Orange County Huntington Beach Drug Crime Lawyer Lawyer Fighting For Your Freedom
Make The Right Call 714-879-5770If you’re facing criminal charges in Orange County complete the form to speak with Attorney Goodman
California's drug laws are fairly strict, and the charges associated with them can be severe. Unfortunately, many people facing drug offenses falsely believe that they have no options when it comes to criminal defense. In reality, the opposite is true. An arrest or an accusation does not mean that you are guilty, but it does mean that you need to fight for your rights.
Criminal law is complicated, and your case requires the right criminal defense attorney. Without the help of one of our criminal defense lawyers, you could face incarceration, fines, probation, and more. No matter what your situation may involve, we can help you maintain your innocence and fight for your freedom.
If you are looking for a criminal defense attorney in the Huntington Beach, CA area, no firm is better equipped to represent you than our team at The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman. Our firm has over 20 years of experience and is nationally recognized. We have been fighting drug crime cases for longer than many firms have been in business, giving us an advantage over many of your other options in the Huntington Beach area.
Whether you are facing large-scale drug trafficking charges or a small marijuana possession charge, we can help you maintain your innocence in court. We are here to tell your side of the story and ensure that the law does not take advantage of you. No matter what situation you are in, you deserve high-quality criminal defense representation, and we are here to provide that for you.
There are hundreds of different kinds of drug offenses, so it can be difficult to understand what you are facing if you are charged with one. Fortunately, most drug offenses fall under a few main categories that make things easier to understand.
The most common type of drug offense is drug possession. In these situations, an individual can be arrested because they have any amount of an illegal drug in their possession. This can be in their pocket, in their bag or backpack, in their vehicle, etc. The person does not need to have the drug on their person to be charged with possession, as long as the drug is among their things. For example, if the police find that you have a small bag of cocaine in your purse, they can arrest and charge you with drug possession.
The second type of drug offense is trafficking or delivery. In these cases, the individual is arrested for bringing the drugs from one place to another. Law enforcement usually determines trafficking based on the amount of drugs that the person has. A large amount of a substance indicates that the individual plans to distribute it to others rather than use it all themselves. It is important to note that a person can be charged with trafficking or delivery whether they actually executed the delivery or not. Intent to deliver is sufficient to receive a trafficking charge.
Finally, drug manufacturing is perhaps the most serious category of drug offense. In these cases, the individual is making, growing, or creating a drug without proper licensing. For many drugs, any type of manufacturing is illegal. However, for drugs like marijuana, there are legal limits to how much an individual can cultivate without proper permits and equipment. Growing more than the legal amount of marijuana can lead to serious drug manufacturing charges.
No matter what type of charge you are facing, you need a qualified attorney to help you. Drug charges can have lasting effects on you and your family, and it is important to do everything you can to maintain your innocence.
A: In California, misdemeanors stay on your record for life. There is no expiration date or automatic erasure date for these crimes. The only way that you can have a misdemeanor removed from your record is if you petition to have it expunged and the court accepts it. However, drug-related crimes are very serious in the eyes of the law, and expungement is not as easy as it might be for other offenses. You will need an attorney to help you.
A: Yes, it is possible to have a drug felony expunged in California. However, felony expungement is a long and complicated process. You can only have a felony expunged after it has first been reduced to a misdemeanor. If your felony offense was a “wobbler” charge, or a crime that is sometimes charged as a felony and sometimes charged as a misdemeanor, the court will often comply with your request. In all situations, you need an attorney to help.
A: If you have a felony charge, you will need to have it reduced to a misdemeanor before it can be expunged. If you have a misdemeanor charge on your record, you can hire an attorney to begin the process. Every process is different, so it is crucial to have an attorney help you with your case. In some cases, expungement may not be possible, or there may be a waiting period to start the process.
A: For misdemeanor drug offenses, the police usually have one year to file the charges. The police have three years to file felony drug charges. If the waiting period has elapsed before the prosecution begins the process of charging you, the case must be dropped. After that, you do not have to face the legal process.
If you are facing drug charges, there is no time to waste. It is important to secure legal representation early to ensure that your lawyer can build a strong and complete argument in your favor. In these instances, there is a lot on the line, so it is best to hire an attorney at the first sign of trouble.
For more information about how we can help you navigate your California drug charges, contact The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman online today.