Huntington Beach Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

Our Huntington Beach Office is located at:

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Huntington Beach Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

18582 Beach Blvd, Suite 21
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 698-5416

Huntington Beach Criminal Defense Attorney

Huntington Beach Headlines

If you live in Huntington Beach, over time, you’ve probably come across headlines in the local media about drug busts or charges brought by grand juries in drug cases. Maybe, though, you’re unfortunate enough to be one of those making the headlines.

We understand. Huntington Beach is a beautiful place to live. Amazing people, amazing views. Nice views can be expensive, though. The cost of living in Huntington Beach is among the highest in the nation. So maybe you were caught with drugs because you were trying to cope with the pressure of paying the mortgage. On the other hand, maybe you got mixed up in something a little more high-profile. In either case, we get it.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we’re here to help. Below, we offer some specifics about California’s drug laws, just in case that’s what’s on your mind. Whatever your particular situation, though—whether you’re dealing with drug charges, an embezzlement indictment, or an arrest for assault—know that you can trust us to stand beside you, to make sure you’re treated fairly, and to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.

Helpful City Resources:

Huntington Beach Police Department
STATION INFO
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 960-8811

Edison Community Center
21377 Magnolia Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 960-8870

Broadway Treatment Center
18582 Beach Blvd.
Suite 217
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 443-8218

Simple Drug Possession:

While it may seem insignificant for a student at Marymount to use a roommate’s Ritalin to improve focus or for a partygoer to indulge in some cocaine use, these acts are illegal. There are many reasons you could be in possession of small amounts of drugs like cocaine, meth, heroin, ecstasy, drugs, prescribed to someone other than you, or something even more exotic, but if prosecutors believe the drugs are for your personal use alone, you could be charged with simple drug possession rather than something more serious.

Simple drug possession is usually treated as a misdemeanor. No matter which drug you’re caught with, you face the same basic penalty: up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. The situation is essentially the same if you’ve ingested the substance. A DUI carries the same penalty, or you could be charged with simply being “under the influence.” Again, you’re facing up to one year in jail.

The good news is that you may be able to escape any jail time if you complete a drug rehabilitation program.

The bad news is, if there are any complicating factors to your arrest, you could be looking at much more serious charges and much more serious penalties. Perhaps the most obvious complicating factor would be a criminal record. If you are a repeat offender, or if you have other serious charges on your record, a drug offense can get you sentenced to up to three years in jail.

Other Drug Crimes:

Past offenses aren’t the only thing that can make your situation more serious. If a prosecutor can prove you intended to sell the drugs in your possession, they might also charge you with “possession for sale.” That crime is punishable with 2-5 years in state prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Drug transportation is another serious offense. You don’t necessarily have to be involved in a high-level operation to be charged with transportation. Carrying a handful of Vicodin to the mall and selling them to one of your classmates constitutes drug transportation. The sentence in such cases is 3-5 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines. Things are worse if you transport drugs across county lines. Sentences in those cases rise to 3-9 years in prison.

Finally, of course, you could be charged with drug trafficking. The penalties here are the same as those for transporting drugs across county lines, 3-9 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines. However, aggravating factors such as selling to a minor, providing drugs to felons, or distributing near a drug rehab facility, can all exacerbate these penalties.

How can David S. Chesley Help?

It’s important you recognize that a drug arrest, no matter what the charges, does not mean you’ll be convicted. Like everyone else in this country, the law regards you as “innocent until proven guilty.” That phrase means the burden is on the prosecution to convince a judge or jury you committed a crime.

When it comes to simple possession, for instance, a prosecutor must prove three separate things:

• Add your content…That you had an illegal drug in your possession;
• That you knew what you had was an illegal drug;
• That the amount of the drug was usable rather than merely a trace amount

A qualified attorney can attack a prosecution’s case based on one, two, or all of these assertions.

In fact, there are several common defenses to drug possession:

• You did not know you were in possession of an illegal substance: you might, for instance, have believed the vial of cocaine in your dorm room actually contained laundry detergent.
• You did not possess enough substance to make it a crime: If the police find only trace amounts of meth in your blue jeans pockets, you aren’t guilty of possession.
• The substance was not yours: If you borrowed your girlfriend’s car and the police found heroin in the trunk, you might reasonably argue the heroin is hers rather than yours.
• The substance in question wasn’t illegal: The police can and do make mistakes. They may have believed a substance was illegal when it was perfectly harmless. Or perhaps they arrested you for meth possession when you have a legitimate prescription.
• The police violated your rights in some important way: If the police don’t have legitimate, legal reasons to stop you or search you, your case could be thrown out entirely.

The Superior Court of California – County of Orange
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
(657) 622-6878

You Need an Experienced Huntington Beach Criminal Defense Attorney

Here’s the important thing to remember: only an experienced lawyer will know how to create a winning defense.

David S. Chesley has defended hundreds of clients against drug charges large and small. He knows the law, and he knows the Huntington Beach community. Most importantly, he’s a hard-nosed defense attorney who’s committed to protecting his clients’ rights. Whatever you’ve been accused of, make sure you have David S. Chesley in your corner.

If you’ve been arrested in Huntington Beach and charged with drug possession, drug transportation, or any other criminal offense, contact the Law Offices of David S. Chesley today at 714-698-5416.