Being accused of a drug crime is a serious matter, and you will probably have many questions about how the charge impacts your record. The consequences attributed to a drug charge differ from state to state, but what remains constant is that the mere allegation of a drug crime does not mean the accused party is guilty. You have the right to due process and our country's legal system is predicated on the presumption of innocence.

This is important to remember in the case of Gary Dourdan, an actor formerly on the TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He was accused of drug possession and having drug paraphernalia, charges that stemmed from a June 2011 incident in which Dourdan crashed into two parked cars.

The charges carried penalties of up to a year in jail, but Dourdan was only given a $100 fine because the drug charges for possession of Oxycontin and drug paraphernalia were dropped. It would seem that the prosecution could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dourdan was guilty of the drug crimes. Dourdan was charged with a single count of disturbing the peace, to which he pleaded no contest.

Criminal defense is a vital part of the justice system. Those accused of criminal activity have the right to an attorney, and this lawyer assures that their client - and, by proxy, any citizen accused of a crime - was treated fairly during any investigation and that no rights were infringed upon. As this drug case shows, seeking legal representation when you are accused of a crime could reduce the charge against you or even lead to the case being dropped.

Source: This Day Live, "CSI Actor Gary Dourdan Fined $100 for Crashing into TWO Parked Cars after Drug Possession Charges are Dropped," Jan. 13, 2012