Juvenile Defense

Juvenile Drug Charges

If a juvenile is found to be in the possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, they can be charged with a juvenile drug crime. According to Texas law, a minor can be charged with drug crimes as a juvenile if they are between the ages of 10 and 16. Some of the most common drug crimes minors are charged with are possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If your child was recently arrested for drug possession or possession of a controlled substance in Texas, you want to do what you can to make sure that their rights are protected by contacting a juvenile criminal defense attorney.

Penalties for Juvenile Drug Possession

  • Drug rehabilitation

  • Counseling

  • Probation

  • Educational courses on substance abuse

  • Community service

  • Court fee payment

  • Confinement in a Texas juvenile detention facility

In some cases, based on the seriousness of the crime or the juvenile’s criminal history, minors can be tried as adults and be ordered to pay heavy fines and / or be sentenced to time in jail.

Juvenile Alcohol Charges

If law enforcement finds a minor engaged in underage drinking, criminal consequences can follow. These charges happen far more often than people realize. The legal drinking age in Texas is 21, and anyone drinking under that age could face criminal charges. The most common juvenile alcohol charges and the associated penalties include:

Public Intoxication

Under the Texas Penal Code, you can be charged with public intoxication for appearing in a public place while under the influence. A minor charged with public intoxication (PI) could pay a fine of up to $500, 8 to 12 hours of community service, 30-day driver’s license suspension, mandatory attendance at alcohol awareness classes, and Mandatory attendance at alcohol awareness classes.

Minor in Consumption

A Minor in Consumption (MIC) is charged when a minor consumes alcohol and comes with a fine of up to $500, court-ordered alcohol awareness education, 8 to 40 hours of community service, and a 30-day driver’s license suspension. If the minor is over 17 years old, the penalties increase.

Minor in Possession

It is illegal for minors to possess alcohol in Texas except in limited circumstances. A minor charged with Minor in Possession (MIP) could pay a fine of up to $500, a driver’s license suspension of 30 days, and 8 to 12 hours of community service that relates to alcohol education, rehabilitation, or the prevention of similar offenses. If the minor is over 17 years old, the penalties increase.

School Threats/Terroristic Threats

If your child has been charged with a crime involving the threat of school violence including but not limited to a terrorist threat, you should know that prosecutors and judges don’t take these cases lightly. Even if the child had neither the intention nor the ability to carry out such a threat, communicating the threat will bring charges anyway. The consequences of a juvenile conviction for these criminal threats can be life altering for your child.

Under Texas Penal Code Section 22.07(a), a minor commits a juvenile terroristic threat offense if they threaten to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to:

  1. cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies

  2. place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury

  3. prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place

  4. cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service

  5. place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury, or

  6. influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state

Contact Kathryn

If you need someone to fight for you and your family, contact us today to find out how we can help. Board Certified by the Board of Texas Legal Specialization in both Criminal Law and Juvenile Law, Kathryn Kahle is here to set things right.