Camp Pendleton Drug Crime Defense Attorneys

Have You Been Accused of a Drug Crime in the Camp Pendleton Area?

Convictions for drug offending can have a serious impact on your personal and professional reputation and many other aspects of your life. If you’re looking for an experienced drug crime attorney in the Camp Pendleton area, don’t hesitate to contact jD Law Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Our founder James N. Dicks is a former narcotics investigator with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and a highly experienced criminal lawyer. He’s also a board certified specialist in the area of criminal law—one of only 30 in San Diego County.

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What Are Different Drug Crimes in California?

Controlled substances in California include a wide range of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamines, ketamine, psilocybin, and legal drugs such as Vicodin (if you don’t have a legitimate prescription).

Common drug crimes include possession, possession for sale, prescription fraud, manufacturing, sales and transportation of controlled substances, cultivation of marijuana, being under the influence of a drug and driving offenses involving drugs. The penalties for these are:

Possession

The penalties for possessing a controlled substance are set out in § 11350 of the Health and Safety Code. They can include a fine of up to $20,000 and up to three years in jail. The sentence you receive will vary depending on the amount you have, the type of substance in your possession, whether this is your first drug offense, and whether you have committed other serious criminal offenses in the past.

Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale

This is set out in § 11351 of the Health and Safety Code. People convicted of this offense can be imprisoned for up to four years, and receive a fine of up to $20,000. Exchanges between yourself and another person, the presence of weighing scales, packaging, and the quantity of drugs in your possession can all be used to prove that you intended to sell drugs.

Prescription Fraud

This is set out in § 1173 and it involves forging or altering a prescription, or forging a signature. This offense carries a penalty of between six months and a year, and a fine of up to $10,000.

Manufacturing a Controlled Drug

This is punishable by a jail sentence of up to seven years and a fine of $50,000.

Sales and Transportation

This is covered by § 11352 (a). You face up to five years in a state prison, and a fine of up to $20,000. However, if there are aggravating factors (such as transporting significant quantities of cocaine or heroin) then your sentence can be considerably longer than this, and the fine can also be increased—potentially to millions of dollars.

Illegal Cultivation of Marijuana

This carries a sentence of up to three years in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000.

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of marijuana while being under 18, possession of marijuana while on school property, or possession of more than 28.5 grams of marijuana (whether you’re over or under 18). These charges usually incur a fine of up to $500, and a sentence of counseling and/or community service. Adult offenders may receive a short prison term.

Being “Under the Influence of Drugs.”

This carries a sentence of up to a year in jail, and a fine of up to $1,000. This charge applies to people who are found by police in a drug-induced state; but it does not apply to people under the influence of marijuana or medication that they have a valid prescription for.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/Driving While Addicted to Drugs.

Depending on whether this is a first, second, or subsequent offense, this carries a potential sentence of up to a year in jail, and a hefty fine of up to several thousand dollars.

There are other specific penalties for people inducing minors (people under the age of 18) to commit drug offenses.

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What Should You Do When Accused of Committing a Drug Offense in California?

Don’t admit to anything or answer any police questions without a Camp Pendleton drug crime lawyer present. If you talk to the police alone, they might misconstrue the statements you give and use them to incriminate you.

If police want to question you about possible drug offending, contact your Camp Pendleton criminal lawyer straight away—drugs offenses, particularly possession for sale, manufacturing or trafficking, carry serious consequences. There are possible defenses to a drug charge:

• The drugs weren’t yours, and you were unaware they were in your possession
• The drugs you possessed were for personal use only (in defense to a charge of possession for sale)
• You did have a valid prescription for the drugs, or a license to use and cultivate marijuana
• Police did not follow proper procedures
• The search was illegal
• You were drugged by someone else without your knowledge.

jD Law Criminal Defense Attorneys can help you challenge a very wide range of Camp Pendleton drug-related charges. Don’t hesitate to call us today at (760) 630-2000.

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