Santa Barbara Drug Crime Attorneys

Types of Drug Cases We Handle

No matter how serious the charges against you may be, a Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney from our firm will be able to stand up for your rights and fight to minimize any negative consequences of a guilty conviction.

Our legal team is prepared to handle the full range of drug crime charges, including:

• Possession
• Sales & Intent to Sell
• Distribution & Transportation
• Manufacturing

What Are the Consequences if Convicted of a Drug Crime in Santa Barbara?

When it comes to drug crimes, the severity of your punishment depends heavily on a number of different factors, including:

• The nature of your charge
• The type and amount of controlled substance involved
• Your criminal record

Where the crime took place can also have an impact on sentencing. For example, if you were charged with the sale or distribution of a controlled substance, crossing state lines would have a profound impact on how you are sentenced.

Our team of legal professionals has the kind of in-depth knowledge that only 50 years of combined practice can bring. We make it a point to guide our clients through each step of the legal process, and to explore all of their available options – including alternative sentencing and diversion programs that can protect one’s freedom and keep their criminal records clean.

The Seriousness of Drug Distribution Charges

In the state of California, drug distribution charges broadly cover the sale or transportation of controlled substances and illegal drugs. Depending on the circumstances of your offense, distribution is a federal crime and a felony offense that carries with it very serious consequences that can have a decidedly negative impact on your life. Factors such as the amount and type of drugs connected to your offense, and other circumstances such as the existence of a previous felony conviction, the employment of a minor, and the location of your distribution operation all have a strong bearing on the potential penalties you may receive.

A drug distribution conviction will usually result in a felony conviction and three to five years behind bars. If you crossed state or multiple county lines during the transport or distribution of the drugs in question, you could face an increased sentence. Involving, hiring, or employing a minor to assist in the sale, transportation, or transfer of illegal drugs will also result in an enhanced sentence that could put you behind bars for up to nine years. If your crime took place within 1,000 feet of any school or playground, your sentence will be increased as well.

Fighting Possession Charges in California

While federal drug laws can be overly strict and unforgiving, California offers a number of drug-related programs aimed at rehabilitating offenders instead of punishing them. Should conviction seem unavoidable, it may be in your best interest to pursue one of the following:

• Under Proposition 36, an individual is required to complete a one-year drug treatment program. An expert from the Department of Health will evaluate your case and condition to determine your level of treatment.
• In a one-year drug court program, individuals will be placed on a 12-step program, participate in counseling sessions, undergo random drug tests, and face periodic judicial reviews.
• A deferred entry of judgment is a diversion program in which you plead guilty to your possession charge, then undergo 6 months of treatment. If you can remain arrest-free for an additional 12 months after completing treatment, your charges will be dropped.

If you stand accused of a drug crime, contact Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP for a FREE consultation.