Denton Drug Crime Lawyers

Drug charges in Denton County are prosecuted by the Denton County District Attorney’s Office and heard in the Criminal District Courts at the Denton County Courts Building, 1450 E. McKinney St, Denton, TX 76209. Drug specimens seized in Denton County cases are typically submitted to DPS crime laboratories for identification and quantification. The laboratory analysis, the weight determination, and the chain of custody from seizure through testing are all subject to independent examination.

Deandra Grant Law has defended drug charges in Denton County for more than 30 years. Managing Partner Deandra Grant holds the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation, a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Toxicology. Partner Douglas Huff holds the same ACS-CHAL designation. Every drug case at Deandra Grant Law begins with an independent review of the forensic evidence at the chemistry level.

Drug Charges in Denton County

Texas drug penalties are determined by the controlled substance’s penalty group classification and the quantity involved. Most drug charges are felony offenses. The specific charge, the applicable penalty range, and the defense strategy each depend on the substance, the weight alleged, and how the evidence was obtained.

Cocaine.  A Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Possession of one gram is a second-degree felony. Possession of four grams is a first-degree felony. 

Methamphetamine.  A Penalty Group 1 controlled substance subject to the same penalty structure as cocaine, with an additional forensic issue: standard field tests and immunoassay screens do not distinguish illegal d-methamphetamine from l-methamphetamine, the active ingredient in legal OTC products. 

Heroin and Fentanyl.  Penalty Group 1 controlled substances. Fentanyl is active at microgram quantities, making the laboratory’s weight determination and quantification methodology particularly critical defense considerations in every case. 

Marijuana.  Possession of two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor. Possession of more than four ounces is a felony. Delivery and distribution charges carry significantly elevated penalties above the possession tier. 

Prescription Drugs.  Possession without a valid prescription, fraudulent prescription offenses, and doctor shopping are actively prosecuted in Collin County. The penalty range depends on which penalty group the substance falls under and the quantity involved

Drug Delivery and Distribution.  Charged under a separate delivery penalty structure that carries higher penalties than possession at every weight tier. Drug-free zone enhancements (offenses occurring within 1,000 feet of a school or school bus) restrict probation eligibility and increase mandatory minimums under Texas Health and Safety Code §481.134.

Drug Manufacturing.  Manufacturing or cultivating a controlled substance is a felony regardless of quantity. In methamphetamine cases, law enforcement also pursues charges based on NPLEx precursor purchase records.