Visalia Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys

Don’t Gamble with Your Future: Call (559) 206-2322

Have you been accused of a drug crime? While the challenges which lie ahead may seem overwhelming, you don’t have to face the legal system alone. Call Schweitzer & Davidian and put more than 25 years of collective legal experience to work for you. Our criminal defense lawyers represent individuals facing a wide variety of drug charges involving marijuana, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, ecstasy, prescription drugs and more.

We have successfully defended clients against charges including:

• Possession of a controlled substance. Under Health and Safety Code 11377, simple possession of methamphetamine and certain other controlled substances is generally punishable by up to one year in county jail, with felony sentencing available only when a qualifying prior conviction applies.
• Transportation and sales of a controlled substance
• Drug trafficking
• Drug manufacturing
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Drug possession for sale. Health and Safety Code 11351 provides a sentencing range of two, three, or four years for possessing or purchasing a controlled substance for sale.

Comprehensive Drug Crimes Defense

At Schweitzer & Davidian, we’ll review every aspect of your arrest carefully and conduct our own investigation to determine if your constitutional rights were violated. Our comprehensive knowledge of California criminal laws allows us to catch law enforcement authorities who have overstepped their boundaries or identify prosecutors who are attempting to obtain a conviction with weak evidence. We’re experienced trial attorneys who are prepared to litigate when it’s in a client’s best interest to do so. An accusation isn’t the end of the line; it’s the beginning of your defense.

A search and seizure challenge examines whether law enforcement lawfully found and obtained the alleged drug evidence. Drug cases in Visalia are heard by the Tulare County Superior Court, which handles misdemeanor and felony criminal charges. An arraignment is an early hearing where the charge is addressed, and felony cases may proceed to a preliminary hearing.

Treatment-Based Alternatives for Eligible Charges

Drug diversion under Penal Code 1000 provides a pretrial option for certain nonviolent offenses, including simple possession charges under specified sections of the Health and Safety Code. Eligibility requires that the alleged offense didn’t involve violence or threatened violence, that there’s no evidence of a related and more serious drug offense, and that the defendant has no felony conviction from the preceding five years.

After successful completion of Penal Code 1000, Penal Code 1000.4 generally treats the arrest as though it never occurred, subject to limited exceptions. Proposition 36 also allows people with two or more prior drug convictions to complete court-ordered treatment instead of a felony jail or prison sentence for drug possession. Eligibility and the appropriate defense strategy depend on the charge, the evidence, and the defendant’s record.

The initial consultation is free so you have nothing to lose by speaking to us about your options. Call now, and together we can construct a powerhouse defense.