Drug Crimes in California

A drug crime can be defined as any activity that is against the law as regards the use, sale, possession or cultivation of an illegal substance. This could include heroin, cocaine, marijuana, PCP, LSD, and methamphetamines. If a person uses prescription drugs in an illegal fashion, this is also considered a drug crime. Students in schools have been found selling each other Ritalin and other dangerous prescription drugs on campus which is in violation of California law.  

When the courts are deciding upon the severity of a conviction, they will take several things into consideration.

• They will look at the type of drug involved for a possession charge. If the drug is more dangerous, can more easily cause damage or is more addicting than another, stricter punishments will apply.
• The amount or quantity of drugs found will also have a bearing on the severity of punishment. If the quantities are large enough, an additional charge of possession with intent to sell or distribute will apply and this calls for stricter penalties.
•  Any prior convictions will be looked at once a person is convicted and judges will be looking for any previous drug crimes, a previous criminal record or if the drug charge for possession happened anywhere near a school, day care, university or housing project.

As an example of how several drug law violations can occur in one instance, this past June, deputies in San Bernardino County pulled over a truck driver for a routine traffic violation. When the paperwork for the vehicle's load did not match up with the load in the tractor-trailer contents, deputies investigated further. A powerful strange odor was noticed coming from the back of the tractor-trailer which then led them to discover almost 20 tons of drugs placed on pallets in the back of the truck. The stash included 38,000 pounds of cocaine and 67 pounds of methamphetamine. The driver, 32 year old Fernando Luevano was arrested and charged with possession, transportation and the intention to sell narcotics according to reports from CNN.

Have You Been Charged with a Drug Crime?

If you have been charged with a drug crime, it would be in your best interests to seek legal advice immediately from an experienced criminal defense lawyer. At the Law Offices of David Diamond, we can help you combat the charges against you and help you secure the best possible outcome.

We are a full-service criminal defense law firm located in the Los Angeles area and servicing such. We are aggressive in our strategies as we feel this is the best way to protect our clients' interests. We have a proven track record of success winning many verdicts for many of our clients. Whether you have been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, we can help you find the best course of action. We will do everything within our power to keep you out of jail or prison and help defend your rights. California's Three Strikes Law makes it all the more important to avoid a conviction. Having a criminal record can have many negative effects that will last a lifetime and should be avoided at all costs.  

Contact a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer at our office for a free consultation today and let us help you start building a successful defense strategy.