STATE COURT - DRUG OFFENSES

Drug offenses can be charged in State or Federal courts.  Possession for personal use cases generally are filed by local prosecutors in State court.  Sales, transportation, manufacturing and conspiracy cases are felonies which may be filed in State or Federal court.

Possession for personal use cases involving marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, crack, or prescription drugs may lead to misdemeanor or felony charges.  In most cases, clients of KAPLAN MARINO, obtain dismissals of their personal use cases.  We specialize in finding alternatives to prosecution in order to avoid convictions, such as deferred entry programs.  The emergence of medical marijuana has created a plethora of potential defenses in marijuana cases.  Our attorneys are always up to the minute on all changes in the law.

In sales cases, or cases where our clients are alleged to have possessed large amounts of illegal substances, our highly skilled litigators use aggressive and innovative approaches to attack the prosecution’s case while thoroughly examining all law enforcement conduct.  We examine illegal search issues relating to detentions, vehicle stops, home searches and any other law enforcement contact.  Illegal conduct by law enforcement can lead to dismissal of charges, reduction of the charges, or significantly lighter sentences.

We have handled cases investigated by the FBI, DEA, Secret Service, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Torrance, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, San Fernando, Pasadena, Monrovia, Ventura, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and many other Police Departments throughout California and the United States.

Confidentiality and discretion are top priorities for the attorneys at KAPLAN MARINO. We know that any contact with the criminal justice system can have collateral consequences. Unlike some firms, we do not seek out the media or attention.  We provide each of our clients with a strategic style of aggressive and thorough representation.

Representative cases:

Our client was charged with multiple counts of possession for sale of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.  Officers arrived at his home after receiving a tip that drugs were being sold out of the location.  Our client was arrested when he arrived home in his car.  Officers searched his car and home, recovering large amounts of narcotics.  After our attorney filed a motion challenging the search of our client’s vehicle and home, the case was dismissed.

Our client was charged with possession for sale of cocaine.  Officers arrived at his home armed with a search warrant and recovered cocaine packaged for sale in a jacket in his closet.  At a jury trial the client put on the jacket that appeared to be too large for him.  The trial resulted in a hung jury and eventually the client received probation for a charge of simple possession.

Los Angeles County, CA: Agoura, Altadena, Alhambra, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Century City, Chatsworth, Compton, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Downtown Criminal Court, El Segundo, East Los Angeles, Eastlake, Encino, El Monte, El Segundo, Glendale, Glendora, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Los Angeles Lawyer, La Canada, LAX Court, Los Padrinos, Long Beach, Los Angeles Attorney, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Newhall, Norwalk, Palos Verdes, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Santa Monica, South Gate, South Pasadena, Sylmar, Torrance, Universal City, Valencia, Van Nuys, West Covina, West Hollywood, Walnut, Westchester, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Westwood, Whittier, Woodland Hills, California.

Orange County, CA: Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine Attorney, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, La Habra, La Palma, Manhattan Beach, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Orange County Lawyer, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Tustin, Torrance, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda, California.

Ventura County, CA: Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, San Buenaventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks,
Westlake Village.

San Bernardino County, CA: Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland.