In Muncie, Indiana this week police found crack cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, fentanyl, and several pieces of drug paraphernalia in the car of a woman who was pulled over for reckless driving. When pulled over, the woman initially admitted to having only marijuana in her possession and upon searching the vehicle law enforcement officers uncovered the other drugs. The woman admitted to having cooked the crack cocaine herself earlier that day. She told police officers that she obtained the rest of the drugs in Chicago and that she had ingested crack cocaine and heroin four hours earlier. The woman was placed under arrest, taken to the hospital for a blood draw and then booked in an Indiana jail on “11 counts of possession of a legend drug, four counts of unlawful possession of a syringe, maintaining a common nuisance and driving with a controlled substance in system.”

Possession of Cocaine in Seattle

In Washington, the possession of a controlled substance is unlawful unless the controlled substance was obtained from or on the behalf of a valid prescription from a physician while acting in their professional capacity. It is further unlawful “for any person to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver, a controlled substance.”

The State of Washington classifies cocaine as a Schedule II controlled substance. Cocaine, in its original coca leaf form or any derivative, is described in the Washington Code as follows:

• “Coca leaves and any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of coca leaves including cocaine and ecgonine, and their salts, isomers, derivatives, and salts of isomers and derivatives, and any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof which is chemically equivalent or identical with any of these substances, except that the substances shall not include decocainized coca leaves or extractions of coca leaves which do not contain cocaine or ecgonine.”

Penalties for Possession of Cocaine in Washington State

Any controlled substance that is classified as a Schedule I, II, or III, and that is not specifically otherwise outlined in the Washington Code, is a class C felony. A conviction related to the possession of cocaine can carry up to a $10,000 fine or up to five years in prison, or possibly a combination of the two penalties. However, if an individual is found with a large amount of cocaine in their possession, these charges can quickly become elevated to possession with intent to manufacture or intent to deliver.

If you are facing any type of violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act (VUCSA) crimes involving cocaine in the Seattle area, you need legal assistance immediately. Even the smallest amount of cocaine in your possession can likely amount to a felony charge and the Law Offices of Steve Karimi are here to help.

Defense attorney, Steve Karimi, was named a “rising star” in criminal defense by Washington Law and Politics magazine. Mr. Karimi is a former prosecutor for King County who now uses his knowledge and insight into prosecution strategies to protect your rights in criminal court.