Payment PlansCharged with Drug Possession in California?
PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment Can Resolve Your Case Without a Conviction — Complete the Program and the Charge Is Dismissed, Your Plea Is Withdrawn, and Your Record Stays Clean.
California criminal defense attorney David Chesley has successfully guided clients through PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment — California's primary pre-conviction drug diversion program for simple possession and related offenses — in criminal courts across every county in California. PC 1000 is not a plea deal or reduced charge. It is a pathway that produces a true dismissal with no conviction ever recorded. For eligible defendants, it is frequently the best outcome available. The window to pursue it is time-sensitive and closes once a guilty plea is entered. Act now.
IMMEDIATE STEPS IF CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION:
- Do not plead guilty or accept any plea offer before PC 1000 eligibility is fully assessed — a guilty plea can permanently foreclose this dismissal option; once entered it cannot be undone
- Do not assume you are ineligible — eligibility depends on the exact charge, substance, and your record; many defendants qualify even if initially told otherwise; defendants ineligible for PC 1000 may qualify for alternative pathways
- Preserve documentation of any treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation you have already started — proactive steps strengthen your application and demonstrate the commitment courts look for
- Contact experienced counsel immediately — timing is critical; the PC 1000 window closes at the moment a guilty plea is entered
Call now for a free, confidential consultation — available 24/7. 📞 (800) 755-5174
THE STAKES ARE REAL — PC 1000 CHANGES THE OUTCOME
A drug possession conviction creates lifelong barriers to jobs, housing, professional licenses, financial aid, and immigration status. Even a misdemeanor stays on background checks and signals issues to employers, landlords, and licensing boards for the rest of your life.
PC 1000 is different. You enter a guilty plea that is held but not entered as a conviction. Complete the program — typically drug education classes, testing, and periodic check-ins — and the plea is withdrawn, the charge is dismissed, and no conviction is recorded. Under PC § 1000.4, you can often deny the arrest in most contexts after dismissal. This produces a clean record — categorically better than any plea deal that leaves a conviction.
Common consequences PC 1000 can prevent:
- Permanent drug conviction on every background check
- Employment barriers in healthcare, education, finance, and any position of trust
- Professional license discipline or denial
- Immigration consequences — deportation risk for non-U.S. citizens
- Loss of federal financial aid or public housing eligibility
Call now for a free consultation — available 24/7. 📞 (800) 755-5174
WHAT IS PC 1000 DEFERRED ENTRY OF JUDGMENT?
PC § 1000 allows eligible defendants charged with simple possession or related low-level drug offenses to avoid conviction through a structured program.
How It Works:
- You enter a guilty plea that is deferred — held but not entered as a conviction
- You complete an approved drug education and treatment program — typically 12 to 18 months, with classes, testing, and check-ins
- Upon successful completion, the plea is withdrawn, a not-guilty plea is entered, and the charge is dismissed
- No conviction is ever recorded — the arrest record is often sealed; under PC § 1000.4 you may deny the arrest in most circumstances
Key Limitations:
- Requires a qualifying offense and clean-enough recent record — no recent drug convictions, no violence
- The initial guilty plea may have immigration consequences for non-U.S. citizens — careful analysis is required before entering it
- Not available for possession for sale or more serious charges — other pathways may apply
PC 1000 vs. Other Diversion Options:
Many defendants ineligible for PC 1000 still qualify for alternatives:
| Program | When Available | Key Advantage | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC 1000 DEJ | Simple possession (pre-conviction) | True pre-conviction dismissal | Charge dismissed, no conviction |
| PC § 1001.95 | Most misdemeanors | Court can grant over prosecutor objection | Dismissal, arrest sealed |
| Proposition 36 | Nonviolent possession (post-conviction) | Treatment instead of incarceration | Potential dismissal after treatment |
| Drug Court | Broader cases needing intensive support | Supervised treatment with judicial oversight | Often dismissal upon completion |
| Military / Mental Health | Service-related or mental health nexus | Tailored to specific circumstances | Dismissal, arrest often sealed |
Call (800) 755-5174 for a free assessment of every available pathway.
PC 1000 AND IMMIGRATION — CRITICAL ANALYSIS FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS
For non-U.S. citizens charged with drug possession, PC 1000 diversion requires specific and careful immigration analysis before the diversion plea is entered — because the guilty plea at the beginning of PC 1000 may itself have immigration consequences under federal law, even if the case is later dismissed.
The Federal Immigration Definition of Conviction
Federal immigration law defines "conviction" differently than California criminal law. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A), a conviction exists for immigration purposes when a judge or jury has found the alien guilty, or the alien has entered a guilty plea or nolo contendere or has admitted sufficient facts to warrant a finding of guilt — and a judge has ordered some form of punishment, penalty, or restraint on liberty. Under this definition, the guilty plea entered at the beginning of PC 1000 diversion — before any program requirements are completed — may constitute a "conviction" for federal immigration purposes even if the plea is later withdrawn and the case is dismissed under California law.
This means that for non-U.S. citizens, the act of entering the PC 1000 guilty plea may trigger immigration consequences — deportation, inadmissibility, bars to naturalization — regardless of whether the case is successfully completed and dismissed. A non-U.S. citizen who enters a PC 1000 plea believing it will fully protect their immigration status may be in a significantly worse immigration position than before the plea was entered.
What Non-U.S. Citizens Facing Drug Charges Must Do:
- The immigration consequences of the specific charge must be analyzed before any plea is entered
- The immigration consequences of the PC 1000 guilty plea itself must be analyzed specifically — not just the ultimate California disposition
- Alternative diversion pathways that do not require a guilty plea — including PC § 1001.95 misdemeanor diversion, which the court can grant without a guilty plea — must be assessed as potentially immigration-safer alternatives
- The overall defense strategy must account for immigration consequences at every step — not just at resolution
Immigration analysis for non-U.S. citizens is conducted from the very first consultation in every drug case. The immigration stakes of a drug possession charge — and of the plea that begins the diversion process — are too serious and too permanent to be addressed only after the most consequential decision has already been made.
HOW DAVID CHESLEY HANDLES PC 1000 CASES
David Chesley personally evaluates PC 1000 eligibility and all alternatives from the first consultation — through successful completion and final dismissal. Southern, Central, and Northern California, every county, every major jurisdiction — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No hand-offs. No junior associates.
The process in every case:
Full eligibility assessment across all programs — PC 1000 eligibility analyzed for the specific charge and record; where PC 1000 is not available, every alternative pathway assessed immediately.
Preventing premature pleas — ensuring no guilty plea is entered before every diversion option has been assessed; the plea that forecloses PC 1000 cannot be undone.
Challenging ineligibility determinations — where the prosecution incorrectly finds a defendant ineligible, that determination is challenged; incorrect prior record analysis and charge mischaracterizations are identified and corrected.
Immigration analysis for non-U.S. citizens — the immigration consequences of the specific charge and the PC 1000 plea are analyzed before any plea is entered; alternative no-plea pathways identified where appropriate.
Building the strongest possible application — treatment documentation, letters of support, evidence of rehabilitation assembled before the application is submitted.
Managing program compliance through completion — every requirement understood, compliance obstacles identified before they become violations, every condition met from admission through final dismissal.
Securing the dismissal and record sealing — upon successful completion, petition for dismissal and application for arrest sealing filed immediately and pursued to final order.
Free, confidential case review — available 24/7, no obligation. 📞 (800) 755-5174 | 📧 calllog@chesleylawyers.com
YOU HAVE RIGHTS. USE THEM.
PC 1000 produces the best outcome available for eligible defendants — a true dismissal with no conviction ever recorded. Common resolutions:
- PC 1000 DEJ completed — simple possession charge dismissed; plea withdrawn; arrest sealed; no conviction recorded; employment and licensing applications unaffected
- PC 1000 completed — professional license protected — healthcare professional; program completed; charge dismissed; mandatory licensing board reporting avoided
- Ineligibility determination challenged and corrected — prosecution's prior record analysis contained error; determination challenged; defendant admitted to PC 1000; program completed; charge dismissed
- Alternative diversion when PC 1000 unavailable — prior conviction made PC 1000 ineligible; PC § 1001.95 misdemeanor diversion identified and pursued; charge dismissed without conviction
- Military diversion identified alongside PC 1000 assessment — veteran assessed for PC 1000; PC § 1001.80 military diversion found more favorable; military pathway pursued; charge dismissed; arrest deemed never to have occurred
- Mental health diversion when PC 1000 unavailable — defendant with PTSD; underlying condition documented; PC § 1001.36 mental health diversion granted; charge dismissed
- Immigration-safe no-plea diversion — non-U.S. citizen; PC 1000 plea found to carry immigration risk; PC § 1001.95 judicial diversion pursued instead; charge dismissed without guilty plea; immigration status protected
- PC 1000 completed after comprehensive immigration analysis — lawful permanent resident; complete immigration analysis before plea; PC 1000 proceeded with full understanding of immigration position; program completed; charge dismissed; no removal proceedings initiated
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE DAVID CHESLEY
Direct, personal attention — statewide, 24/7
David Chesley personally handles PC 1000 diversion cases in criminal courts across all of California — Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and every other jurisdiction statewide. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — because the PC 1000 window is time-sensitive and the opportunity to avoid a conviction is the most important outcome in any drug possession case.
Straight talk, always
Not every drug charge qualifies for PC 1000 — and not every defendant who qualifies is automatically admitted. The specific charge, the prior record, the prosecution's eligibility determination, and the specific court's approach all determine what is available. You deserve honest counsel about eligibility, immigration risks, and realistic outcomes. No false promises. No sugarcoating.
Every diversion pathway identified from day one
Many defendants who did not qualify for PC 1000 qualified for PC § 1001.95. Many who did not qualify for either qualified for drug court. Many veteran defendants who qualified for military diversion were never told it existed. Every available pathway is identified and pursued from the first day of representation.
Flexible payment plans
The Law Offices of David Chesley offer flexible payment plans because cost should never be the reason someone facing a drug possession charge goes without experienced representation to pursue the diversion that keeps a conviction off their record.
Representative Results:
- PC 1000 DEJ completed — simple possession of controlled substance (HS § 11350); 18-month drug education program completed; guilty plea withdrawn; charge dismissed; arrest sealed; no conviction recorded; nursing license application approved
- PC 1000 completed — methamphetamine possession (HS § 11377); drug education program completed; charge dismissed; employment in healthcare maintained; no mandatory licensing board reporting required
- Ineligibility determination successfully challenged — prosecution's prior record analysis contained error that incorrectly disqualified defendant; challenge filed; defendant admitted to PC 1000; program completed; charge dismissed
- PC § 1001.95 misdemeanor diversion when PC 1000 unavailable — defendant ineligible for PC 1000 due to prior conviction; PC § 1001.95 diversion pursued; granted by court; charge dismissed without conviction
- Military diversion identified and pursued — veteran defendant; PC 1000 assessed but military diversion found superior; PC § 1001.80 pathway pursued; PTSD and service connection documented; charge dismissed; arrest deemed never to have occurred
- Mental health diversion granted — defendant with anxiety disorder not eligible for PC 1000 on charge grounds; underlying condition documented; PC § 1001.36 diversion granted; treatment completed; charge dismissed
- Immigration-safe no-plea diversion — non-U.S. citizen charged with HS § 11550; PC 1000 plea found to carry immigration risk; PC § 1001.95 judicial diversion pursued instead; charge dismissed without guilty plea; immigration status protected
- PC 1000 completed after comprehensive immigration analysis — lawful permanent resident; complete immigration analysis before plea; PC 1000 proceeded with full understanding of immigration position; program completed; charge dismissed; no removal proceedings initiated
Client Feedback:
"I was charged with drug possession and panicked about my nursing license. David got me into PC 1000 before any plea was entered — the charge was dismissed with no conviction. My license application was approved. It saved my career." — Anonymous former client
"The prosecution said I wasn't eligible for PC 1000. David challenged it, proved they had my prior record wrong, and I completed the program. Charge dismissed. Without that challenge I would have pleaded guilty." — Anonymous former client
"I am a non-citizen and David explained immediately that the PC 1000 guilty plea itself could affect my immigration status even after a California dismissal. He found a different pathway — judicial diversion — that didn't require a guilty plea. Charge dismissed and my immigration status is protected." — Anonymous former client
"I thought drug possession meant a drug conviction. David explained PC 1000 at our first meeting — the plea is held, you complete the program, and the charge is dismissed with no conviction ever recorded. I completed the program. No conviction. No record. It changed everything." — Anonymous former client
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment — and how is it different from a plea deal?
PC 1000 DEJ is fundamentally different from a plea deal. A plea deal results in a conviction recorded immediately — it exists on your record from the day it is entered and remains permanently. PC 1000 holds your guilty plea without entering it as a conviction — and upon successful completion of the program, withdraws the plea and dismisses the charge. No conviction is ever recorded. Under PC § 1000.4 you can deny being arrested for the offense in most circumstances after dismissal. The background check reflects the dismissal, not a conviction. For eligible defendants, PC 1000 is categorically better than any plea deal — because no conviction is a fundamentally different outcome for every background check, every job application, and every licensing and immigration proceeding for the rest of your life.
What drug charges qualify for PC 1000 diversion?
PC § 1000 applies to specified possession and related offenses. Qualifying charges include:
- HS § 11350 — Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine, heroin, and other Schedule I/II substances)
- HS § 11357 — Possession of marijuana in circumstances qualifying under PC § 1000
- HS § 11364 — Possession of drug paraphernalia
- HS § 11365 — Being present where controlled substances are used
- HS § 11377 — Possession of methamphetamine and other Schedule III/IV/V substances
- HS § 11550 — Being under the influence of a controlled substance
- BP § 4060 — Obtaining prescription medication without a valid prescription
- Other specified offenses listed in PC § 1000(a) — the complete eligibility list is reviewed in every initial consultation
Possession for sale offenses — HS § 11351 and HS § 11378 — are not eligible for PC 1000. More serious drug offenses require other diversion pathways analyzed in the initial consultation.
What prior record disqualifies me from PC 1000?
PC § 1000 requires that you have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in the five years before the current arrest, have not been charged with an offense involving violence or threatened violence, do not have a prior drug conviction within five years, have not previously completed PC 1000 within five years, and do not have two or more prior drug program convictions. These requirements disqualify some defendants from PC 1000 — but not from all diversion. Defendants ineligible for PC 1000 are assessed for PC § 1001.95, Proposition 36, drug court, military diversion, and mental health diversion — because the goal is always the best available outcome and PC 1000 ineligibility does not end the diversion analysis.
Does the initial guilty plea create immigration problems for non-U.S. citizens?
Yes — and this is the most important question any non-U.S. citizen facing a drug charge can ask. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A), federal immigration law defines conviction based on the guilty plea itself — not the ultimate California court disposition. The PC 1000 guilty plea entered at the start of diversion may constitute a "conviction" for immigration purposes even if the case is later dismissed under California law. This means the plea alone can trigger immigration consequences — deportation, inadmissibility, bars to naturalization — regardless of successful program completion. For non-U.S. citizens, the immigration consequences of the PC 1000 plea must be analyzed before entering diversion — and alternative no-plea pathways including PC § 1001.95 judicial diversion may be more appropriate. Immigration analysis is conducted in every drug case involving a non-U.S. citizen from the very first consultation.
Can a PC 1000 ineligibility determination be challenged?
Yes — and this is one of the most important actions in cases where the prosecution has found a defendant ineligible. Ineligibility determinations based on prior record errors, charge mischaracterizations, or other mistakes can be challenged directly. A defendant incorrectly found ineligible who accepts that determination without challenge may plead guilty when PC 1000 was actually available. Every ineligibility determination is reviewed for accuracy before any plea is considered.
What if I fail the PC 1000 program?
Failure — missing classes, failing drug tests, committing a new offense — typically results in termination from the program and entry of the deferred guilty plea as a conviction. The case proceeds to regular criminal proceedings. This is why full compliance with every program requirement from the first day of admission is as important as gaining admission — and compliance planning and support are part of the strategy from admission through final dismissal.
Does PC 1000 help with professional licensing?
In most cases significantly. A PC 1000 dismissal with no conviction recorded has substantially less impact on professional licensing than a drug conviction. Many licensing boards treat a PC 1000 dismissal more favorably — and in many circumstances it eliminates or reduces the mandatory reporting obligation entirely. The specific impact on your license type is analyzed in the initial consultation.
How long does PC 1000 take?
The program typically runs 12 to 18 months from enrollment to completion — including drug education classes (typically 20 to 40 hours), periodic check-ins, and drug testing throughout. After successful completion, the petition for dismissal is filed and the dismissal order typically enters within a few weeks. The full process from initial plea to final dismissal typically takes 12 to 24 months depending on county and program requirements.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. The Law Offices of David Chesley offers flexible payment plans because cost should never be the reason someone facing a drug possession charge goes without experienced legal representation to pursue the PC 1000 diversion that keeps a conviction off their record. Call to discuss options during your free consultation.
More questions? We are available 24/7 — free consultation, no obligation, no pressure. 📞 (800) 755-5174
FREE CONSULTATION — CALL NOW — 24/7
The PC 1000 window is time-sensitive — and every day without experienced defense counsel is a day it may close without anyone protecting it. Every day a plea offer sits on the table without a full PC 1000 eligibility assessment is a day the defendant risks entering a guilty plea that permanently forecloses the dismissal that PC 1000 would have produced — trading a clean record for a conviction that was entirely avoidable if the right analysis had been done before the plea was entered. Every day a non-U.S. citizen defendant faces a drug possession charge without immigration-specific analysis of the PC 1000 guilty plea is a day the most consequential immigration decision in their case — whether to enter that plea at all — moves closer to being made without the information needed to make it correctly, and without an attorney identifying the no-plea alternative that may protect their status entirely. Every day a defendant ineligible for PC 1000 goes without a full assessment of the five alternative diversion pathways — PC § 1001.95, Proposition 36, drug court, military diversion, mental health diversion — is a day a dismissal still available through another route goes unexplored while the case drifts toward a conviction those alternatives would have prevented. Every day a professional license holder faces a drug possession charge without a defense attorney analyzing the licensing consequences is a day the reporting event that a PC 1000 dismissal would have avoided moves closer to occurring.
Don't plead guilty before PC 1000 — or its alternatives — is fully explored. Don't assume you don't qualify. And don't wait. If you have been charged with drug possession or any related offense in California, call now.
The Law Offices of David Chesley offer a free, confidential consultation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No judgment. No pressure. Honest guidance on eligibility, immigration risks, and the best pathway forward — whether that is PC 1000 or the alternative that produces the same clean dismissal your case deserves.
Flexible payment plans available — because cost should never be the reason someone facing a drug possession charge goes without the experienced defense needed to pursue the diversion that keeps their record clean.
David Chesley handles PC 1000 drug diversion cases in criminal courts across all of California — Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Kern County, Fresno County, Sacramento County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, San Francisco County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Monterey County, and every other jurisdiction statewide.
Se habla español.
📞 (800) 755-5174 📧 calllog@chesleylawyers.com 🌐 www.chesleylawyers.com
"PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment offers eligible defendants a true dismissal with no conviction recorded — often the best outcome possible in a drug possession case. My commitment is assessing every pathway early, preventing premature pleas, and guiding you to the clean resolution you deserve." — David Chesley, California Criminal Defense Attorney
