In Virginia, if a person is charged with and convicted of possession with intent to distribute drugs, the sentence is a mandatory minimum of five years in jail with a maximum of 40 years. In other words, the penalties upon conviction are severe. That is why a strong criminal defense is necessary to protect the rights of the accused under federal and Virginia laws. A strategic and meaningful defense will work toward a dismissal or reduction of drug charges, and to achieve that end, a careful analysis of the circumstances of an arrest is absolutely necessary.

With these concerns in mind, readers in Fairfax may want to take a look at what is known about a case involving two young men who were arrested recently near Manassas on a number of drug charges. Police claim that the men, both 22, were the subject of a narcotics investigation into the distribution of marijuana.

Police have charged the young men with possession with intent to distribute marijuana over five pounds, transporting drugs into Virginia and conspiracy to violate the Drug Control Act.

As Virginia residents may know, police and media reports often assume an open-and-shut tone with regard to criminal charges. However, the truth is that charges are not the same as guilt. If the men in this case were the subject of an extended investigation, then the police may have a considerable amount of evidence against them. But any police investigation must follow specific rules that, if broken, could result in the charges against an individual being thrown out. In addition, police reports and prosecutors' complaints are often written with extreme bias against the defendant, and that means a strong criminal defense must fight against the overcharging and over-sentencing of an accused individual.

A court date of March 16 has been set for the two young men in this case. Between now and then, they must collect their wits and mount the vigorous criminal defense to which they are entitled.

Source: insidenova.com, "Two charged after drug bust near Manassas," David Pierce, Feb. 7, 2012