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Multiple factors go into determining drug housing penalities. In Appleton, maintaining a drug trafficking house falls under Class I felony provisions with penalties of up to a year in jail and/or $25,000 fines.
Drug Trafficking Place Appleton office near city hall
Penalties for Keeping a Drug Place
Charge Levels for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place
Keeping a drug place usually comes with misdemeanor drug charges. The combination of charges carries the risk of jail time and hefty fines.
A first offense for keeping a drug house results in up to a year of jail time and/or $25,000 in fines. Keeping a drug place is usually combined with more drug-related charges that carry even more penalties. Based on the substance and amount in your possession, penalties and felony levels vary. Penalties based on those factors:
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 grams or less / 4 plants or less | Class I Felony | 3.5 years | $10,000 |
| 200-1,000 grams / 4-20 plants | Class H Felony | 6 years | $25,000 |
| 1,000-2,500 grams / 20-50 plants | Class G Felony | 10 years | $25,000 |
| 2,500-10,000 grams / 50-200 plants | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| More than 10,000 grams / More than 200 plants | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram or less | Class G Felony | 10 years | $25,000 |
| 1-5 grams | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| 5-15 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 15-40 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 40 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 grams or less | Class F Felony | 12.5 years | $25,000 |
| 3-10 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 10-50 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 50 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
| Amount | Penalty | Max. Incarceration | Max. Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-10 grams | Class E Felony | 15 years | $50,000 |
| 10-50 grams | Class D Felony | 25 years | $100,000 |
| More than 50 grams | Class C Felony | 40 years | $100,000 |
Maintaining a Drug House with Intent to Sell
Many people have a false sense of security, thinking police can’t reach them in their homes. However, the police can investigate your home if you’re using it as a place to store or make illegal substances.
Under Wisconsin statute 961.42, keeping a drug house is a felony offense. Regardless of whether you are producing or storing illegal drugs in your home for sale or personal use, charges can land you a trip to prison. The first step to defending your case is to hire a drug attorney experienced in criminal defense.
If your place is solely used to keep drugs or produce them, then it is a misdemeanor offense. You may be convicted of maintaining a drug house if:
- You kept or maintained a building or place
- You used illegal substances in the building OR the building was used to manufacture, store, or deliver illegal substances
- You knew the building was being used for drugs
Penalties for Misdemeanors and Felonies in Appleton
The state will often try to scare you into taking a lesser plea bargain by overcharging your case. Accompanying charges you may face include drug possession or possession of paraphernalia. An experienced criminal defense attorney will determine if your charges can be reduced or dismissed. Contact Grieve in Appleton today for a free consultation.
How long will a drug trafficking conviction stay on my record?
A drug trafficking conviction will remain on your record permanently. Fortunately, some charges are available for expungement under specific circumstances. An expunction will not remove the charge from your record, it will only hide it from public view. You may also be able to petition the governor for a pardon. However, these processes are rarely successful.
How to beat a drug trafficking place charge in Appleton
The best way to challenge a drug trafficking charge is to challenge the legality of police search and seizure. Before the police can legally search a property they must have a requisite level of probable cause. If your Appleton attorney can prove the police had no probable cause, the court will throw away any seized evidence.
You should act immediately if you are caught with drugs or a drug house. Call our experienced attorneys for a free consultation on your case. We’ll look into your charges and guide you through your options to get them reduced or dropped. Grieve Law is one of the most awarded criminal defense and law firms in Wisconsin. Since opening in 2013, attorneys at Grieve Law have helped clients drop or reduce numerous drug related and first offense DWI charges in Wisconsin.
