Tulare Drug Crime Lawyer

Tulare Drug Crime Attorney

Being charged with a drug crime is a serious offense. It can leave you disoriented, without knowing what to do. It can also come with intense penalties that can follow you for the rest of your life. Accusations like these require the help of a Tulare drug crime lawyer who can help fight for your rights and a favorable legal outcome.

Why Choose Us?

At the Carlos Navarrete Law Firm, we understand how important it is to have legal help while facing drug charges. We understand the complexities surrounding California’s drug crime laws. We can help you understand the charges against you while building a strong defense for your criminal case. We can fight for your rights and strive for the greatest possible outcome. With over 23 years of combined legal experience, we can work with you to fight for the future you desire.

Drug Crimes in Tulare

Law enforcement has taken extensive action against drug-related offenses in Tulare County. Along with more than $600,000 in cash and 50 firearms, Operation SLO Ride in 2024 resulted in the seizure of over 936 pounds of methamphetamine, 8.6 pounds of cocaine, 5.5 pounds of heroin, and 5.5 pounds of fentanyl. These figures demonstrate how seriously drug offenses are handled in the area. ​

A drug crime is an offense that is forbidden by law involving a controlled substance. Drug crimes can range from serious organized operations to possession of a legitimate drug without a prescription. Understanding these laws is important to understanding what the charges are against you.

Types of Drug Crimes in Tulare

Drug crimes can come in several forms. Many times, they are due to the type and amount of the drug. Law enforcement personnel make educated assumptions based on evidence to charge individuals with particular drug crimes. Some of the most common types of drug crimes include:

• Simple possession. This involves having a small amount of a controlled substance believed to be used for a single use.
• Possession for sale. If law enforcement finds large amounts of a drug on a person, they may conclude that it is used for sale, especially if it is too large of an amount for one person to reasonably consume.
• Drug manufacturing. This involves illegally producing drugs, such as creating methamphetamines in your own lab.
• Drug trafficking. This involves moving drugs across borders. These can draw harsh penalties.
• Prescription fraud. This includes changing prescriptions or illegally obtaining otherwise legal drugs.

Penalties for these offenses range depending on the crime, type of drug, and the individual’s criminal history.

Drug Schedules

Drugs in California, like throughout the rest of the country, are categorized in Schedules. Schedules are given based on a drug’s potential for abuse and accepted medical use. Schedules are divided as follows:

• Schedule I. This Schedule has the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Crimes in this category can have the harshest punishments of all the Schedules. Examples of Schedule I drugs include ecstasy, LSD, and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).
• Schedule II. These substances have a high chance of abuse and low accepted medical usage with severe restrictions. Drugs in this category include fentanyl and morphine.
• Schedule III. These drugs have a moderate chance of abuse and have some accepted medical uses. Drugs in this category include ketamine and codeine.
• Schedule IV. These drugs have a lower potential for abuse, with some accepted medical usage. Some Schedule IV substances include Valium and Ambien.
• Schedule V. These drugs have the lowest potential for abuse and the most accepted medical usage. An example of this type of substance is cough syrup with codeine.

How a Tulare Drug Crime Lawyer Can Help

Facing a drug crime in Tulare can be a stressful experience. However, a skilled defense attorney can help you through the legal process. A lawyer can look at all the evidence surrounding your case and point out and fight against illegal searches and seizures.

They can negotiate for lesser charges or fight for alternative sentencing options, such as admission to programs like the Tulare County Drug Court, which provides eligible criminals with treatment rather than jail time.

FAQs About Tulare, CA Drug Crime Laws

How Do I Win a Drug Possession Case?

Winning a drug possession charge typically depends on contesting how the evidence was gathered. If police conducted an unlawful search in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights, the evidence may be suppressed, which could result in a dismissal. Additionally, a competent defense attorney in Tulare County can negotiate options like Drug Court for case reduction or dismissal, or they can plead lack of possession or inappropriate management of evidence.

Can You Get a Life Sentence for Drug Possession?

In Tulare, it is unlikely that a drug possession charge alone will result in a life sentence. However, if there are additional serious charges, such as large-scale drug trafficking, this increases the chance of a life sentence. This chance becomes even higher if the offender has a history of criminal activity. While severe penalties are rare, they are not impossible.

How Serious is a Drug Felony Charge in Tulare?

In California, a felony drug charge carries severe penalties, a permanent criminal record, and time in state prison. Felonies such as manufacturing, trafficking, and possession for sale are prosecuted aggressively in Tulare County. Gun rights, housing, and employment are all impacted by felony convictions. A competent defense attorney seeks to win alternative sentencing choices or get felony charges reduced to misdemeanors.

Does Medical Marijuana Protect Me From Drug Charges?

While medical marijuana may protect you from marijuana-related charges, it does not protect against all drug charges and offenses. According to California’s medical marijuana regulations, eligible patients may possess up to a specific quantity, but their rights are limited. You must possess a current state medical marijuana ID card or a doctor’s referral. Charges could still result from carrying marijuana in Tulare County illegally or exceeding the legal possession limitations.

Contact the Carlos Navarrete Law Firm Today

If you have been charged with a drug crime, do not panic. A charge does not mean an automatic conviction. The Carlos Navarrete Law Firm can help you in the upcoming legal process. Contact us today to begin fighting for your future.