Articles Posted in Drug Crime

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Los Angeles authorities have arrested 10 people who they believe are part of a major drug smuggling ring. According to a KTLA News report, officials believe the drug ring transported 200 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to Southern California on a monthly basis. It is alleged that the drugs were moved in fake car batteries driven in vehicles crossing the border. Over an eight-month period, law enforcement officials have seized more than $5 million worth of drugs. Also, 31 defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.

Drug charges in Orange and Los Angeles Counties can be extremely serious and involve severe penalties. There are many aspects of a case that determine the harshness of the penalties for drug offenses. For instance, possession with intent to sell presents far more serious legal consequences than possession of a controlled substance for personal use only. The amount of drugs found can also affect the nature and severity of the drug charges.

In such drug crime cases, defendants need quality legal representation from a skilled drug charges lawyer with thorough knowledge of California and federal laws, including “search and seizure.” For example, it is important to look into whether the police discovered the drugs under an illegal search and seizure operation. If it is determined that the defendant’s Constitutional rights were violated, then the case can get thrown out. In a serious drug crime case where the stakes are high, it is important to have experienced Los Angeles drug crime defense attorneys checking every detail of your case.
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Three people were arrested after Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials seized more than 300 marijuana plants at a home in Lancaster. According to a CBS News report, deputies found two bedrooms and a large room in Lancaster that were all converted to a marijuana growing facility. The grow areas had sophisticated lighting and automatic irrigation. A 23-year-old man was arrested inside the home and two others were arrested in the backyard of a home nearby. All three men were arrested for marijuana possession related charges under the California Health and Safety Code.

In California, marijuana possession and use of most drugs, even if it is for personal use, is a felony. Misdemeanor drug offenses include possession of marijuana, being under the influence of a drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia such as bongs, pipes or needles. It is also a felony to possess or buy illegal drugs with the intent of selling them. Evidence for intent to sell can include items such as weighing scales, large amounts of cash or cutting agents. In any drug case, it is important to look into whether the search and seizure was conducted properly by the police. Were the defendant’s constitutional rights violated? If that was the case, the court may dismiss the drug or marijuana possession charges.
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Drug crimes are not only a huge problem in California, but are also a major issue of concern throughout the nation. According to recent FBI reports, drugs and drug-related offenses account for about one-third of all arrests. California has led the nation when it comes to arrests for possession and sale of controlled substances and narcotics. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s statistics for 2009, 28 percent of all incarcerated inmates are there primarily for a drug offense. Last year alone, 10,310 inmates were enrolled in prison drug treatment programs.

A recent news report in The Acorn states that law enforcement officials are also aggressively pursuing drug offenders by joining forces to conduct raids – even outside of their jurisdictions. When it comes to drug crimes, it seems as if there are no boundaries. The article gives the example of a drug case in November when two Simi Valley teens were arrested on suspicion of dealing heroin in East Ventura County. Also, in September, a Simi woman was arrested for operating a cocaine delivery service, which covered Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley.
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Brawley King Nolte, the son of actor Nick Nolte, was arrested for driving under the influence in Santa Monica, California, according to a recent news report. The 23-year-old Nolte was stopped and arrested by Santa Monica police officers after he reportedly tried to change lanes and collided with another car. He was taken into custody after allegedly failing field sobriety tests and showing signs of intoxication and was booked for DUI and possession of a controlled substance.

Both driving under the influence and possession of illegal drugs are serious crimes in California. California law prohibits drivers from operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.”

A common mistake that many DUI arrestees make when they are arrested is that they plead guilty. Many do not know that they may not be “guilty” just because they take a breath or blood test and have an elevated blood alcohol level. Also, even though a person is arrested for drug possession, it does not mean they will be found guilty either.
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Three men in Orange County have been charged with various drug crimes after police officers in Placentia found hallucinogens and other drugs following a stakeout in a local neighborhood. According to a news report, police reportedly found cocaine, marijuana, heroin, illegal prescription pills, ecstasy pills as well as psilocybin; the active component in illegal hallucinogenic mushrooms. Police said they organized the stakeout after anonymous citizen informants told them about illegal drug activity in the area.

Drug charges are extremely serious in Orange County and Los Angeles County and come with severe consequences including jail or prison time. The drug charges are usually based on quantity, whether the drugs were possessed for personal use or possession for sale, intent to sell or distribute; and other factors such as evidence of weapons possession or use, drug transportation or sales, large amounts of cash and so on. The seriousness of drug charges normally depend on the quantity of drugs possessed, the classification under the drug schedule, and the purpose of the possession – whether it was for personal use or for sale.
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Six people, who allegedly work for a Mexican drug cartel, were arrested in Imperial County after undercover agents arranged to sell them 160 pounds of cocaine, according to a CBS News report. The arrests apparently involved a Mexican drug cartel believed to transport large amounts of cocaine through border crossings in Calexico. The suspects reportedly agreed to pay $1.1 million for the drugs the undercover agents promised to sell them. Each of the six defendants faces 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges that include possession and transportation of cocaine.

All drug crimes are serious. But the type of charges you could face depends on the nature and seriousness of the crime. In drug cases, some of the factors that could come into play include the type of drugs, the quantity of drugs and the reason for possession. If you possess a small amount of drugs for recreational use, the charges you face may not be as serious as if you possess large quantities of drugs meant for sale or transportation across state or international borders. Cases involving large-scale transportation of drugs or cases involving drug cartels are handled by federal authorities and federal courts.
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An Orange County man has been arrested after police in Irvine found more than 200 ecstasy tablets and 2.5 gallons of GHB ( a common “club drug’) in his vehicle. According to a news report, police found the 38-year-old man parked near an Irvine intersection. A vehicle search resulted in the drugs being found. Police later performed a search of the man’s home and found more GHB and illegal steroids, the news report said. According to the article, the man was arrested for possessing a controlled substance for sale. This is most likely due to the large quantities of the drugs, which is an indication of possession for sales activity.

A drug offense in California refers to the possession, use, sale or furnishing of any drug or intoxicating substance or drug paraphernalia that is prohibited by law. Most drug offenses in California are now felonies. Possession of drugs for transportation or sale is a serious felony under California law. Currently, there are also more than 100 different types of anabolic steroids that have been developed, and each requires a prescription to be used legally in the United States. Illegal possession of anabolic steroids is also a crime.
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Drug crimes, especially those involving marijuana or concentrated cannabis, can be extremely complex and controversial because the laws involving these drugs are convoluted and difficult to understand. The San Bernardino Sun recently reported that the vice principal of a school in San Bernardino, who was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana for sale, told police that she was using the drug for medicinal purposes. Officials arrested the woman after finding 12 ounces of low-grade marijuana and 2.8 grams of a high grade variety in her SUV. The woman told officials that she started using medical marijuana two years ago for a bad knee. According to the news report, this woman did not have a doctor authorization document at the time of her arrest.

The California Compassionate Use Act of 1996 or Proposition 215 legalized the possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use with a doctor’s recommendation. Police cannot arrest or charge a person who has a doctor’s prescription. Often referred to as a “Medical Marijuana Card” for marijuana use. Still, we often see law enforcement agencies continue to arrest individuals who possess even small amounts of marijuana for medical use. When it comes to medical marijuana, the law is complex and can seem unclear because although Prop 215 allows medical marijuana in California, yet the drug is still illegal under federal law.
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As a California Criminal Defense Law Firm, Sitkoff Law Group, Inc. is happy to share their new drug crime website as an important resource for those interested in learning more about laws surrounding drug offenses and the consequences of such crimes. The new website, www.californiadrugcrimedefenselawyer.com/, supplies a wide-range of information regarding misdemeanor drug charges, felony drug charges, drug manufacturing, drug possession, drug distribution, and many other elements of drug offenses.

In accordance with efforts to lower crime, laws pertaining to drug crimes are subject to change, in which the public should be kept up-to-date on such developments that could potentially directly affect them. The lawyers at Sitkoff Law Group, Inc. are pleased to have their drug crime website available as a means of helping educate the public on new and existing critical laws surrounding drug offenses. Drug charge penalties can be quite severe and mostly depend on the amount of drugs a person is accused of possessing, in addition to the kind of drug or drugs in question. Whether or not a person facing drug charges has a previous criminal record will also influence the charges held against them.

The experienced California drug crime defense attorneys at Sitkoff Law Group, Inc. have devoted many years to ensuring that those accused of a drug offense are aware of their rights and receive quality legal representation. For more information regarding drug crime general facts, legal resources, or more, visit www.californiadrugcrimedefenselawyer.com/. The California drug crime defense lawyers at Sitkoff Law Group, Inc. can be reached at 866-430-8383.

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There is an interesting news article about drug court in the Desert Dispatch. The article talks about a San Bernardino County court program which makes healthy living and employment mandatory for program participants who are recovering from drug addiction. This particular drug court program encourages healthy activities such as sports for recovering addicts through mandatory monthly activities. In order to be part of the program, participants must go to mandatory court hearings, pass drug tests, participate in drug treatment and work toward getting a job. In Barstow alone, there are 62 individuals participating in the drug court program.

Drug courts all over Southern California are becoming an extremely popular alternative to jail for those convicted of relatively minor drug crimes, such as possession of drugs and being under the influence of drugs. A study in 2005 in Barstow, California showed that recidivism rates were remarkably lower for those who participated in a drug court.

The study found fewer drug court graduates were rearrested. The statistics for those rearrested after completing the program were 17 percent of drug court grads and 29 percent of drug court participants. This study used information from a number of California counties including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and other counties.
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