If you were arrested, cited or contacted by police about a drug offense anywhere in the Inland Empire, do not try to explain the situation without legal advice. A drug case can turn on details such as who possessed the substance, whether officers had a lawful reason to stop or search you, how the substance was tested and whether the prosecution can prove knowledge and intent.
My Rights Law Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyers defends people facing drug allegations across the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Our defense team handles possession, possession for sale, transportation, sale, manufacturing, prescription-drug offenses and drug-related DUI charges. We review the reports and evidence, identify legal and factual problems, explain the next court step and pursue the defense options supported by your case. No result can be promised, but early review can help preserve evidence and protect your choices.
Call 888-702-8882 for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24/7. Se habla español.
Possession for personal use is the most common drug charge in the region. Defenses focus on lawful search, knowing possession and custody issues and California diversion programs can sometimes resolve these cases without conviction.
Prosecutors upgrade possession to a sales felony using quantity, packaging, cash, scales and messages. Each of those indicators has an innocent explanation, and the prosecution must prove intent to sell beyond a reasonable doubt.
Transportation charges often follow traffic stops on the region's freeways. Whether you knew the drugs were in the vehicle, whether the search was lawful and whether the quantity supports the charge are all contestable.
Doctor shopping, forged prescriptions and possession without a valid prescription are prosecuted as drug crimes even though the substances are legal with a prescription. Medical documentation can be decisive.
These cases usually rest on informants, utility records or surveillance. Search-warrant challenges and informant-credibility attacks are central defense tools.
California has reshaped drug enforcement over the past decade: simple possession of most substances is now chargeable as a misdemeanor, Proposition 36 diversion and drug-court programs exist in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties and Penal Code section 1000 diversion remains available for eligible defendants. A felony record is no longer the automatic outcome of a drug arrest, but only if the defense asks for the alternatives the law provides.
Often, yes, for eligible defendants and eligible charges. Diversion programs in the region can lead to dismissal after successful completion, and drug treatment is sometimes the difference between a felony record and a clean one. Eligibility depends on the charge, your record and the facts; a lawyer can tell you quickly which programs your case qualifies for.
Drug cases are filed in the Superior Court of the county where the alleged offense occurred, Riverside County or San Bernardino County. Our Southern California criminal courthouse directory lists court locations and contact information.
Get help now for your Inland Empire drug case.
Our defense teams in these Inland Empire cities handle the same practice area locally:
You can invoke your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. Trying to explain ownership, use, messages, cash or another person's conduct can create statements that are later used against you.
Not by itself. Prosecutors may use location, access, statements, fingerprints, messages or other circumstances to try to prove knowing possession. Shared access can be an important factual issue, but the full evidence must be reviewed.
Sometimes. If the stop, search or warrant was unlawful, a suppression motion under Penal Code section 1538.5 can exclude the evidence, and without the substance, many drug cases cannot proceed.
An arrest can appear in some systems even before conviction. Diversion, dismissal and expungement remedies may keep a charge from becoming a lasting conviction record, which is why fighting early matters.
Simple possession of most controlled substances is a misdemeanor under current California law. Sales, transportation and manufacturing charges remain felonies and prior strikes or prior convictions can change the exposure.
Before you discuss the allegation with police or make decisions about court, get a case-specific review. Bring your citation, release paperwork, search-warrant documents, court notice, prescription records and any information that may help explain possession or ownership.
Call 888-702-8882 now for a free, confidential consultation with our defense team. We are available 24/7. Se habla español.
This page provides general information about California law and is not legal advice for a particular case. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
This page was written by the My Rights Law Editorial Team and reviewed for legal accuracy by Bobby Shamuilian.
Attorney Shamuilian is the founder and managing partner of My Rights Law and is widely recognized as a legal authority, frequently appearing as a legal analyst and TV pundit on national news outlets.
He has earned a perfect “10.0 – Top Attorney” rating on AVVO and a “10.0” rating on Justia, and has been named among the “Top 40 Under 40” and the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers.
With his proven expertise and dedication, Mr. Shamuilian is committed to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for your case.
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