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Covington is the center of St. Tammany drug prosecutions
Covington is the parish seat, and the key places in a drug case are here. The 22nd Judicial District Court, at 701 N. Columbia Street, hears felonies and misdemeanors and serves St. Tammany and Washington parishes. The 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office prosecutes from the same address. The St. Tammany Parish Jail is at 1200 Champagne Street.
Arrests inside the city are made by the Covington Police Department, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office covers surrounding areas such as Abita Springs, Madisonville and Folsom.
Can you avoid a conviction? Article 893, 894 and drug court
For many first offenders, the goal is to finish the case without a conviction on your record. Louisiana offers three main paths:
- Article 893 (felonies): the judge defers sentence and puts you on probation. If you complete it, the conviction is set aside and the prosecution dismissed. That has the same effect as an acquittal for most purposes and allows expungement.
- Article 894 (misdemeanors): a similar set-aside after probation of up to 2 years.
- Drug court: drug division probation with treatment under state law. Felony probation can run up to 8 years in a specialty court, versus up to 5 years normally.
Article 893 is not available for crimes of violence, certain sex offenses or drug offenses punishable by more than 10 years. Current law says an Article 893 set-aside can happen only twice for any person. Whether a specialty court is a fit depends on your case, and Barry will tell you honestly.
Drug penalties, in short
| Charge | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Marijuana, 14 grams or less | Fine up to $100, no jail |
| Marijuana, over 14 grams (1st) | Up to $500 and/or up to 6 months |
| Schedule II (cocaine, meth, oxycodone), under 2 grams | Up to 2 years and up to $5,000 |
| Schedule II, 2 to under 28 grams | 1 to 5 years and up to $5,000 |
| Heroin or fentanyl, under 2 grams | 2 to 4 years |
Distribution and intent charges carry far more. See our main drug charges defense page for the full range.
When the charge is possession with intent
An intent to distribute charge changes the whole case. Marijuana under 2.5 pounds carries 1 to 10 years. Cocaine or another Schedule II drug under 28 grams carries 1 to 10 years and up to $50,000. Heroin carries 5 to 40 years at hard labor, and fentanyl under 28 grams carries 5 to 40 years at hard labor with 5 served without benefit.
If the alleged activity happened on or within 2,000 feet of a school, church, day care or similar place, the drug-free zone law can raise the maximum prison term by up to half. Barry challenges both the intent claim and the zone measurement. Many intent charges carry more than 10 years, which also affects Article 893 eligibility.
Drug paraphernalia charges
Paraphernalia is often charged alongside possession. A first offense carries up to $300 and/or up to 15 days in jail. A second brings up to $1,000 and/or 6 months, and a third up to $2,500 and/or 2 years. Paraphernalia for personal marijuana use is fine-only: $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $2,500 for a third or more.
How Barry defends Covington drug cases
Barry does not start with a plea. He starts with the evidence. He asks whether police had a lawful reason for the stop, whether the search had a warrant, valid consent or a legal exception, whether the drugs can truly be tied to you, and whether the lab identified the substance and weighed it correctly.
Those questions drive everything else. A strong suppression motion can end a case. Real weaknesses also give you leverage when asking for Article 893 or a reduced charge. Barry's years as a trial prosecutor mean he knows how the State sees these cases. Call (504) 905-8399 to have him look at yours.
Your first 72 hours
- If someone is at the parish jail, call about bail. A judge must see them within 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
- Do not talk about the case with police or on jail phones.
- If you have a prior record, write down the dates and outcomes. It affects eligibility for Article 893.
- Call (504) 905-8399 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
Our Kenner office is about 40 to 45 minutes (roughly 35 miles) from Covington, and remote consultations are available. See our Covington criminal defense and St. Tammany Parish pages.