How a Lawyer Can Help You Defend Against a Drug Charge in California

If you are facing drug crime charges in California, you should know that if you are convicted, you could face several harsh penalties, such as high fines or time behind bars. It is incredibly important that when you are charged with a drug crime, you have effective and experienced legal counsel on your side, helping you secure the most favorable outcome. Your drug charges may have resulted from an addiction that you are unable to manage or simply from poor judgment. Being charged with a drug crime does not automatically make you a bad person, but nonetheless, it is still imperative that you protect yourself.

Regardless of how your charges came about, without knowledgeable legal representation helping you with your charges, you are at significant risk of suffering severe punishments and consequences. William Bruzzo is a California criminal defense attorney who has close to three decades of experience practicing criminal defense law and helping aggrieved individuals get the most desirable and fair outcomes from their criminal cases. When faced with a California drug crime, you may contact Attorney Bruzzo for support and assistance. 

How An Attorney Can Help You with a Drug Charge

California has several different types of drug crimes, some more severe than others. Each drug crime also has its own penalties and repercussions. Of all the crimes, the most frequently charged are:

• Sale of drugs
• Possession of controlled substances
• Prescription drug fraud
• Manufacturing of drugs
• Possession of controlled substances with intent to sell

For example, possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell is a felony violation under California HSC § 11351. Specifically, the possession and intent to sell certain types of drugs like heroin, cocaine, or oxycodone.

A conviction of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell in California can come with as many as four years in jail and fines as high as $20,000. But, with an attorney’s assistance, it could be possible to secure a significantly reduced sentence, including probation. It may even be possible to have the charges dropped.

Some of the most effective defenses to drug crime charges include:

• The defendant was a victim of entrapment.
• There is not enough evidence to prove the charges.
• The defendant’s Miranda Rights were violated when they were arrested.
• The defendant did not know, or there was no actual intent to sell the drug.
• Search and seizure rules were broken. 

An attorney will protect your interests when you are facing drug charges, including potentially even helping you get into a drug treatment program as an outcome of your charges when this route is an option. Attending a program can not only help to reduce your charges but can also assist you in potentially recovering from an addiction and regaining your health.

Speak to an Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Drug charges can be complicated and come with harsh penalties and expensive fines when a conviction occurs. It is essential to have the best defense when you are being charged with a drug crime in California. 

For help with your case, please call our Orange County criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo at (714) 547-4636 to schedule a free consultation.