Drug Charges Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA. There are a wide variety of drug laws you can be charged with breaking in Redondo Beach, CA. Possession of a controlled substance is bad enough, but it's even worse if you're charged with dealing or distributing drugs. These laws regulate substances from prescription medications to fentanyl. If found guilty, you can face life-altering consequences.
Stop these charges before it becomes a worst-case scenario. You need Redondo Beach, CA's leading criminal defense legal team on your side. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Redondo Beach drug charges lawyers will be by your side from day one. We will research the statute in detail, identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and represent you all the way through trial. To begin fighting the charges, contact our law offices at (800) 755-5174 or set up a free, confidential consultation right away.
Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
On this page, you can learn about the importance of having a drug defense lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, different types of charges you might face, the key factors you want your defense team to have, strategies we may use in your case, and diversionary programs we can help you explore.
To focus on a specific topic, click on the appropriate link below to navigate to a specific topic and learn more:
- Top Reasons to Work With a Drug Crimes Defense Attorney in Redondo Beach, CA
- Popular Drug Types and Their Penalties
- Different Types of Drug Charges in Redondo Beach, CA
- DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Redondo Beach, CA
- Top Drug Defense Attorney Qualities
- Possible Defenses That We Use in Drug Cases
- Avenues to Divert Your Drug Charges
- Immigration Consequences of a Drug Conviction
- Drug Charge FAQs
- Need a Drug Charges Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA? Call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley Today
- All the Drug Charges Our Firm Will Fight Against
The Importance of a Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer
Drug charges in Redondo Beach, CA, always need to be taken seriously. Two people who committed similar acts can face very different charges, meaning you're risking felony consequences.
The first reason you should contact a drug charges lawyer as soon as possible is to help you interpret the law. A simple possession case shouldn't be treated the same as a possession-for-sale case, and your drug defense attorney should understand how to fight against whatever you've been accused of.
The second reason to call a local Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer as soon as you've been accused is to lower your chances of doing something you shouldn't. After a police interview without proper legal representation, the charges could be elevated and the state's case strengthened. A drug charges attorney can advise what to share and what not to share with the state.
Lastly, your drug charges lawyer will leverage local court relationships to explore different defense avenues. Acting fast prevents the state from getting a lead on you, and we can even move to dismiss charges if the evidence is in your favor.
Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Types and Their Penalties:
When you work with a Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer, you want someone who has experience with the type of drug you're facing allegation for. In the following section, we've listed what types of drugs we most frequently defend charges for in Redondo Beach, CA.
| Drug Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription Drugs | Charges often revolve around having a technically legal drug without permission, or selling it to someone you aren't supposed to. |
| Ecstacy | A man-made psychoactive drug. This affects the brain's ability to process serotonin. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive drug that can be either a powdered form or a solid rock (Crack) Its use can harm the brain, as well as several other organs. |
| Methamphetamine | A man-made drug that temporarily boosts energy, while harming the body. |
| Opioids | A category of addictive painkillers. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | A very addictive substance, and one of the most dangerous opioids. Courts and prosecutors often treat heroin charges harshly. |
| Fentanyl | An extremely dangerous type of opioid — roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the DEA. |
Potential legal consequences vary significantly by the type of drug, quantity, any prior convictions, and the type of charge. For some typical accusations:
- Most of the time, if you're only accused of possession and not distributing a drug, the charge will only be a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Different prosecutors may treat some substances in a harsher manner, though.
- Possession for sale, sale, transport, or manufacturing are typically charged as felonies, and the sentence can change based on the specific drug and amount involved.
- Fentanyl is treated extra seriously: Proposition 36 (2024) created a list of drugs, including fentanyl, which can trigger felony enhancement if possessed along with a loaded firearm.
- Federal charges carry their own, generally harsher, sentencing structure.
Every case is unique, and it can be hard to find answers on your own — call us for a free case review and we'll help you get an idea of what you're up against.
Marijuana in Redondo Beach, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a plant which contains THC, a chemical compound with psychoactive properties. Smoking marijuana used to be illegal in California, but in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, letting people use it recreationally.
Since California no longer criminalizes using it, marijuana (AKA cannabis) allegations in Redondo Beach, CA, frequently have more to do with how it was used, rather than just that it was used. For example, it's legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational use, but growing a seventh is a crime.
Marijuana Legal Overview:
- Adults over the age of 21 can carry 28.5 grams of marijuana on their person
- Typically, it is legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational purposes
- Still illegal to use or possess under federal law.
How Your Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Can Help: If you're up against marijuana-related charges, we are ready for your case. For example, we can show the legality of your ownership, show that you did not violate any regulations, and/or make the case that no laws were violated in the handling of the plant.
Drug Charge Categories in Redondo Beach, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends a wide variety of drug charges in Redondo Beach, CA. We are prepared to fight against accusations including possession, sale, and special enhancements. Read the sections below to learn more about the different categories of charges and how our criminal defense attorneys can help.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
The most common drug charges in Redondo Beach, CA, are often those related to possession. All illegal chemicals can fall under this umbrella, and these charges can apply in any circumstance where you allegedly owned the illegal drugs, even if you didn't have them physically with you at the time.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer can build defenses that cast doubt on whether or not the drugs were in your possession, and can be by your side every step of the way.
Relevant statutes: Simple possession of most hard drugs falls under Health and Safety Code 11350, while possession of methamphetamine is instead covered by HS 11377. Generally, these possession charges are handled as misdemeanors.
Drug Production/Transport/Distribution Charges
Accusations of drug production, transportation, and distribution take on the other side of a drug deal: The alleged seller.
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use
- Drug Trafficking
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Drug Possession for Sale
These charges are almost always treated more harshly than possession/use charges. On top of fighting the charges, your drug defense attorney can help you explore plea deals, if they make sense for your case.
Relevant statutes: HS 11351 covers standard drug dealing charges, formally known as "possession for sale." The exception is methamphetamine, which is covered by HS 11378. For these felony charges, each is punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000. Sale and transportation for sale charges are divided in a similar way: HS 11352 (most substances) vs. HS 11379 (methamphetamine). These charges carry longer exposure — up to nine years if the transportation crosses non-contiguous counties. With the help of an experienced Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer, you can fight for a plea deal that reduces these charges and opens up diversion opportunities.
Drug Charge Enhancements
California's drug charge enhancement laws may seem very different, but one thing connects them together: They don't exist on their own. Before you can be charged with an enhancement, there has to be another criminal accusation.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Redondo Beach, CA, drug crimes lawyer to defend you in these cases, so that they can fight both the base charge and the enhancement.
Federal Drug Charges
A federal drug charge could fall into any of the three categories above. The difference is that the federal government is prosecuting you instead of the state government.
These can include anything from trafficking to taking part in a drug conspiracy, but most often will involve large quantities and/or crossing state lines. If you're accused of this, you're up against truly severe penalties, up to and including life imprisonment and substantial fines.
It's hard to think of many charges worse to face than this. And you need a a leading criminal defense lawyer with the resources to match the United States government. Our firm will protect your rights, look for legal loopholes, dissect the case against you, and make every effort to secure a favorable outcome for your case.
The Intersection Between Drug Charges and DUIs in Redondo Beach, CA
There isn't one single law that completely covers DUIs involving illegal substances. Drug DUI defense cases can include a wide range of circumstances, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to prescription drug usage. Legal regulations often make these charges more serious than typical DUIs. For example, you can be taken into custody if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcohol).
When facing this type of charge, you need more than a drug charges lawyer. You also need a leading Redondo Beach, CA, DUI defense lawyer who fight on your behalf both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. Contact a lawyer right away — for most DUI cases, if you wait longer than ten days to request a hearing, you lose your chance.
Top Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Qualitites
If you're looking for a drug charges lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, it can be a challenge trying to decide which one to represent you. Your life may depend on it, after all.
Here are the top factors you want to see in your drug defense attorney:
- Prior Experience defending clients in your situation
- Intimate Knowledge of how the state builds its case against you
- Relationships at the courts in your jurisdiction
- A Track Record of Success against the state for these charges
- Availability Anytime so that you can get help when you need it most
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our firm fulfills all of these requirements. We have over five decades of combined legal experience, including working for the district attorney's office. We know judges and attorneys throughout California. And we have delivered positive results for our clients.
You can trust us to always be upfront with your case, and you can talk to us 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns.
Possible Defense Tactics Against Drug Charges
The statute you violated may not be unique, but your case is. The details are different for every criminal case in Redondo Beach, CA, and you should have a customized defense strategy to match.
We'll listen to your story and craft a powerful defense to fit. Below are some strong strategies your drug charges lawyer will consider:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: By getting evidence thrown out, the case against you can be weakened.
- Lack of Intent: In some cases, you can't be convicted if you broke the law on accident. For example, if police found illegal drugs in your car, but they weren't yours, and you weren't aware of them, you didn't transport them, legally speaking.
- Somone Else's Drugs: This defense can be used if there were, in fact, drugs present, but you had no control or ownership over them.
- Entrapment: In rare cases, if an undercover police officer coerced you into violating the law, you may be exempt from a conviction.
- Prescription: This isn't an option for every offense and type of drug, but some accusations can be alleviated if you were legally prescribed the substance.
- Plea Negotiations: In some cases, where it's not reasonable for the alleged offender to have the charges dropped entirely, a positive outcome can still be achieved through a plea deal.
If you're facing drug crime charges in Redondo Beach, CA, and need help, reach out to the Law Offices of David S. Chesley now.
Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Redondo Beach has diversion and treatment options available — be sure to ask your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer about whether or not they apply to your case. To qualify, defendants must fit certain criteria. Here are a couple of programs that might apply in your case:
PC 1000 Drug Diversion
California PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment is often a very helpful, positive outcome for individuals accused of simple possession. It generally involves drug education classes, sobriety requirements, and regular drug testing. The advantage of PC 1000 is that you don't end up with a conviction on your record — after completing the program, the case against you is dismissed. This helps you avoid many of a conviction's collateral consequences.
Proposition 36 (2024)
Proposition 36, which took effect in December 2024, changed California's approach to repeat drug offenses. It's important to understand that this is a different, newer law than the Proposition 36 passed in 2000, and it takes a different approach than a typical diversion program.
Under the current version, what was originally a misdemeanor charge can be instead charged as a "treatment-mandated felony." This is only an option if the accused person has two or more previous drug-related convictions on their record.
If you're facing this charge, you have a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, and the underlying drug charge case is dropped (the arrest record will remain, but is sealed); fail or refuse treatment, and you face the felony charge, with a prison sentence of up to three years. The law also increased potential penalties for large quantities of certain substances and updated firearm-related enhancement laws to include fentanyl on the list of relevant substances.
Your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer is here to help you understand the charges, advocate for that path where it's available, and fight to keep a conviction off your record.
Drug Convictions' Impact on Immigration Status
For immigrants in Redondo Beach, CA, a drug conviction can be far more damaging than the criminal penalty alone — you need a law firm who can help you fight the criminal charges and defend you in immigration court, if necessary.
Under federal immigration law, a conviction for almost any controlled substance offense can make a non-citizen deportable, with one narrow exception: a single offense involving possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana for personal use. This can affect lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as well as visa holders, and it applies even if you weren't given jail time on your conviction.
Important factors to be aware of:
- Simple possession for personal use (for the majority of drugs) is normally enough to qualify for removal, but is not automatically classified as an "aggravated felony" — meaning that you likely won't lose access to certain modes of immigration relief.
- Possession for sale, sale, or trafficking convictions are far more likely to be treated as aggravated felonies, which can trigger mandatory deportation with little to no opportunity for relief or future re-entry.
- How a charge is pleaded matters enormously. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense counsel is supposed to advise a client of these immigration consequences before a plea is entered. Our firm works hard to find outcomes — such as a plea deal for a different offense, or a disposition that avoids specific "aggravated felony" language — that defends your legal status in the country, as well as your criminal record.
Because a criminal record can bring immigration consequences regardless of the sentence, you need to get expert help as soon as you're aware of an investigation. If you are a lawful permanent resident or visa holder fighting a drug crime allegation, tell your attorney immediately — they should take immigration factors into account when working on your case.
Drug Charge Frequently Asked Questions
If I'm not found guilty, do drug charges appear on a background check?
Even if you're not convicted of the underlying charge, a background check can still show the arrest. Diversion programs such as PC 1000 or Proposition 36 can help. If you participate in one of these, you may be eligible to have the arrest sealed or the record cleared — ask your attorney what applies to your specific case.
Do I need to answer police questions if I have illegal drugs on me?
No. The Fifth Amendment gives you the right to remain silent during questioning. Be respectful to the police, but do not provide any information besides your identity, and ask for a lawyer immediately — if you say the wrong thing, you could end up facing harsher charges.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Redondo Beach, CA?
The answer depends on the specific charge and your sentence. Penal Code 1203.4 allows for expungement in many cases after completing probation, though eligibility depends on the specific charge and your record. This isn't as definitive of an answer in regards to immigration, though: The federal government will still be able to see the conviction, which is why green card and visa holders need immigration-aware counsel handling both the criminal case and any later cleanup.
What's the difference between PC 1000 and Proposition 36 diversion?
The main difference is in who can apply to each program: For PC 1000, first-time, low-level possession alleged offenders can get the charges dropped through a treatment and drug testing program. The 2024 version of Proposition 36 applies to repeat offenders facing a treatment-mandated felony and requires completing a court-supervised treatment program to avoid the felony consequences. Your eligibility is ultimately determined by the underlying charge and your existing record.
If I don't have a record, will my drug possession charge be a felony in Redondo Beach, CA?
For most first-time possession cases in Redondo Beach, CA, you'll only face a misdemeanor charge. Possession with intent to sell, manufacturing, or trafficking charges are generally felonies regardless of prior record.
Talk to a Drug Charges Defense Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, Today
This isn't a time to settle for "good enough." It's important to fight for a positive outcome, and it depends on working with the right lawyer. Our team is ready to stand by your side.
The Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are known for delivering positive outcomes for clients. We have relationships in courts across California. We explore every avenue to find the right path forward for our clients.
We also aid with the following legal services in Redondo Beach, CA:
- Domestic Violence Lawyer
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Get in touch with your Redondo Beach drug defense attorney now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to set up a free, confidential case evaluation.
Drug Charges Our Lawyers Fight in Redondo Beach, CA:
- Bringing Drugs into a Jail or Prison
- Cocaine
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Drug Crimes with Firearm Enhancements
- Drug Diversion Programs
- Drug-Free School Zone Violations
- Drug Possession for Sale
- Drug Trafficking
- Ecstasy
- Federal Drug Charges
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl-Specific Enhancements
- Hard Drug Possession
- Heroin
- Illegal Search and Seizure Defense in Drug Cases
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use (HS 11366)
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Marijuana
- Marijuana Charges
- Methamphetamine
- Opioids
- PC 1000 Drug Diversion
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Prescription Drugs
- Proposition 36
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance (HS 11350)
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