California Drug Crime Defense Lawyers

The LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE WOLF have been helping individuals charged with crimes for over 30 years. Mr. Wolf has both prosecuted and defended thousands of adults and juveniles charged with every type of felony and misdemeanor crime. Lawrence Wolf has been a pioneer in developing all forms of alternative sentencing such as house arrest and diversionary programs. He has established relationships with Judges and District Attorneys throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties.

The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf has a long history of successfully handling the defense of clients charged with ALL types of drug charges under the Controlled Substance Act. The Controlled Substance Act is a consolidation of laws that regulate the possession, manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances or illegal drugs.

The Act breaks down narcotics into 5 different categories or "schedules", the most serious being "Schedule 1" offenses.

Some examples of "Schedule 1" narcotics are:

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Methamphetamine
• Ecstasy
• PCP
• LSD

Penalties for schedule 1 narcotics offenses are severe. Depending on the amount of narcotic seized, a first offense conviction could mean a prison term of up to 20 years plus fines; and, if you have been convicted of 2 previous offenses, you could be facing life in prison.

Marijuana laws vary slightly from the above and are generally based on the amount of marijuana or hashish seized. However the penalties for marijuana and hashish can be equally as severe, depending upon the quantity.

For a concise list of controlled substances and related penalties, please refer to http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm.

If you have been charged with an offense under the Controlled Substance Act, do not attempt to face the court system without representation from a Los Angeles drug offense attorney who has experience in successfully defending clients charged with drug crimes.

Your California narcotics offense attorney may be able to reduce the penalties or even have the case dismissed by doing the following:

1. Have the evidence against you thrown out of court. If you were searched and evidence was collected against you, it must have been done according to the law. If the method by which law enforcement personnel carried out the search of your property was illegal, the evidence against you cannot be used in court.
2. If this is your first offense and there was no violence involved, you could be eligible for alternative sentencing such as diversion program, special drug court or in California, proposition 36.

A diversion program means that, if you plead guilty...and...if you submit to random drug testing for a specified period of time...and if you test "clean"; your case will be dismissed.

Drug court is an alternative for drug-addicted offenders. The court will use a combination of steps geared to rehabilitating you. Each phase must be successfully completed before you will be eligible to enter the next phase. If you successfully complete all phases of rehabilitation, the charges will be dismissed.

California Proposition 36, offers an alternative to incarceration for non-violent first time offenders. You will be placed on probation and sentenced to a drug rehabilitation facility for a year and follow-up care for an additional period of 6 months.

Controlled substance crimes are very serious charges and carry life changing consequences. If you or someone you know has been arrested, or is being investigated for a drug crime, you need advice from an experienced California drug offense lawyer. Protect your rights and your freedom...

Click Here to Visit Our Drug Crimes Site