Ventura Drug Crime Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested for a drug offense in Ventura County or Santa Barbara County, your future and reputation are on the line. Employers and educational institutions may hesitate about drug crime convictions, which can make it difficult to find work or training opportunities. Additionally, drug crimes hold a negative stigma in our society, which means that you may see your personal life and relationships impacted by your conviction. Furthermore, if you have children and are facing drug charges in California, social services may take them away from you.

Don’t let a drug crime conviction destroy your life; let the team of Ventura defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC fight for you. We have the experience and resources you need to feel confident that your case is in the right hands. Attorney Ron S. Bamieh was named to the list of Super Lawyers® in 2013, a testament to the respect that his peers have for his dedication to quality criminal defense. When you are represented by our drug possession lawyers in Ventura, we will do everything in our power to ensure that your rights are protected. Contact us at (805) 643-5555 today for a free legal consultation.

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Arrested for Drug Possession in Ventura, CA?

Thousands of people are arrested for drug crimes in California each year. Many of these arrests involve drug possession, drug distribution, or both. All drug crimes involve a “controlled substance,” which is a drug that has been identified and is controlled under various laws.

Each state organizes controlled substances into groups called “schedules.” These schedules are then used to help determine sentences for possession, transportation, manufacturing, or sale of each type of drug. There is also a federal drug schedule, which consists of Schedules I through V, where Schedule I controlled substances “are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Our drug defense attorneys handle a wide range of criminal charges involving a broad array of controlled substances, including both “street” drugs and prescription drugs. Serving Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, types of drug charges we handle include:

  • Drug Distribution (Selling Drugs)
  • Drug Manufacturing
  • Drug Possession (Possession of Controlled Substances, Simple Possession)
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Drug Transportation
  • DUI with Drugs, Marijuana DUI
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Bongs, Pipes, Spoons)

These and other narcotics charges may involve:

  • Adderall
  • Cocaine
  • Cough Syrup
  • Crack Cocaine
  • Fentanyl
  • GHB
  • Heroin
  • Ketamine
  • LSD (Acid)
  • Marijuana (Cannabis, Pot, Weed)
  • MDMA (Ecstasy)
  • Methamphetamine
  • OxyContin
  • PCP (Angel Dust)
  • Percocet
  • Valium
  • Vicodin
  • Xanax

Legal Defenses Against Controlled Substance Charges

Drug crimes can range from misdemeanors to extremely serious felonies under California’s laws, depending on factors like the type and amount of the drug involved. Typically, a drug offense that is specific to the defendant, such as simple possession, is considered less severe than a charge involving multiple people, the exchange of money, and/or violence.

Depending on the severity of the charge, the defendant may be facing a multitude of penalties, including prison or jail time, heavy fines, probation, community service, and/or mandatory rehabilitation. The severity of the consequences can also be impacted by the defendant’s criminal record. Therefore, first-time drug offenders may receive lighter jail or prison sentences than repeat or multiple offenders. In some cases, there are alternative sentencing options that allow the offender to avoid incarceration. We will explore these options with the defendant wherever they are available.

As a former prosecutor, attorney Ron S. Bamieh has extensive familiarity with the strategies of the prosecution, and therefore, knows how to argue a drug case effectively. There are numerous arguments our defense lawyers may be able to make, depending on your circumstances. These include the following:

  • The drugs were not yours. In many scenarios, you may have been completely unaware that the drugs in question even existed. For example, if the drugs were found in your apartment, they may have belonged to your roommate or a guest who accidentally left them there. The burden of proof then lies with the prosecutor, who must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs belonged to you.
  • The police used unlawful procedures. Every citizen is protected from violations of privacy under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. With regard to drug offenses, search and seizure laws require police officers to have search warrants to search your house, car, or place of business. While drugs found in plain sight may be seized, if they were found after an unlawful search, an effective attorney can fight to have the charges dropped due to a violation of your rights.
  • Inaccurate identification.Everyone makes honest mistakes, even arresting officers. An officer may misinterpret a substance on your person, in your car, or at your home for an illegal substance, that may actually have been something innocuous.

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Contact Our Ventura Drug Crime Defense Attorneys

Being charged with drug possession in California, or being arrested for related offenses, can be a terrifying experience. However, if you have been arrested for possession or related crimes, we want you to know that you have options.

The skilled California drug attorneys at The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC can help you. We will sit down with you to conduct a free consultation and listen to the circumstances of your case. If we believe that we can be of use to you in your case, we will do all that we can to represent you with honesty and fairness. You can trust our team to fight vigilantly for you.

To set up a free legal consultation regarding drug charges in Ventura County or Santa Barbara County, call our law offices at (805) 643-5555 today.

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