Florida Woman Charged after Baby Overdosed

Last Saturday, Heather Aliesha Revell, 35, was arrested in Florida. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child neglect. 

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Revell injected herself with fentanyl-laced heroin in her home on Saturday night. Though Revell allegedly claimed she had cleaned up the drugs and paraphernalia after using them, she believes her 1-year-old daughter ingested some.

When the baby was unresponsive on Sunday morning, Revell called 911. Paramedics arrived at the scene and administered Narcan to counter the overdose. Thankfully, the child was taken to a hospital quickly enough that she is expected to survive. 

Though this occurred in Florida rather than Georgia, the basics of possession of a controlled substance are very similar throughout the United States. In today's post, I'm going to be discussing what a possession of a controlled substance charge looks like in Cherokee County. 

Possession of a Controlled Substance 

As a Cherokee County DUI Attorney, I know people who are in possession of a controlled substance can frequently be caught during a traffic stop. For example, if you are pulled over on a suspected DUI in Cherokee County, the police may have probable cause to search your vehicle and find the illicit substance. 

In Georgia, there are five “schedules” of controlled substances. Schedule I drugs are those which have the highest potential for abuse and have no known medical use. Schedule II through IV have decreasingly lower potential for abuse and have increasingly more accepted medical purposes. Schedule V drugs have the lowest potential for abuse and can currently be obtained for medical use. 

Heroin is a Schedule I drug. Possession of any Schedule I controlled substance is a felony punishable by between 2 and 15 years in prison. A subsequent conviction for possession of a schedule I drug is punishable by between 5 and 30 years in prison. 

Practice Note 

A conviction for possession of a controlled substance in Georgia can have life long consequences and result in years of incarceration. You must consult with an attorney experienced in defending these charges so that you know the best options available to you such as a plea to a lesser charge, a guilty plea, or a trial. At the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson, our Cherokee County DUI Lawyers know how to help you through this process. Call us now to discuss your case.