CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

What an Attorney Can Do To Help When You Face Possession for Sale Charges In Los Angeles

What to Expect and How a Lawyer Can Help You Fight Possession for Sale Charges in Los Angeles

If you have been arrested for possession for sale in Los Angeles, you are facing a severe felony charge that could result in jail time. California imposes stringent laws on drug trafficking, and prosecutors have to provide various factors to support the charge. They must demonstrate that you knew about the drugs, that the narcotics were illegal, and that you had a plan to sell them. Prosecutors must also show that there was a usable amount of drugs. It is essential to hire a competent attorney to defend you when facing possession for sale charges in Los Angeles.

Show That You Did Not Possess the Drugs

One way a skilled lawyer can help is by attempting to demonstrate that you did not legally possess some of the over 100 narcotics covered by the possession for sale charge in Los Angeles. Possession means having the substance somewhere on your body during the arrest, and you must have control of it in some way. If the police were unaware of this information at the time of the arrest, an attorney could have the charges dropped since you never possessed illicit drugs.

Provide Proof That You Were Not Going to Sell Drugs

The second part of the charge can be challenging for prosecutors to prove. They must show that you intended to sell the substances you had in your possession. This can be difficult, especially if the drugs were not in explicit packaging for sale. An attorney can help you understand the legal obstacles prosecutors face to prove that you intended to sell illicit drugs to others.

Scrutinize and Challenge All Evidence Presented By the Prosecution

Many times, the evidence presented by the prosecution can be questionable or ambiguous. A Los Angeles attorney can scrutinize all the evidence provided by the prosecution, including tests showing the substance was illegal and measurements of the drug’s weight. Your attorney will also question the police to ensure that you were not a victim of illegal entrapment by law enforcement officers. This thorough examination of the evidence could invalidate the prosecution’s case from the very start.

Reduce or Eliminate the Charges Before Going to Court

Many Los Angeles prosecutors do not want to go through an entire trial when facing possession for sale charges. A competent law firm can negotiate with prosecutors before a trial even starts. An attorney may be able to reduce the charges significantly to avoid the most extreme penalties or show that there is insufficient evidence to pursue the charges. Hiring a Los Angeles attorney gives you the chance of avoiding a trial.

Negotiate Alternatives to Jail

The right attorney might be able to negotiate alternatives to jail when you face possession for sale charges. Instead of serving time in county jail or state prison, you could be ordered to perform community service or to undergo a long probationary period. The judge or prosecutor might also take treatment programs into consideration during sentencing. These options could reduce or eliminate the amount of jail time you serve after the trial.

Protect Your Record from a Felony Conviction

One crucial function of a Los Angeles attorney is potentially protecting your record from a felony conviction for possession for sale. Felony convictions can have dire consequences on your life. A deferred entry of judgment is not possible, so your attorney might instead negotiate a deal where the felony conviction is expunged or sealed after the successful completion of probation and rehabilitation. This could make all the difference as you attempt to return to a normal life.

Conclusion

Possession for sale charges in Los Angeles is a severe felony offense that could result in significant jail time. California imposes mandatory minimum sentences in many drug trafficking cases, so it’s essential to hire a competent attorney immediately. An attorney can scrutinize the evidence presented by the prosecution, negotiate a deal to reduce the charges or avoid a trial, and potentially protect your record from a felony conviction. With the right legal representation, you might be able to obtain a favorable outcome in your possession for sale case.