We were recently retained on a basic prescription drug possession charge in Middletown NJ. In this particular case, the substance was four (4) Xanax pills and an unspecified quantity of Suboxone that were allegedly a co-defendant’s drugs. The new client was also charged with disorderly conduct based on his purportedly get “loud” with the police officer during the course of the investigation and arrest.

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.5, possession of a prescription legend drug without a valid prescription is a criminal offense. Grading of the charge can range from a disorderly persons offense to an indictable crime (i.e. felony) with the threshold between the two being whether five (5) or more doses were possessed. This Middletown criminal charge involved possessing four Xanax tablets and an unspecified number of Suboxone pills. Because the quantity was more than four (4) pills, the charge filed following this Middletown prescription drug arrest was for a Fourth Degree Crime. Indictable crimes like this are felony offenses that can only be dealt with at the Monmouth County Superior Court. As a result, while our client had an initial arraignment for the charge in Middletown Municipal Court, all further proceedings shall be held in Freehold.

Fourth degree prescription drug possession carries a maximum jail term of 18 months. The Court may also impose a fine of up to $10,000. As with all drug possession and paraphernalia offenses, there is a mandatory driver’s license suspension of 6-24 that is imposed at the time of sentencing. Since this is a fourth degree crime, it is eligible for disposition through Pretrial Intervention.

If you have been charged with any form of drug offense in Middletown, including possession of prescription pills, call our office for immediate assistance.