Practice area – Drug Crimes
Facing drug charges in Riverside County?
Possession, sales, transportation, manufacturing. Whether it is a personal-use case or a major-weight charge, the prosecution will pile on enhancements. There are also more diversion options than people realize.
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What you’re facing
Drug charges in California range from misdemeanor possession to federal trafficking exposure. Simple possession (PC 11350, 11377, HS 11357 for marijuana over thresholds) carries up to a year in county jail. Possession for sale (HS 11351) and sales (HS 11352) are felonies with 2 to 9 years exposure, plus enhancements for weight, prior strikes, weapons, or proximity to a school. Transportation, manufacturing, and large-scale trafficking can trigger federal charges and mandatory minimums.
Defenses I build
Drug cases turn on the search. I challenge how the substance was found – the legality of the stop, the scope of the search, whether consent was actually given, the validity of any warrant. Suppression motions win drug cases. I also push for diversion programs (PC 1000, Drug Court, Veterans Treatment Court) that resolve the case without a conviction. For first-time and non-violent cases, the right strategy keeps a conviction off your record entirely.
Drug Crime Case Results
Charged With
Numerous Drug Sales and Transportation Charges
Outcome
Reduced to Misdemeanor Drug Possession
Drug – Riverside Co.
Charged With
Grand Theft Auto + Drug Sales + Strike Prior
Outcome
Drug Rehab Program
Drug – Riverside Co.
Common Questions
Can a drug charge be dismissed without a conviction?
Often yes. California offers multiple diversion programs – PC 1000 (deferred entry of judgment), Drug Court, and Veterans Treatment Court – that result in dismissal upon successful completion. For non-violent possession cases, this is often the right path. I evaluate eligibility at the first consultation.
What is the difference between possession and possession for sale?
Possession is for personal use; possession for sale (HS 11351) requires the prosecution to prove you intended to distribute. They use indicators like weight, packaging, scales, cash, text messages, and lack of paraphernalia. These indicators are challengeable, and reducing a “for sale” charge to simple possession can drop felony exposure to a misdemeanor.
Does marijuana legalization protect me from prosecution?
Only up to the legal thresholds. Adults can possess up to 28.5 grams of flower and 8 grams of concentrate. Anything above that, or sales without a license, or distribution to minors, remains a crime. Prop 64 also allows reductions and expungements of prior marijuana convictions – I handle those too.
Types of Drug Charges I Defend
Drug cases range from misdemeanor possession to federal trafficking. Below are the charges I handle most often in Riverside County.
Simple Possession (HS 11350, 11377)
Possession for personal use. Misdemeanor in most cases; eligible for diversion and dismissal.
Possession for Sale (HS 11351, 11378)
Possession with intent to distribute. Felony, 2-4 years state prison. Defensible by challenging indicators of sale.
Drug Sales (HS 11352, 11379)
Sale or offer to sell. Felony, 3, 4, or 5 years. Higher with weight or proximity enhancements.
Drug Transportation
Moving controlled substances for distribution. Same penalty range as sales. School-zone enhancements add 3-5 years.
Manufacturing (HS 11379.6)
Producing controlled substances. Felony, 3, 5, or 7 years. Methamphetamine manufacturing often triggers federal charges.
Marijuana Offenses
Possession over 28.5g, unlicensed sales, distribution to minors, illegal cultivation. Prop 64 also enables expungement of prior convictions.
Prescription Fraud (HS 11173)
Obtaining prescription drugs by fraud, doctor-shopping, or forged prescriptions. Wobbler.
Drug DUI (VC 23152(f))
Driving under the influence of drugs. No specific BAC equivalent. Charged on officer observation and toxicology.
Federal Drug Charges
Large quantities, interstate trafficking, or controlled-substance schedules trigger federal prosecution with mandatory minimums.
Diversion Programs and Drug Court
For first-time and non-violent drug cases, California offers paths that resolve the case without a conviction. The options include:
- PC 1000 (Deferred Entry of Judgment) – case dismissed after completion of a treatment program
- Drug Court – intensive supervised treatment with judge oversight; conviction set aside on completion
- Veterans Treatment Court – dedicated program for veterans struggling with substance issues
- Prop 47 reductions – many felony drug convictions can be reduced to misdemeanors retroactively
Eligibility depends on the specific charge, your record, and the strength of the case. I evaluate every option at the first consultation.
Related Resources
For specific aspects of drug case defense, see:
