I am a defense attorney and help people charged with drug charges in Wyoming, Idaho and the National Parks. If you have been charged with a marijuana offense in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks, check out my guide: Understanding Your Federal Charge For Possession Of A Controlled Substance.
In A National Park. If you have been charged in Teton County, or the Town of Jackson, the guide is less relevant. You are under different laws. The judge is different. The procedure is different.
Absolutely. Attitudes toward marijuana vary across the country. In our neighboring state, Colorado, marijuana is legal. In Wyoming, marijuana is not only illegal, it’s considered a dangerous drug. The laws and expectations here are different.
At the state level, a first marijuana possession offense (up to three ounces) is a misdemeanor. See Wyoming Statute § 35-7-1031.
It’s punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $750. In most (not all) of the local jurisdictions, the prosecutors are not seeking jail time. Depending on your circumstances, the prosecutors will make certain offers, and the judge will impose a certain sentence. A third offense is a felony, and again, depending on your circumstances, the prosecutors will attempt to obtain a felony conviction. Additionally, a marijuana conviction can affect:
The police and park rangers don’t always get it right. When they don’t, you can and should fight the case. In vehicle cases, sometimes they pull you over for no reason (I’ve seen a lot of dash cam footage that made me go: huh?).
If they don’t pull you over for a lawful reason, the case should be thrown out. Once they pull you over, there are certain rules they have to follow to expand the scope of the traffic stop. If they jump the gun and seize and search you without a good reason, that violates the Fourth Amendment.
In non-vehicle cases there are similar rules about when, where and how the officers contact you. From there, there are rules that govern what kinds of questions they can ask you and whether they can detain you. It gets complicated.
The second strategy is to minimize the consequences. Are you eligible for probation and a dismissal (called a deferred adjudication in most Wyoming jurisdictions)? Can you avoid a conviction? Can you keep it off your record? If not, can you minimize the fine? Can you reduce the likelihood of being ordered to do lengthy drug treatment classes? Can you reduce any community service? Can you do any community service for your preferred organization or on your timetable? Can you avoid coming back to Court?
It depends. Typically, you start with both. First, you want to get the police report. Your attorney then analyzes the police report and interviews you about what happens.
If your attorney finds a reason for the judge to throw the case out, then you go down that road. If not, you move on to minimizing the consequences. Of course, with any attorney, you are in the driver’s seat. Your attorney’s job is to provide you with:
Typically, I do these cases for a fixed fee. You pay one flat fee up front. If we don’t go to trial (and these cases rarely go to trial), then that is the only fee you pay. If you call me on the phone, we can talk about your case and I will give you a quote.
My office is (307) 323-2314. You can call or text that number and it will go through to me or someone else, even if it’s the weekend. If I am in the backcountry or unavailable, I’ll get back to you. I take credit cards. You can sign most things electronically, unless a notarized signature is legally required. You will get copies of all your documents electronically.
I absolutely 100 percent recommend Freeburg law and my personal lawyer Ethan Morris. Being from another state once they were on the case they did everything to make me feel the ease of the burden of the charge I received. I don’t know how I would have handled it without their help from 500 miles away. The sentencing I received was minimal and I was happy with the entire process. Ethan made me feel as if I just made a small mistake on my part and he would handle everything for me within his power. They were well worth every dollar. Strongly recommend as a DUI attorney.
I hired this firm due to the positive reviews. Ethan did not let me down. He fought for me and my case was dismissed. The team at Freeburg Law will LISTEN to you. They will believe you and do the very best for you. Someone will answer the phone even on a Sunday morning. They will reply to every email, and answer every question no matter what. They will have your back.
I've worked on many civil and criminal cases with Freeburg Law over the years, some going to trial, many settling out of court. They do an outstanding job for their clients. They put in the time and resources needed to present the best possible case. Most importantly, they care. Easy to work with, top-notch trial lawyers. I'd highly recommend them for any civil or criminal case.
Alex Freeburg is an excellent attorney and Teton County is lucky to have him. Throughout the duration of my case, he maintained exceptional communication with me, providing every detail and explaining every juncture as they arose. Alex is a dogged advocate but has a big heart as well. I would recommend him to anyone.
I absolutely 100 percent recommend Freeburg law and my personal lawyer Ethan Morris. Being from another state once they were on the case they did everything to make me feel the ease of the burden of the charge I received. I don’t know how I would have handled it without their help from 500 miles away. The sentencing I received was minimal and I was happy with the entire process. Ethan made me feel as if I just made a small mistake on my part and he would handle everything for me within his power. They were well worth every dollar. Strongly recommend as a DUI attorney.
I hired this firm due to the positive reviews. Ethan did not let me down. He fought for me and my case was dismissed. The team at Freeburg Law will LISTEN to you. They will believe you and do the very best for you. Someone will answer the phone even on a Sunday morning. They will reply to every email, and answer every question no matter what. They will have your back.
I've worked on many civil and criminal cases with Freeburg Law over the years, some going to trial, many settling out of court. They do an outstanding job for their clients. They put in the time and resources needed to present the best possible case. Most importantly, they care. Easy to work with, top-notch trial lawyers. I'd highly recommend them for any civil or criminal case.
Alex Freeburg is an excellent attorney and Teton County is lucky to have him. Throughout the duration of my case, he maintained exceptional communication with me, providing every detail and explaining every juncture as they arose. Alex is a dogged advocate but has a big heart as well. I would recommend him to anyone.
I absolutely 100 percent recommend Freeburg law and my personal lawyer Ethan Morris. Being from another state once they were on the case they did everything to make me feel the ease of the burden of the charge I received. I don’t know how I would have handled it without their help from 500 miles away. The sentencing I received was minimal and I was happy with the entire process. Ethan made me feel as if I just made a small mistake on my part and he would handle everything for me within his power. They were well worth every dollar. Strongly recommend as a DUI attorney.
I hired this firm due to the positive reviews. Ethan did not let me down. He fought for me and my case was dismissed. The team at Freeburg Law will LISTEN to you. They will believe you and do the very best for you. Someone will answer the phone even on a Sunday morning. They will reply to every email, and answer every question no matter what. They will have your back.
I've worked on many civil and criminal cases with Freeburg Law over the years, some going to trial, many settling out of court. They do an outstanding job for their clients. They put in the time and resources needed to present the best possible case. Most importantly, they care. Easy to work with, top-notch trial lawyers. I'd highly recommend them for any civil or criminal case.
Alex Freeburg is an excellent attorney and Teton County is lucky to have him. Throughout the duration of my case, he maintained exceptional communication with me, providing every detail and explaining every juncture as they arose. Alex is a dogged advocate but has a big heart as well. I would recommend him to anyone.
We travel to courthouses throughout Wyoming and Eastern Idaho. We represent clients in Jackson and from Rock Springs to Cheyenne. In Idaho, we tend to stick to the Counties and towns near the Snake River. We also have a robust practice in Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
To learn more about our law firm, the areas that we serve, and our legal services, please call our law firm directly or send us a message online at your convenience. We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury claims and offer free consultations. We are here to serve you!
