Have You Been Charged with a Drug Crime?

Whether you are charged with simple possession of a controlled substance, or large-scale trafficking, Hunter Legal Group is here to help. We represent clients all over California and we can help you fight your charges, protect your rights, and reach the best possible outcome for your case.

Since the passage of Proposition 47, felony drug charges are more easily reduced to misdemeanors. Give Hunter Legal Group a call today to see if you are eligible to have your charge reduced under Proposition 47.

Common Drug Charges

Health and Safety Code 11350 (HS 11350) – “Possession of a Controlled Substance”

Health and Safety Code 11350 (HS 11350) makes it a felony to possess illegal narcotics such as heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, crack, and even prescription drugs such as Vicodin that are not prescribed.

If convicted, you could face up to three years in California state prison and have a felony on your permanent record. Felonies can affect your job, housing, civil rights, and many other areas of your life. But depending on your prior record, you may be eligible for drug diversion or a Prop 36 resolution which could keep these charges off your permanent record.

Health and Safety Code 11351 (HS 11351) – “Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale”

HS 11351 makes it a felony to possess illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and LSD for the purpose of sale. It also applies to the possession for sale of common prescription drugs like codeine, Oxycontin, and Vicodin. This is a more serious crime than simple possession and therefore is not subject to drug diversion or Prop 36.

When charging a person with HS 11351, the prosecutors will generally look at:

1. The amount of drugs seized,
2. Possession of packaging equipment (such as baggies, bindles, or scales)
3. Possession of cash which could indicate a recent drug sale, or
4. Possession of cell phones with incriminating messages.

If you are convicted of this crime, you could face up to four years in California state prison. However, the facts surrounding every case are different and often a person is wrongfully accused of possessing drugs for the purpose of sale when they actually only possessed drugs for personal use. As with every case, Hunter Legal Group will comb through the entire case from beginning to end to see whether there are problems in the case such as search warrant issues, wrongful charges, unlawful police interference, and many other issues.

Health and Safety Code 11352 (HS 11352) – Sale or Transportation of a Controlled Substance

HS 11352 makes it a felony to sell, furnish, administer, give away, or offer to transport or import an illegal narcotic into California. If you are convicted of this crime, you could face up to five years in California state prison. Often, these cases involve an officer who claims he or she witnessed a person selling drugs, when that person was actually only purchasing drugs for person use. In these cases, a person can be wrongfully charged with a much more serious crime.

Health and Safety Code 11364 (HS 11364) – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

HS 11364 makes it a misdemeanor to “possess an opium pipe or any device, contrivance, instrument, or paraphernalia used for unlawfully injecting or smoking a controlled substance.”  Most commonly these are pipes, bongs, cocaine spoons, or hypodermic needles. If you are convicted of this crime, you could spend up to six months in jail. However, certain cases do qualify for a Prop 36 or PC 1000 resolution depending on your record.

As with all drug cases, officers often violate a person’s fourth amendment rights by searching a person without a valid warrant or without probable cause. We will be able to look at your case and, if appropriate, file a motion to suppress the evidence and possibly get the case dismissed.

Health and Safety Code 11377 (HS 11377) – Possession of Methamphetamine

HS 11377 makes it a crime to possess methamphetamine. Prosecutors can decide to file the case as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the person’s record and the amount of meth seized.

If you are convicted of a felony charge of HS 11377 you may face up to 3 years in California state prison. A misdemeanor conviction means you could spend up to a year in jail. However, many cases involving HS 11377 are eligible for a Prop 36 or PC 1000 disposition.

Health and Safety Code 11379.6 (HS 11379.6) – Manufacturing Drugs and Narcotics

HS 11379.6 makes it a felony for an individual to manufacture, compound, convert, produce, derive, process, or prepare any controlled substance. Usually, prosecutors charge this crime when someone is suspected of operating a meth lab or manufacturing drugs in some other way. In order to be convicted of this crime, a person must have actually begun manufacturing controlled substances. If a person has simply gathered materials to manufacture a controlled substance, they cannot be convicted of this crime.

HS 11379.6 carries one of the harsher penalties for drug offenses in California. If you are convicted of HS 11379.6, you could face up to seven years in California state prison.

We handle cases all over Southern California. If you or a loved one is facing a drug charge, contact Hunter Legal Group today at (424) 388-0169 or by filling out the form below.