Pasadena Drug Crime Lawyer
Accused of Possession or Distribution? Call (888) 714-0139!
Southern California is a focal point in the war on drugs. Most law enforcement
agencies classify drug crimes as one of the most widespread social problems
in our area. Individuals who are accused of a drug crime in Pasadena or
throughout Southern California will be heavily prosecuted in the courtroom
regardless of whether they have a previous criminal record or not. The
prosecutor in a drug case will almost always seek the most severe sentence
available under the law, and in felony cases this may include penalties
such as life in prison.
The penalties for a drug crime will depend on the
type and amount of drugs that are involved. For example, being accused of
possession of a small amount of
marijuana will result in less severe penalties than being accused of selling large
quantities of cocaine. In some cases, suspects are charged with possession
with intent to sell because law enforcement found them with large quantities
of the drug or drug paraphernalia such as scales and baggies.
Classification of Narcotics & Drug Offenses
California's
Health and Safety Code 11350 HS defines "Possession of a Controlled Substance" and makes it
a felony to possess certain narcotics. Some prescription drugs like Codeine
and Vicodin are also illegal to possess if you do not have a lawful prescription.
Drugs are classified according to how addictive they are and whether they
have any medical use. The penalties for certain drugs such as LSD and
heroin are worse than for others.
How to Fight Your Drug Charges
Whether you are charged with a drug crime of possession, distribution,
cultivation, manufacture or sales, it is vitally important that you
know your rights under the law. One of the best ways to protect your rights against an
automatic conviction is to remain silent until you have contact a criminal
defense lawyer in Pasadena. You can't afford to take any chances with
your case, and a skilled
Pasadena criminal defense attorney from our firm will stand by you and give you the support and aggressive
representation you need at this time.
Police officers are human, and therefore they are prone to making errors.
Some of the most common police errors happen during a drug bust operation
where officers "set-up" suspects and violate California's
entrapment law. Identifying where a police officer went wrong is one of
the best tools for building a strong defense against drug charges, and
our firm has extensive experience with investigating these cases. Fighting
your drug charges is the only way that you can avoid severe penalties
such as jail time, steep fines, and probation, so talk to a lawyer and
start building your defense today.