Drug Charges Defense Attorney in Utah
Expert defense. Clear answers. Your record and your freedom protected.
Most drug cases are decided by how the evidence was found, not by what was found. Richards & Richards examines the stop, the search and the handling of every sample before anything is conceded, and we have been doing it in Weber County since 1988.
Callback within 24 business hours. $100 for a one-hour consultation, credited to your retainer if we take your case.
Request a Consultation
We'll call you back within 24 business hours. $100 for a one-hour consult — credited to your retainer if we take your case.
Carl knows how the state builds a case
DUI instructor of instructors
States licensed: Utah · Colorado · Nebraska
Carl Anderson spent years on the other side. That's the advantage.
Before Carl joined Richards & Richards, he was a prosecutor with the Dawson County, Nebraska Attorney's Office. He handled thousands of criminal cases on behalf of the state, including jury trials.
That record means he has firsthand knowledge of how the state builds a case against you: which witnesses they lean on, which evidence they treat as ironclad, which corners they cut when they're overloaded. When he reviews a DUI stop or a drug-possession report, he's looking at it with the same training as the prosecutor you're up against.
DUI is his specialty. Carl is certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a standardized field sobriety test administrator, instructor, and instructor of instructors. He knows exactly how the officer who arrested you was trained — and how officers deviate from that training. If the arrest was bad, we find out at the suppression hearing, not at trial.
Carl is licensed in Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. He's a father of five. He speaks Spanish.
He took the time to explain everything to me face-to-face. Whenever I contacted him he would return my call or email within a few hours.
— Andrew, Weber County · DUI Defense
Types of Drug Cases We Handle
These charges range from a citation to a serious felony, and the difference often comes down to inference rather than fact.
Not sure which one fits your case? Tell us what happened and we will tell you where you stand.
Talk to Us →Serving Ogden and Communities Across Utah
Our office is in Ogden and we defend drug cases across nine Utah counties, from a citation in justice court through felony charges in district court.
Weber County
North Ogden, Ogden, Riverdale, Roy, South Ogden
Davis County
Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse
Salt Lake County
Draper, Herriman, Murray, Riverton, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, Taylorsville, West Jordan, West Valley City
Utah County
American Fork, Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Saratoga Springs, Spanish Fork, Springville
Cache County
Hyrum, Logan, Mendon, Nibley, Providence, Smithfield
Box Elder County
Brigham City, Garland, Mantua, Tremonton, Willard
Tooele County
Grantsville, Stansbury Park, Tooele
Sanpete County
Ephraim, Manti, Mount Pleasant
Rich County
Garden City, Randolph
Not seeing your city? We defend drug cases across Utah. Call and we will confirm whether we can help with yours.
Call 801-528-9357Why Choose Richards & Richards for Your Drug Case
Most complaints about lawyers are not about who won. They are about communication — the lawyer goes quiet, and you learn what happened to your case after it has already happened. We built this firm around the opposite.
You Get a Real Defense Plan
After your consultation you get a written summary of where the case stands: how the evidence was obtained, which parts of that are challengeable, what the State has to prove about possession or intent, and what we intend to do about each.
One Attorney, One Point of Contact
The attorney on your case handles your case. You are not shuffled between five lawyers or handed to a paralegal who cannot make decisions. When you call, you reach the person who knows your file.
A Former Prosecutor on Your Side
Carl Anderson prosecuted criminal cases for the state before joining the firm. He knows how the other side builds a file, what they rely on, and which parts of it will not hold up when someone actually tests them.
We Are Transparent About Costs
You get our rate and retainer requirement upfront, plus an honest estimate of what the work costs through resolution. We also tell you plainly what we cannot promise, because no lawyer can promise you an outcome.
Clear Communication, Always
We answer calls and emails within 24 business hours. When something significant happens on your case, you hear it from a person, not a form letter. We explain what it means and what happens next.
A Family Firm Since 1988
Two generations of Ogden-raised attorneys. We are invested in this community, and we built this firm on the principle that you are not just a case number.
Ready to talk it through? A one-hour consultation is $100, credited to your retainer if we take your case.
Request a Consultation →What Our Clients Say
Five-star reviews from our public Google Business Profile, from people who came to Richards & Richards in the middle of an investigation, an arrest, or a charge.
I needed help keeping a stalking injunction in place. Kevin did an excellent job putting my case together and making me feel comfortable about the situation. When it came time for the hearing, we had no problem keeping the injunction in place.Ben F.
Helped me get a much better ruling on a case I originally thought was going to ruin me. Kevin Richards negotiated it down to a minor inconvenience — at a very affordable rate with payment options.Ben
I have used Mr. Anderson many times to represent my son and I have always been impressed with the fact that he treats us like family.Anonymous
Mr. Anderson made sure I understood every aspect of my case and always kept me informed. He was available to answer questions at all hours of the day.Emma
Very professional, tough. Gets you what you want. Worked with several attorneys and he was the only one who got us the results we wanted and needed.Jasmin S.
He took the time to explain everything to me face-to-face. Whenever I contacted him he would return my call or email within a few hours.Andrew
Reviews are sourced from our public Google Business Profile. Some have been condensed for length; the clients and the underlying text are real. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Every review here started with one conversation. If you are facing a criminal charge in Utah, yours can start today.
Request a Consultation →Questions We Get About Utah Drug Charges
These come up in almost every first consultation. Here is what we tell people.
- They searched my car. Were they allowed to do that?
- Sometimes, and the answer to that question is often the whole case. Whether there was a lawful basis for the stop, whether consent was freely given, and whether the search stayed inside its limits all carry real legal weight. Tell us exactly how it happened, in order, and we will tell you where it leaves you.
- It was not mine. Does that matter?
- Yes, but the State does not have to prove ownership. Possession can be argued from control and proximity rather than title, which is why these cases so often come down to who was sitting where. It is a defense worth raising properly rather than casually.
- Is marijuana legal in Utah?
- Utah has a medical cannabis program, and it is a narrow lane. Form, source, amount and documentation all matter, and possession outside the program is still charged. If you hold a card, bring it to the consultation.
- What makes a drug charge a felony?
- The substance, the amount, and what the State says you meant to do with it. Prior history and where the alleged offense happened can also raise the level. Your charging document states what has been filed, and we can walk through it with you line by line.
- Can I get treatment instead of jail?
- Utah courts do have treatment-focused options, though nobody can promise you access to one. Eligibility depends on the charge, the history and the court. If substance use is part of what is going on, say so early rather than late.
- What if I have a prescription?
- Then the paperwork is part of the defense, and you should bring it. Lawfully prescribed medication is still charged when it is outside the prescription, in the wrong container, or not yours. The details decide these cases.
- Should I tell the officers where I got it?
- Not before you talk to a lawyer. Cooperation is sometimes valuable and sometimes very costly, and the difference depends on facts you probably do not have yet. Those conversations are extremely hard to take back.
- What should I bring to the consultation?
- The charging paperwork and a clear memory of the stop. Write down where you were, what was said, what was asked and in what order, and who else was there. Bring any prescriptions or medical cannabis documentation with you.
General information about Utah law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts.
Still have a question about your own situation? That is what the consultation is for. One hour, $100, credited to your retainer if we take your case.
Request a Consultation →The search is usually the case.
Drug charges rest on how the evidence was obtained. That question has an answer, and it is worth reaching it before the first court date rather than after it.
$100 for a one-hour consultation, credited to your retainer if we take your case. Callback within 24 business hours.