Are You Facing Drug Charges?

The law offices of Coates, Battle & Tyree, based in Richmond, Virginia, represents individuals charged with possessing, manufacturing or trafficking drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine, LSD and heroin. We also work with clients charged with “doctor shopping” to illegally obtain prescription medicines like oxycodone and Adderall.

In our experience, people charged with drug offenses are mostly ordinary people who got caught up in something bad. The bigger problem in their lives is the longer-term problem of habituation and addiction, not the fact that they are using drugs. Our goal is to protect them from the harshness of the law and to help them get back on track to a healthier life.

Protecting Your Future From Collateral Consequences

A drug conviction carries weight far beyond a prison sentence or a fine. Even a first-time offense can create a permanent criminal record that ripples through every aspect of your life. We fight to protect you from consequences that include:

• Loss of employment: Professional licenses and security clearances are often revoked upon conviction.
• Academic fallout: College students may face suspension, expulsion or the loss of federal financial aid.
• Family impact: Convictions can affect child custody arrangements and visitation rights.
• Asset forfeiture: Law enforcement may attempt to seize cash or vehicles associated with the arrest.

Our strategy at Coates, Battle & Tyree, is to first give you a fighting chance to beat the drug charge against you altogether, then negotiate an alternative to prison or jail time or substantially reduce any sentence if you are convicted.

How We Defend Drug Cases: A Proactive Strategy

Our motto is simple: “We don’t let the case happen to the client”. We do not wait for the trial to start working. We are proactive, zealous advocates who investigate every angle of the arrest.

We scrutinize the evidence to identify constitutional violations and procedural errors, focusing on strategies such as:

• Challenging the stop and search: Did the police have probable cause to pull you over? Did they have a valid warrant to search your home or vehicle? If your Fourth Amendment rights were violated, we move to suppress the evidence, which can lead to charges being dismissed.
• Disputing possession: Just because drugs were found near you (such as in a shared car or apartment) does not mean they belonged to you. We fight against “constructive possession” claims where the Commonwealth cannot prove you had control or knowledge of the substance.
• Questioning intent: Prosecutors often try to upgrade simple possession charges to “intent to distribute” based on weak evidence like the presence of cash or baggies. We force them to prove every element of that serious charge.
• Analyzing the evidence: We examine the chain of custody and question lab results to ensure the substance is exactly what the police claim it is.

The Importance of Early Representation

Time is the prosecution’s ally, but it can be yours if you act fast. Getting an experienced defense attorney involved early allows us to preserve critical evidence – like surveillance footage or witness statements – before it disappears.

In some cases, especially for first-time offenders or those struggling with addiction, we can negotiate for alternative outcomes, such as diversion programs or treatment options that keep a conviction off your record. We focus on solutions that address the root of the problem while aggressively defending your legal rights.

Our Defense Attorneys Care About You. Call Today

Have you or a loved one been charged with drug possession? As the consequences of a drug arrest are severe, please do not hesitate to call our lawyers at Coates, Battle & Tyree. You can reach us by calling 804-729-5537. You can also email us your information using this online form.

We offer a confidential consultation to review the facts of your case and map out a defense strategy. We are ready to fight for you.