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Where do Slidell drug cases go?
Misdemeanor drug charges arising in Slidell, such as small marijuana or paraphernalia cases, are generally handled by the City Court of East St. Tammany at 501 Bouscaren Street, which hears misdemeanors for Wards 8 and 9. Felony drug charges are prosecuted by the 22nd Judicial District Attorney in the 22nd Judicial District Court at 701 N. Columbia Street in Covington.
Arrests inside the city are made by the Slidell Police Department. If someone is held, the St. Tammany Parish Jail is in Covington, at 1200 Champagne Street. That means a Slidell arrest can quickly become a Covington problem. Call (504) 905-8399 and we will help sort out where the case stands.
Fentanyl charges carry some of Louisiana's toughest penalties
Louisiana treats fentanyl and carfentanil more harshly than other Schedule II drugs.
- Possession under 2 grams: 2 to 4 years.
- Possession of 2 to 28 grams: 2 to 10 years and up to $5,000.
- Distribution or intent, under 28 grams: 5 to 40 years at hard labor, with 5 years served without benefit.
- Distribution or intent, 28 to 249 grams: 7 to 40 years on a first offense.
- 250 grams or more: life at hard labor.
Distributing fentanyl that causes serious bodily injury adds 5 consecutive years. Weights count the whole mixture, so a pill pressed with filler is weighed in full.
Pills, cocaine and meth: the other Schedule II charges
For other Schedule II drugs, such as cocaine, meth and oxycodone, possession of under 2 grams carries up to 2 years and up to $5,000. Possession of 2 to under 28 grams carries 1 to 5 years. Distribution or intent under 28 grams carries 1 to 10 years and up to $50,000.
A lab must identify the substance. Pills that look like a prescription drug may contain something else, and that can change the charge. Barry reads the lab report closely. See our main drug charges defense page for other drugs.
Possession or intent to distribute?
The State often adds "intent to distribute" based on things like cash, a scale, baggies or the number of pills. None of those items proves a sale on its own. People carry cash, and a quantity bought for personal use can look like a lot on paper.
Because intent charges can carry decades, Barry challenges that leap hard. He looks at whether there were any texts, buyers or controlled buys, or only assumptions drawn from what was in your pocket. He also checks whether the location triggers the drug-free zone law, which applies within 2,000 feet of places like schools and churches and can raise the maximum prison term. Read more in our article on possession vs. possession with intent.
How Barry builds a Slidell drug defense
Barry starts with how police found the drugs. A search needs a warrant, valid consent or a legal exception. If the search was illegal, he can move to suppress the evidence. Then he looks at whether the drugs can really be tied to you, especially in a shared car or home, and whether the lab work and weights hold up.
As a former trial prosecutor, Barry knows which problems make the State reconsider a charge. He uses them to push for dismissal, a reduced charge or a first-offender program where the law allows it, and he prepares for trial when that is the right path.
Working with a Kenner firm from Slidell
Our Kenner office is about 40 to 45 minutes (roughly 40 miles) from Slidell. You can start with a free remote consultation by phone or video, and Barry travels to court in Slidell or Covington. He handles cases throughout St. Tammany Parish.
Distance should not mean less attention. You get Barry's direct involvement, regular updates and a team that answers the phone. One client wrote on Avvo: "Barry Ranshi and John Mason worked tirelessly in my defense, were very accessible, and assured a most acceptable resolution. I highly recommend Barry and John for any legal needs."
First steps after a Slidell drug arrest
- Do not answer questions about the drugs without a lawyer present.
- Do not consent to searches of your phone, car or home.
- If someone is in the parish jail, call about the bail hearing. Louisiana requires a judge appearance within 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
- Call (504) 905-8399, 24/7, for a free and confidential consultation.
See our Slidell criminal defense and St. Tammany Parish pages for other charges.