now well aware of what our rights are and on our way to a safer neighborhood!

    Kari

Affordable criminal defense representation in Nashville, TN.

Knowledge and Experience

Areas of Focus

Criminal Defense

Attorney Philip N. Clark is dedicated to provide you with the best representation possible, regardless of your criminal charges. He will strive keep you informed, prepared, and as stress-free as possible from the start to the finish of your case.

DUI Defense

Attorney Philip N. Clark understands how serious DUI charges are and how they can impact you and your loved ones. He will strive to provide you the best representation possible and help you achieve the best outcome for your case.

Domestic Violence Defense
Attorney Philip N. Clark understands that domestic violence charges are a sensitive matter to all those involved. During your free case evaluation, he will listen to the facts and details of your case and provide you with honest and straightforward advice on your rights and options in moving forward with your case.
Drug Charges Defense

There are many benefits of hiring Attorney Philip N. Clark to represent you in drug charge cases. With over twenty years of law enforcement experience, including service as a police officer and probation and parole officer, he understands how to approach each and every aspect of your case.

Theft Charges Defense

Attorney Philip N. Clark recognizes the severity of theft charges. Although a theft charge might seem like something minor, a theft conviction can really take a toll on your reputation and your employment opportunities. A theft charge is no light matter. Attorney Philip N. Clark has the experience and knowledge to lay out the options available to you during this tough time.