Courts in West Covina can hand down harsh penalties after a drug crime conviction. The legal system can railroad individuals facing drug charges if they don’t have strong legal representation. Working with a lawyer familiar with these cases is the best option for getting a better outcome if the police arrested you or you face charges.
Simmrin Law Group has experience dealing with drug charges. Our West Covina drug crimes lawyers can take on your case no matter what charges you’re facing. You can get the help you need to handle these charges and get on with your life. Let us fight to protect your rights and your future.
Marijuana and Criminal Charges in West Covina
You may have heard that California decriminalized marijuana usage. This is true, but the laws make these cases very complicated. There are limits on what you can possess or grow, what you can do with it, and how much you can have. In fact, you can still end up incarcerated for some types of marijuana use.
Legally, California law allows you to possess marijuana and concentrated cannabis for your personal use if you are over the age of 21. However, there are limits on how much of these substances you can possess at one time.
The law also allows you to take part in marijuana cultivation. However, it must be for personal use. You must be over age 21 to grow marijuana, and you can generally grow only six plants. You can face criminal charges for growing larger amounts of marijuana.
Finally, while you are legally allowed to grow or possess marijuana or marijuana products for personal use, you can still face criminal charges if you:
- Sell Marijuana
- Give Marijuana Away
- Import or Export Marijuana
- Use marijuana in any form in a public place
- Drive after using marijuana
You could end up spending four years in jail if the courts convict you of a marijuana drug crime in West Covina. Our criminal defense lawyer from West Covina, who has experience handling drug crime cases, can help protect you from these charges and the worst consequences of a conviction.
For a free legal consultation with a drug crimes lawyer serving West Covina, call (310) 928-9347
Criminal Charges for Other Illicit Substances
While the laws surrounding marijuana usage have grown less severe in recent years, the same is not true for other controlled substances. You can still face serious penalties if police arrest you and you receive a conviction for drug possession. The court can sentence you to one year in jail and fines of $1,000, even if you only possess small amounts of:
- Opiates
- Steroids
- Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
- Depressants
You can end up facing serious legal problems just for the use of certain painkillers, such as codeine and hydrocodone, without a prescription. Drug possession is a basic charge if law enforcement officers catch you with drugs for personal use. You may face more specific charges based on the substance the police find you with, including:
- Possession of meth
- Possession of Vicodin
- Possession of opiates
- Possession of other drugs
The court can also charge you with possession for sale. Prosecutors use possession-for-sale charges if the police found you with an amount of an illicit substance that exceeds what the court thinks you could personally use. Law enforcement does not have to catch you actually selling a drug to face possession for sale charges.
You could also face possession-for-sale charges if the circumstances seem to point to these activities. For example, prosecutors may push for increased charges if you have:
- Drugs packaged in separate, smaller amounts
- Scales, baggies, or other tools used by drug dealers
- A ledger of sales or other similar evidence
California law punishes possession for sale far more severely than drug possession. You could face fines of up to $20,000 and four years in state prison if the courts convict you of possession for sale.
You must protect your rights if the police accuse you of possession for sale, they arrest you, or the prosecutors charge you. The sooner you enlist the help of a drug crimes lawyer, the better. It may be possible to avoid facing these serious charges in some situations if your attorney is aware of the case early enough.
West Covina Drug Crimes Lawyer Near Me (310) 928-9347
Charges for Drug Paraphernalia in West Covina
Drug paraphernalia includes all items one generally uses with controlled substances. You might be familiar with these common examples of drug paraphernalia:
- Crack pipes
- Cocaine spoons
- Needles (in some situations)
Note that some items many people associate with drug use are not considered drug paraphernalia. This is because they have other legitimate uses that do not indicate illegal drug use in every situation. You cannot face a drug paraphernalia charge for the possession of:
- Vaping Devices
- Scales
- Bongs
Generally, drug paraphernalia charges are not as serious as drug possession charges. However, they may occur alongside other drug-related charges. If a court convicts you of possession of drug paraphernalia charges, the penalties could include fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
In some cases, one possible outcome of a possession charge is to reduce it to a paraphernalia charge and negotiate a smaller fine and minimal jail time or probation. Your attorney will consider this option if the circumstances of your case may support it.
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West Covina’s Severe Drug Charges
Some individuals in West Covina may face drug trafficking charges based on the circumstances surrounding their arrest. This is an incredibly harsh charge. Drug trafficking may be a state or federal charge. You may need to go to federal court if drugs moved across state lines or law enforcement accuses you of moving them from Mexico or into Arizona or Nevada.
Drug trafficking charges prosecute individuals who move illicit substances to another area with the intent to sell them. You can face very high penalties if convicted of drug trafficking, including millions of dollars in fines and 40 years in prison for a first-time offense.
Many people think they have to move incredibly large amounts of drugs to be charged with drug trafficking. This is not always the case. For example, you can face drug trafficking charges if you have even a single gram of LSD or 5 grams of methamphetamine.
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How We Help Clients Get a Better Outcome in a West Covina Drug Crimes Case
Our team of lawyers understands how California drug laws work and how the courts handle them. We know the steps an individual can take to protect their rights and the approaches that are effective in getting a better outcome in these cases. We develop and implement strong defense strategies for our clients.
How we approach your case and the possible outcomes will depend greatly on the facts and the circumstances that led to your arrest. It may be possible to:
- Present evidence that stops authorities from filing charges
- Reducing the severity of the charge you face
- Negotiating a deal for a lesser charge or more lenient sentence
- Fighting false allegations in court
We understand how stressful it is to face drug crime allegations. We are here to help. You do not have to try to navigate the criminal justice process on your own.
Fight Against Drug Crime Charges in West Covina
Dealing with a drug crime charge on your own can lead to imprisonment and fines. You can get the help you need from a drug crimes lawyer in West Covina. Simmrin Law Group can help build your defense right away. Find out what we can do for you by taking advantage of our FREE consultation.
You can reach us by filling out our contact form or calling (310) 683-0334.
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