San Bernardino Drug Crimes Defense Attorney
Defending the Rights of Those Accused of: Drug Possession, Possession with Intent, Manufacturing & Cultivation or Interstate Trafficking in the Inland Empire.
A drug charges defense attorney understands the California criminal laws that impose serious consequences on individuals convicted of drug charges, including the possession and sale of illegal street drugs or prescription narcotics. Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP, are drug possession & drug crimes lawyers in San Bernardino County who take your defense just as seriously. Our law firm has connections to experts and private investigators who can help our drug charges defense attorneys uncover evidence to support your defense.
Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP represents people cited or arrested for illegal drug possession, possession with intent to sell, or sale of drugs. We treat your case with the seriousness it deserves, whether you have been cited for marijuana possession or are under investigation for drug trafficking.
Will I Go to Jail if I Am Convicted of Drug Possession or Distribution?
Many drug crimes can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors. In California, a misdemeanor is any crime that is punishable by under a year in jail or less than a $2,000 fine. Felonies carry more serious consequences.
As your Redlands drug possession defense attorneys, part of our job is to negotiate with the district attorney’s office to allege a specific criminal charge that carries lower potential penalties. For example, sometimes a person is initially charged with felony drug possession. A skilled criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate the drug charges down to a misdemeanor before you even go to court. We negotiate drug possession or distribution charges based on the amount of product seized the criminal record of the defendant and other circumstances such as whether the arresting officers complied with constitutional search and seizure requirements.
Drug Diversion Programs and Alternative Sentencing
The possibility for alternative sentencing for drug crimes in California is one highest in the nation. Each case is unique based on your circumstances but your case may be referred to a drug court or drug diversion program, where rehabilitation maybe a alternative to jail. A first-time offender that was charged with simple drug possession could be eligible for a drug diversion program. Upon successful completion of the required drug rehab, community service, restitution and probation, the drug possession conviction has the possibility of being removed from your criminal record.
California and the federal government both have laws imposing penalties on people found with illegal drugs or found in possession of prescription drugs with no valid prescriptions. When you are charged with a drug offense, the penalties you face and the lifelong criminal record can derail your future – but they don’t have to. At Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP, our San Bernardino drug charges defense attorneys will do everything in our power to help you avoid conviction or avoid the harsh penalties that go along with a drug conviction.
There are a number of defenses that can be raised when you have been charged with a drug crime, and the sooner you contact a drug charges defense attorney, the better your chances of being able to get the charges dropped or win a not-guilty verdict. A San Bernardino drug charges defense attorney can also explain your options for diversion programs or plea bargains that may be right for you.
The Consequences of a Drug Charges Conviction
The consequences of a conviction for drug charges will vary depending upon the type of substance you had in your possession and the amount of the substance that you had at the time of your arrest. Charges can range from possession of drug paraphernalia or simple possession to drug trafficking, and penalties can range from a small fine and probation to life in prison.
For minor drug offenses, you will likely face a misdemeanor charge that carries a potential penalty of up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,000. For felony drug charges, on the other hand, the penalties are much more severe and the stakes are much higher.
In any situation, however, conviction can mean a criminal record that can impact your future.
A Redlands Drug Possession Defense Lawyer Can Help
While being arrested for a drug crime is unsettling, it is important to remember that an arrest doesn’t mean conviction. At Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP, our Redlands drug charges defense attorneys serve San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and will always begin by evaluating your case to identify possible defenses or ways to get the charges dropped. From a violation of your constitutional rights to a lack of sufficient proof of your guilt, there may be many ways to avoid conviction entirely and to walk away from the drug offense with no penalties or record.
We also explore all other options, giving you the information you need to help you understand your future and make the most informed decisions about how best to proceed with your case. Alternative sentencing, for example, is a viable option for many drug offenders due to California’s unique programs for first-time drug offenders. We can often help you avoid jail and avoid a criminal record by entering a diversion program or plea-bargaining down the charges.
To successfully defend yourself or to find alternatives to a drug conviction, however, you will need a legal advocate on your side.
Contact the San Bernardino & Redlands Drug Crime Lawyers at Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP
If you are facing drug charges, talking to an attorney is the best way to get the legal answers you need. To contact our team of Inland Empire drug possession defense attorneys at the law offices of Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP today.
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