San Fernando Drug Crimes Attorney

Possession Charges

Drug possession charges carry a wide range of penalties, when convicted. The severity of the crime and the punishment given will depend upon many factors: the drug itself, the amount of the drug found in your possession, whether there was intent to sell or distribute and your prior record. One might think if you are found in possession of illegal drugs that you will automatically be convicted of the crime. This is most definitely not the case. With a competent San Fernando criminal defense lawyer at your side, you will greatly improve your chances of a more positive outcome. The justice system can be a confusing and intimidating place. If you or someone you care about has been charged with drug possession, don't hesitate to call us at Lessem & Newstat.

Possession of Illegal Drugs Defense in San Fernando

There are many things that can be done to mount a defense in a drug possession case. It starts with research, reviewing the evidence and getting your side of the story. The U.S. Constitution protects every citizen from unlawful search and seizure. Police or drug enforcement cannot just barge into your home, place of work or car and start searching for illegal drugs. One of the first things to investigate is the procedures followed by law enforcement and to make sure that your constitutional rights were not violated.

If drugs are found, there has to be proof that those drugs belonged to you and that you knew they were there. A skilled defense attorney will press this point home against the prosecution.

The original drugs found at a scene can be lost. They get moved around from place to place and by the time you go to trial, if the original evidence cannot be produced, there is virtually no case. A skilled attorney will make sure the evidence actually exists and take aggressive action when it doesn't.

Additionally, if you have been charged with a drup possession offense there is a very good chance that you qualify for a court program such as deferred entry of judgement or Proposition 36. If you do qualify for one of these programs, not only can you avoid jail time, but successful completion means the dismissal of the criminal charges against you. At Lessem & Newstat, we have had hundreds of cases dismissed through programs such as these.

There are many factors to building a strong defense. With over 50 years of combined experience in representing individuals charged with drug crimes, you can experience some relief when you have our firm on your side. We serve San Fernando and the surrounding areas of Burbank,Glendale,Sherman Oaks,Hidden Hills,San Fernando Valley,Van Nuys,Westlake,Sylmar and Pasadena.

Contact a San Fernando criminal defense lawyer of you have been charged with drug possession.