Possession of Drugs for Sale – California HSC Section 11351

You may be charged with possession to sell (also referred to as “possession with intent”) under California drug laws if you are caught in possession of a controlled substance and also have items such as scales, Baggies or chemicals consistent with processing drugs. When facing these serious charges that could result in jail time and significant fines, you should speak to an experienced and skilled Pasadena criminal lawyer who can help you through the criminal justice process.

California Drug Possession for Sale – Penalties

• Drug possession for sale is a felony in California. The prosecution does not have to prove you sold anything in order to convict you on this charge, only that you intended to. Your intent can be proven in several ways, including: the amount of drugs found, baggies or scales, conversations with undercover officers or informants, and unusual high volume traffic to and from your residence. The potential sentence for this offense can be quite harsh. The “base” sentence is 3-5 years in prison. This sentence can be increased for aggravating factors such as a past criminal record, selling to children, or being in possession on school grounds.
• Drug trafficking is another serious felony in the state of California. Trafficking includes transporting and the sale of controlled substances. You can also face trafficking charges if you helped someone else sell drugs or transport them. Depending on the specifics of your case you could be facing a potential base sentence of 6-9 years for this charge, not including any enhancements added on by the judge.

Pasadena Criminal Lawyer Discusses Possible Defenses

There are several things that a veteran Pasadena criminal attorney will consider when building your defense. One of the first things to look at is whether the police acted appropriately and did not violate any of your rights at the time of arrest and in the seizing the evidence.
If the drugs were seized improperly or a search was done without probable cause, a skilled Pasadena drug lawyer may be able to get the charges dropped altogether. The U.S. Constitution protects you against unreasonable searches and seizures and Daniel Cota, an accomplished and knowledgeable attorney, is here to ensure your rights are protected at all stages of the criminal justice system.

Get Help with Your Possession of Drugs for Sale Charge

As with most drug crime-related cases, the strength of a case against one charged with a possession of drugs for sale crime can vary greatly depending on whether the person’s rights were violated, or not. Unreasonable searches and seizures, improper collection of evidence, or improper interrogation techniques are all mistakes that an experienced Pasadena drug lawyer will be able to expose in court to the benefit of your case.

Pasadena criminal drug defense lawyer Daniel V. Cota has been putting his experience to work for years in cases such as these, and may be able to help you if you find yourself charged with a drug possession for sale crime. At Daniel V. Cota & Associates, P.C., Attorney Cota will build a personalized defense for the specific facts of your case. To schedule a free consultation with a dedicated and experienced Pasadena criminal lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Daniel V. Cota toll free at 800.351.6860.