San Diego Pro Skater Charged with Intent to Sell Meth

By San Diego Attorney on February 20, 2019

In September 2018, pro skater Rob Lorifice was charged with federal drug crimes. The charges came after his home was raided, and law enforcement found heroin, Xanax pills, and methamphetamine. Lorifice was home that day, and was flushing drugs down the toilet at the time police found him.

There were two others in the home, in different rooms than Lorifice. They both told police at the scene that Lorifice had sold them drugs recently, and that they had used drugs within the house.

Shortly after his arrest, Lorifice gave an interview in which he stated the drugs were not his. He said he was trying to get rid of them because he was frightened of the consequences of being found with them. After the raid, Lorifice was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is now out on bail and awaiting another court appearance.

Penalties for Selling or Transporting Methamphetamine

California takes meth charges more seriously than many other drug charges. Methamphetamine is covered by California Health and Safety Code 11379(a). Under this law, it makes selling and transporting a felony and the penalties include anywhere from two to four years in prison, and a person can be sentenced for offering meth to another person without trying to sell it. These consequences can be increased:

• When a person has transported meth across two or more county lines in California with the intent to sell it,
• When a person has sold a large quantity of meth, or
• When a person used a minor to help him/her in the sale or transport of meth.

If you are convicted of a meth crime, you may face a fine of $10,000 or more, depending on the charges. These penalties can be increased again under certain circumstances. For example, if the sale of meth was near a drug treatment center, a detox facility, or a homeless shelter, the judge can decide to levy a harsher sentence.

For certain meth crimes, a drug diversion program may be available. However, if the meth crime included trafficking the drug at all, these programs are not available.

Defenses for Meth Crimes in California

While the situation may seem hopeless, there are a few defenses available for meth crimes in California. If the drug had been transported, it can be argued that while the drug was taken from one location to another, it was never intended to be for sale.

It can also be argued that, regardless if the drug was transported or not, the accused never intended to sell the drug. He simply had it in his possession and someone else misinterpreted what he intended to do with it.

Lastly, another defense is that meth was sold or transported, but the accused was coerced into these actions. For example, if an undercover cop would not stop asking someone suspected of dealing drugs to sell him meth to help with chronic pain, and the accused finally gave in and sold the officer some, this may be considered entrapment.

Contact a California Drug Crimes Lawyer Who Can Help

If you have been charged with a meth crime, you cannot beat the charges on your own. It is one thing to know about the defenses for these crimes, it is another altogether to fight them successfully in court.

If you are facing charges related to the possession, sale, or transportation of meth, contact jD LAW, P.C. Attorney James Dicks is a board-certified criminal defense specialist. He is also a former narcotics investigator with the LAPD and as such, he knows drug prosecution cold. He is your best defense, and your best chance of a successful outcome in court. Call (760) 630-2000 today for a free consultation with a San Diego meth crime lawyer.