Drug Trafficking

Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney in Fishers

30+ Years in Indiana Courtrooms. Every Case Handled Personally.

A drug trafficking charge in Indiana isn’t a minor offense. Depending on the substance and quantity, you could be facing a Level 2 felony carrying 10 to 30 years in prison. These charges demand an attorney who has spent over three decades inside Indiana courtrooms and who personally manages every detail of a case from start to finish. That’s what I do at Shircliff Law LLC.

I’m David Shircliff. I’ve practiced criminal defense since 1990, served as a public defender, and acted as lead counsel in more than 180 jury trials. I handle every case myself from the first call through final resolution. No associates. No handoffs. When you hire me, you get me.

If you’re facing a trafficking charge in Fishers or anywhere in Hamilton County, contact me immediately for a free, confidential consultation. Call (317) 936-3404 to get started.

How Hamilton County Handles Drug Trafficking Charges

Fishers drug trafficking cases move through Hamilton County Circuit and Superior Courts in Noblesville. Prosecutors treat dealing and trafficking charges as among the most serious offenses on their docket, grouped alongside Level 1 through 4 felonies. That classification has real consequences at bond hearings: defendants can face a jail hold at the Hamilton County Jail before trial even begins.

Hamilton County Pretrial Services conducts a risk assessment before bond is set. Getting an attorney involved before that hearing can improve your chances of favorable release conditions. The prosecution begins building its case immediately after an arrest, which is why the timing of my involvement matters. The earlier I get involved, the more options I have to work with.

Indiana Drug Trafficking Charges & Penalties

Indiana drug trafficking and dealing offenses are governed by several statutes under IC 35-48-4, including IC 35-48-4-1 for cocaine and narcotic drugs and IC 35-48-4-1.1 for methamphetamine. The charge level and sentencing range depend on the type of drug, the quantity involved, and whether any enhancing circumstances apply.

Felony levels and sentencing ranges for cocaine, methamphetamine, and Schedule I/II narcotics:

Level 5 felony: Base offense for dealing in these substances, carrying 1 to 6 years
Level 3 felony: 5 grams or more but less than 10 grams of cocaine or a narcotic, carrying 3 to 16 years
Level 2 felony: 10 grams or more, carrying 10 to 30 years

For heroin, the thresholds shift slightly: 7 grams or more but less than 12 grams over a 90-day period is a Level 3 felony; 12 grams or more over 90 days is a Level 2 felony. All trafficking convictions carry potential fines up to $10,000 in addition to incarceration.

Enhancing Circumstances

Certain facts elevate the charge one felony level above where it would otherwise land. Enhancing circumstances include a prior drug dealing conviction, possessing a firearm during the offense, or delivering drugs near a school, public park, or to a minor. A firearm enhancement on a non-marijuana trafficking conviction can add significant additional prison time: up to 5 years for a standard firearm, up to 10 years for a sawed-off shotgun, or up to 20 years if the firearm is a machine gun or equipped with a silencer.

Habitual Offender Exposure

A habitual offender finding under Indiana law adds a fixed term on top of the underlying sentence: 8 to 20 years for Level 1 through 4 felonies, and 3 to 6 years for Level 5 or 6 felonies. Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-8, that enhancement attaches to the felony conviction carrying the highest sentence and can’t be suspended.

Federal Trafficking Charges

When trafficking crosses state lines or involves federal law enforcement, federal charges can apply in addition to or instead of state charges. Federal trafficking penalties can reach up to 40 years for large-scale operations, with fines up to $8 million. Indiana doesn’t require the prosecution to prove actual transport of drugs. Possession of a threshold quantity with intent to deliver is enough to sustain a trafficking charge.

What Sets Shircliff Law LLC Apart?

Clear Guidance. Strong Defense. Always on Your Side.

Over 30 Years Experience
With over 30 years of courtroom experience, David Shircliff brings unmatched legal insight to every case.
Honest, Relentless & Decisive
We tell you the truth, fight without hesitation, and act with purpose at every stage.
Won At Every Level
From local courts to federal appeals, we know how to win — and we’ve done it.
Hands-On Approach
We work with you one-on-one, staying hands-on through every phase of your case.

How I Build a Defense Against Drug Trafficking Charges

Trafficking cases typically rest on a combination of physical evidence, informant testimony, and surveillance. Each of those pillars is subject to challenge, and that’s where I start. My background as a public defender gave me a direct view into how prosecutors structure these cases, including which elements they count on going uncontested.

Defense angles I investigate in every trafficking case:

Fourth Amendment violations: An unlawful traffic stop, a warrantless search, or a coerced consent search can result in evidence suppression. Suppressed evidence can substantially weaken the prosecution’s case.
Constructive possession: When drugs are found in a shared vehicle or residence, the prosecution must prove knowledge and control. That link isn’t automatic, and I challenge it when the facts support doing so.
Informant and surveillance reliability: Confidential informants and surveillance methods are subject to legal challenge. I examine how the investigation was conducted and whether the methods used meet constitutional standards.
Chain of custody and lab testing: Drug type and quantity are elements the prosecution must prove. Failures in evidence handling or laboratory procedures can undermine the charge level entirely.
Quantity thresholds: If the evidence doesn’t actually support the charged weight, I challenge whether the prosecution can sustain the felony level alleged.
Entrapment: If law enforcement induced or coerced the transaction, an entrapment defense may apply.

Hamilton County Superior Court 6 oversees the county’s drug court program, which can be a relevant alternative resolution path for defendants who meet the eligibility criteria. Where it serves my client’s interests, I explore every available option.

Why Fishers Clients Hire Me for Trafficking Defense

I’ve handled thousands of criminal cases and served as lead counsel in more than 180 jury trials, including serious felonies such as murder, rape, and sex offenses. Clients hire me because I don’t sugar-coat their situation and I don’t back down when a case goes to trial. My reputation in Indiana courtrooms is built on that record.

As a solo practitioner, I personally manage every aspect of a case from day one through final resolution. You won’t be handed off to an associate for discovery, motions, or trial prep. I also serve as an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, which keeps me engaged with the legal and procedural developments that affect criminal defense work in Indiana courts.

Clients describe me as sincere, upfront, honest, and relentless. I offer a generally free initial consultation and am flexible with payment arrangements for clients who need them. Virtual consultations are available.

Speak with a Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney in Fishers Today

A trafficking charge moves quickly, and the sooner I’m involved, the more options I may have to protect your rights, challenge the evidence, and assess the strongest available path forward. Consultations are free, confidential, and available virtually.

Call (317) 936-3404 now to schedule your consultation with Shircliff Law LLC.

What to Do After a Drug Trafficking Arrest in Fishers

The decisions you make immediately after an arrest can significantly affect your case. Here’s what I tell every client who reaches out after being charged.

Steps to protect your rights from the start:

Invoke your right to remain silent: Nothing you say to law enforcement before an attorney is present can help you. It can only be used against you.
Decline consent searches: You have the right to refuse a consent search. Law enforcement must have a warrant or established probable cause to search without your agreement. Declining preserves your Fourth Amendment rights for your attorney to evaluate.
Avoid social media and case discussions: Any statement you make, online or in person, can become evidence. Don’t post, text, or discuss the case with anyone other than your attorney.
Document everything you remember: Write down the circumstances of the stop or arrest, what officers said, how the search was conducted, and any statements made by law enforcement. This helps me assess Fourth Amendment issues early in the case.
Contact an attorney before making any decisions: Bond hearings, cooperation agreements, and early plea offers all carry long-term consequences. Having an attorney before those conversations happen can give you more options.

Hamilton County Pretrial Services conducts a risk assessment screening before bond is set. I can intervene at the bond hearing stage to argue for release conditions that may allow you to remain home while your case moves forward.

Contact Shircliff Law LLC Today

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