Over 400 grams carries a 10-year floor and a $100,000 fine ceiling — the top of Texas’s possession ladder, prosecuted by the state’s most experienced narcotics attorneys.
Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1, 400+ grams — Health & Safety Code § 481.115(f)
Level: Enhanced first-degree felony
Range: 10 – 99 years or life, fine to $100,000
Court: District court in the county of arrest
How these cases play out in Central Texas courts
There is no casual version of this case. The defense follows the investigation’s architecture: how the seizure happened (warrant, stop, or controlled operation), who said what to whom (informants and cooperators), and whether the physical evidence’s journey from seizure to lab survives scrutiny. Parallel federal exposure must be evaluated immediately — venue affects everything from bail to sentencing exposure. What doesn’t change: the state’s burden. Ten-year minimums concentrate the mind, but they also concentrate the defense budget where it belongs — on suppression and the lab.
Questions we hear about this charge
What’s the minimum if convicted?
Ten years. That number is exactly why these cases get litigated rather than pled early — the delta between conviction and suppression is measured in decades.
What should happen in the first week?
Silence toward investigators, counsel retained, bond litigation, preservation letters out, and the warrant/informant picture mapped. Early moves shape everything.
Do you handle cases this size?
Yes — felony narcotics defense across Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bexar, and Bastrop counties, provided by Stephen T. Bowling, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys, with federal coordination when the case demands it.
Facing a POSS CS PG 1 >=400G charge?
The first weeks decide what’s possible — evidence preservation, bond terms, and early litigation posture. Criminal defense in Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bexar, and Bastrop counties is provided by Stephen T. Bowling, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys — former police officers who know how these cases are built. Free consultation, 24/7, flat-fee quote included.
General Texas legal information, not legal advice for your specific case. Enhancements, priors, and case facts change punishment exposure. Last reviewed July 2026.