Drug Crimes Attorney in Murrieta

Your Next Steps After a Murrieta Drug Arrest

If you or someone close to you has been arrested in Murrieta for a drug crime, your freedom, reputation, and future may feel uncertain. As a drug attorney in Murrieta, I understand how quickly life can change after an arrest. These moments call for clear guidance and experienced legal support.

Facing charges for drug possession, sales, or related offenses can be overwhelming, especially with so much at stake in Riverside County courts. You need immediate, practical information and someone in your corner who understands both your concerns and how drug charges are prosecuted locally. 

With over twenty years dedicated to criminal defense in Murrieta and throughout Riverside County, I am here to guide you through this process with clarity and purpose. I am recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and my years of proven results in Murrieta courtrooms set me apart.

Secure a skilled Murrieta drug crime lawyer who offers free initial consultations and payment plans. Call us at (951) 221-4331 or reach out online today.

Understanding Drug Crimes Laws in California

California's drug offenses are primarily outlined in the Health and Safety Code (HSC). The law meticulously distinguishes between various types of drug crimes, with penalties escalating drastically based on the accused's intent (personal use vs. sale) and the type of drug involved (Schedule I, II, etc.).

Our firm defends clients against the full spectrum of drug offenses, categorized by severity:

• Simple Possession (HSC 11350, 11377): Possessing a controlled substance (such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine) for personal use.
• Possession for Sale (HSC 11351): Possessing an illegal substance with the intent to sell it. This is a straight felony, regardless of the quantity (though quantity is strong circumstantial evidence).
• Transportation and Sales (HSC 11352): Selling, furnishing, administering, or transporting certain controlled substances. This is the most severe common offense and is always charged as a felony.

Our comprehensive defense for a client facing a felony charge focuses on challenging the "intent to sell" and the legality of the police's intervention, which is crucial for any effective drug crime attorney in Murrieta.

Penalties and Collateral Consequences of Drug Crime Convictions in Murrieta

The penalties for drug crimes in California range from diversion programs to long-term state prison sentences, depending heavily on the specific charge.

Direct Criminal Penalties (Felony)

• Possession for Sale (HS 11351): Up to four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000.
• Sales/Transportation (HS 11352): Three, four, or five years in state prison.
• Sentencing Enhancements: For offenses involving large quantities (e.g., over one kilogram), consecutive years may be added to the sentence, and fines can reach up to $8 million.
• Diversion Ineligibility: A key factor for any Murrieta drug crime is that felony charges related to sales, transportation, or manufacturing are not eligible for California's standard drug diversion programs (like PC 1000 or Prop 36), making actual incarceration a serious threat.

Collateral Consequences

A drug felony conviction creates lifelong hurdles:

• Loss of Firearm Rights: Felony convictions result in a permanent ban on owning or possessing a firearm.
• Immigration Consequences: Drug convictions, even some misdemeanors, are often considered deportable offenses or crimes of moral turpitude, leading to permanent immigration issues for non-citizens.
• Professional Licenses: Convictions can lead to the revocation of professional licenses in fields like medicine, nursing, or finance.
• Record: Unlike simple possession (misdemeanor), felony drug charges are difficult, if not impossible, to expunge or seal, leaving a permanent criminal record.

The California Defense Process for Drug Crimes

Successfully defending a drug crime case in the Murrieta court is a technical battle that often hinges on constitutional law. Our firm’s strategic defense plan focuses on immediate intervention and meticulous evidence review.

• Challenging the Search and Seizure (Fourth Amendment): The first and most critical defense step. If police found drugs during an unlawful traffic stop, a warrantless vehicle search, or a search of a home without proper consent or a warrant, we file a motion to suppress that evidence (Penal Code 1538.5). If the evidence is suppressed, the prosecution’s case may fail entirely.
• Challenging "Intent to Sell": For felony charges, we introduce evidence to challenge the circumstantial proof of intent. This includes:
  • Arguing that large amounts were for personal use due to tolerance or batch purchasing.
  • Providing legitimate explanations for cash, scales, or packaging materials.
  • Seeking expert testimony from forensic toxicologists to support a personal use defense.
• Negotiation for Misdemeanor and Diversion: We use the weaknesses we find in the State's case—especially Fourth Amendment violations—to negotiate a reduction of the charge from a felony (like HS 11351) to a misdemeanor possession (HS 11350), which often restores eligibility for diversion or drug treatment court, bypassing jail time and a criminal conviction.

Our commitment to being ranked Top 100 trial lawyers means we prepare every case for the high-stakes environment of a Murrieta jury trial.

Our Comprehensive Approach to Drug Crime Defense

When you choose The Law Office of David E. Grande as your drug crime attorney in Murrieta, you are selecting a firm dedicated to achieving results through aggressive, detail-oriented advocacy.

Our defense strategies are highly tailored:

• The Lack of Knowledge Defense: We argue that the defendant did not know the drugs were present (e.g., they were a passenger in a vehicle or lived in a shared residence) or did not know the substance was an illegal controlled substance.
• Challenging Confidential Informants (CIs): Many sales cases rely on CIs. We meticulously investigate the CI’s credibility, history, and arrangement with the police to expose unreliable testimony.
• Mistaken Identity/Joint Possession: When drugs are found in a shared area, we argue that the prosecution cannot meet the burden of proof to single out our client among multiple occupants.
• Alternative Sentencing Advocacy: We guide clients toward evidence of addiction treatment and rehabilitation efforts, arguing for Prop 36 treatment or Drug Court placement instead of state prison, highlighting that we have payment plans available to facilitate access to this level of defense.