Drug Charges Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA. There's no such thing as a "good" drug charge to be accused of in Redondo Beach, CA. Possession of a controlled substance is bad enough, but it's even worse if you're charged with dealing or distributing drugs. These laws cover substances from cannabis to fentanyl. The fallout from a drug crime conviction can turn your world upside down.
Get help before it's too late. You need Redondo Beach, CA's leading criminal defense law firm on your side. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Redondo Beach drug charges lawyers are ready for your case today. We will listen to you explain your side of the story, discuss defense tactics, and fight for the best deal or other outcome in your case. To begin building your defense, contact our team at (800) 755-5174 or set up a free, confidential consultation right away.
Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
Below, you can learn about how a Redondo Beach, CA, drug defense attorney will protect your rights, categories of drug crime allegations in Redondo Beach, the key factors you want your defense team to have, effective defense tactics against all sorts of charges, and the intersection between drug charges and DUIs in Redondo Beach.
To focus on a specific topic, you can use the links in the following menu to skip ahead and learn more:
- What Your Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Crimes Lawyer Will Do For You
- Common Drug Types and Their Penalties
- Categories of Drug Charges in Redondo Beach, CA
- DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Redondo Beach, CA
- What to Look For in a Drug Charges Lawyer
- Types of Defenses We Build Against Drug Allegations
- Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options
- How a Drug Conviction Can Impact Immigration Status
- Drug Crime FAQs
- Contact Your Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Attorney Now
- Every Drug Charge Our Lawyers Defend Against
Don't Waste Time: Contact a Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
If you've been accused of a drug crime in Redondo Beach, CA, it's a big deal, no matter what. There can be leeway in what the prosecution decides to charge you with, meaning you're risking an extended stay in jail.
The first reason you should contact a drug charges lawyer immediately is to help you understand the charges. A simple possession case needs a different strategy than a possession-for-sale case, and your defense attorney should have strategies to fight against whatever you've been accused of.
The second reason to contact a local Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer right away is to stop yourself from making a mistake. When you say the wrong thing to a state representative, what was once just a possession charge could now be a trafficking charge. Your attorney can stop you from experiencing self-incrimination.
Lastly, your drug charges lawyer will leverage local court relationships to explore different defense avenues. Acting fast lets us build a defense before the prosecution has completed its case, and we can even move to dismiss charges if the evidence is in your favor.
Common Drug Types in Redondo Beach, CA, Legal Cases:
When deciding on a Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer, you should pick somone who has experience with the type of drug you're facing allegation for. In the following section, we've outlined some of the most common substances that are the center of illegal drug cases in the state.
| Drug Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription Drugs | These include substances like Xanax or Adderall, which aren't supposed to be taken without a doctor's authorization. |
| Ecstacy | A synthetic drug closely related to methamphetamine. Use can cause both mood and psychedelic effects. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive drug which can cause intense effects Its use can harm the brain, as well as several other organs. |
| Methamphetamine | Synthetic stimulant originally used to improve focus, but with serious side effects. |
| Opioids | A category of addictive painkillers. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | A highly refined type of opioid. The state tends to impose harsh penalties in heroin cases. |
| Fentanyl | An extremely dangerous type of opioid — roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the DEA. |
Penalties vary significantly based on substance, quantity, any prior convictions, and the accusation you're facing. As an overview:
- Most of the time, if you're only accused of possession and not distributing a drug, the charge will only be a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Different prosecutors may treat some substances in a harsher manner, though.
- Possession for sale, sale, transport, or manufacturing are rarely treated as misdemeanors. They're often felonies, and the sentence can change based on the specific drug and amount involved.
- Fentanyl is treated extra seriously: Proposition 36 (2024) added fentanyl alongside cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to a list of drugs that trigger felony enhancement when possessed together with a loaded firearm, and it increased sentencing exposure tied to quantity for several substances.
- Most of the time, federal drug charges result in harsher, longer sentences.
Every case is unique, and it can be hard to find answers on your own — call us for a free case review and we'll walk you through what you're actually facing.
Marijuana in Redondo Beach, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a mind-altering substance derived from a plant leaf. California used to outlaw the use of marijuana, however, in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, letting people use it recreationally.
Because local laws allow for limited use, marijuana (AKA cannabis) accusations in Redondo Beach, CA, most often have more to do with how it was used, rather than just that it was used. As an example, it's legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational use, but growing a seventh is a crime.
Marijuana Legal Overview:
- Adults over the age of 21 can carry 28.5 grams of marijuana on their person
- Typically, it is legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational purposes
- Still illegal to use or possess under federal law.
How Your Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Can Help: If you're up against marijuana-related charges, our attorneys are ready for your case. For example, we can argue that you were permitted to have cannabis, argue that you remained within legal limitations, and/or show that it was properly handled at all times.
Different Types of Drug Charges in Redondo Beach, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you against drug charges in Redondo Beach, CA. Whatever charges you are facing, we're ready to defend your innocence. In the sections below, you can learn about different categories of drug crimes and what a lawyer can do to assist you.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
Possession charges are the first level of drug charges in Redondo Beach, CA. They cover a wide range of substances and these charges can apply in any circumstance where you allegedly owned the illegal drugs, even if you didn't have them physically with you at the time.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer can build defenses that cast doubt on whether or not the drugs were in your possession, and can be by your side every step of the way.
Relevant statutes: If you're accused of simple possession of a hard drug, you're liking facing charges for allegedly violating Health and Safety Code 11350, while possession of methamphetamine specifically falls under HS 11377. In most cases, the prosecution will choose to treat these as misdemeanors, limiting the potential sentence to one year in jail.
Drug Production/Transport/Distribution Charges
Accusations of drug production, transportation, and distribution take on the other side of a drug deal: The alleged seller.
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use
- Drug Trafficking
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Drug Possession for Sale
These charges are almost always treated more harshly than possession/use charges. A positive outcome in these cases is often taking a plea deal for a lesser charge. Your drug crimes defense attorney can help you negotiate a favorable deal.
Relevant statutes: HS 11351 covers standard drug dealing charges, formally known as "possession for sale." The exception is methamphetamine, which is covered by HS 11378. When charged as a felony, each is punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000. Sale and transportation for sale charges are divided in a similar way: HS 11352 (most substances) vs. HS 11379 (methamphetamine). These charges carry longer exposure — up to nine years if the transportation crosses non-contiguous counties. With the help of an experienced Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer, you can fight for a plea deal that reduces these charges and opens up diversion opportunities.
Drug Charge Enhancements
California's drug charge enhancement laws may seem very different, but one thing connects them together: They don't stand on their own. Before you can be charged with an enhancement, there also needs to be an underlying base charge.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Redondo Beach, CA, drug crimes lawyer to defend you in these cases, so that they can fight both the base charge and the enhancement.
Federal Drug Charges
A federal drug charge isn't a 'category' in the same way that the above types of charges are. The difference is that the federal government is prosecuting you instead of the state government.
These can include anything from trafficking to running a drug ring, but to get the attention of the federal government, it typically will involve large quantities and/or crossing state lines. Sentences are often more severe, such as a life sentence and substantial fines.
It's hard to think of many charges worse to face than this. And you need a an experienced criminal defense lawyer who has the strength to fight the United States government. Our office will learn your side of the story, look for legal loopholes, dissect the case against you, and do whatever we can to secure a positive outcome for you.
DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Redondo Beach, CA
DUIs and drug charges don't always go together in Redondo Beach, CA, but when they do, these cases can be particularly tricky to fight. Drug DUI defense cases can include a many different situations, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to operating a motor vehicle while impaired by prescribed medication. Legal regulations often make these charges more serious than typical DUIs. For example, you can be arrested if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcoholwhich only has a "zero tolerance" law people who are underage).
When accused of drug DUI charges, you need more than a drug charges lawyer. You also need a skillful Redondo Beach, CA, DUI defense lawyer who defend you both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. Don't wait to get help — for most DUI cases, you need to request a hearing within ten days of your arrest.
How to Find the Right Drug Crimes Defense Attorney
When you are considering your options for a drug charges lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, it can be overwhelming trying to decide who will best represent you. Your life may depend on it, after all.
These are the main qualities you want to look for in your drug crimes defense attorney:
- Prior Experience fighting against these charges
- Knowledge of how the district attorney approaches these cases
- Existing Relationships at the courts in your local county
- A History of Positive Outcomes when fighting drug charges for clients
- Availability Anytime so that you can get help when you need it most
We will always be honest with you about the state of your case, and you can call us 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns.
Powerful Drug Crime Accusation Defenses
Whatever law you're accused of breaking, you have your own unique story to tell. The details are different for every criminal case in Redondo Beach, CA, and you should have a unique defense strategy to protect you.
We'll listen to your story and craft a powerful defense to fit. Here are some staunch strategies your drug charges lawyer will consider:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: By getting evidence thrown out, the case against you can be weakened.
- Lack of Intent: If you did hold or transport illegal drugs, but weren't aware of it, you shouldn't be found guilty because you didn't mean to break the law.
- Somone Else's Drugs: This defense can be used if there were, in fact, drugs present, but you had no control or ownership over them.
- Entrapment: In some cases, if an undercover police officer coerced you into breaking a drug law, you can be found innocent of the criminal charges.
- Prescription: Some substances are illegal to possess without a valid prescription, but if you have one, that can excuse you from these charges.
- Plea Negotiations: In some cases, where it's not reasonable for the alleged offender to have the charges dropped entirely, a positive outcome can still be achieved through a plea deal.
If you need a drug crimes defense attorney in Redondo Beach, CA, get in touch with one of our attorneys now.
Redondo Beach, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Redondo Beach has diversion and treatment options available — be sure to ask your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer about whether or not they apply to your case. To qualify, defendants must fit certain criteria. Below are two of the most relevant programs:
PC 1000 Drug Diversion
California PC 1000 pretrial diversion is a pretrial diversion path for specified eligible charges and people under Penal Code §§ 1000–1000.1. The present process begins with a not-guilty plea and court-approved education or treatment conditions, rather than the former guilty-plea Deferred Entry of Judgment procedure. After satisfactory completion, a positive program recommendation and the required motion, the court dismisses the eligible charge within the statutory period. The actual order and Penal Code § 1000.4 control arrest-record effects and exceptions; enrollment alone does not promise dismissal or erase every consequence. For related context, see collateral consequences.
Proposition 36 (2024)
Proposition 36, which took effect in December 2024, changed California's approach to repeat drug offenses. It's important to understand that this is a different, newer law than the Proposition 36 passed in 2000, and it works differently than a traditional diversion program.
A 2024 Health and Safety Code § 11395 treatment-mandated felony allegation requires a qualifying current possession offense involving a listed drug and at least two prior convictions for the statutes enumerated in § 11395(c). Those priors must be alleged in the accusatory pleading and admitted in open court or found true. Two unspecified “drug convictions” do not establish eligibility or felony exposure. A person electing the treatment path pleads guilty or no contest, admits qualifying priors and has judgment deferred during an individualized court-approved program.
If you're facing this charge, you have a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, you avoid a conviction; you can opt to refuse treatment, but you'll be up against the underlying felony charge, and risking up to three years behind bars. 2024's Proposition 36 also increased sentencing exposure tied to drug quantity for certain substances and added fentanyl to the list of drugs that trigger firearm-related enhancements.
Your Redondo Beach, CA, drug charges lawyer will help you navigate treatment-mandated felony charges, advocate for that path where it's available, and stand by your side no matter which route you take.
How a Drug Conviction in Redondo Beach, CA, Affects Immigration Status
If you are a lawful permanent resident or are in Redondo Beach, CA, on a work visa, a drug conviction can be far more damaging than the criminal penalty alone — you need a law firm who can help you fight the criminal charges and defend you in immigration court, if necessary.
Most drug charge convictions are grounds for deportation, but there is one specific exception: a single offense involving possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana for personal use. This can impact lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as well as visa holders, and it applies even if you weren't given jail time on your conviction.
A few key distinctions matter a great deal:
- Simple possession for personal use (for most substances) is ordinarilly a deportable offense, but is not automatically classified as an "aggravated felony" — this means that you'll have access to some important immigration relief options.
- Possession for sale, sale, or trafficking convictions are not treated as lightly. They are typically classified as aggravated felonies, which can trigger mandatory deportation and create barriers to appeals efforts.
- How a charge is pleaded matters enormously. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense counsel is required to tell you about these immigration consequences before you make a plea. An attorney who understands both sides can negotiate a resolution — such as a plea deal to another, non-drug charge, or a disposition that doesn't include specific "aggravated felony" language — which minimizes your chances of being deported.
Because a criminal record can bring immigration consequences regardless of the sentence, it's important to avoid mistakes from the very start of your case. If you are a non-citizen facing any drug case, tell your attorney immediately — this materially changes how your case should be defended.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my drug charges are dismissed, can anyone still see them?
An arrest or dismissed case can appear in some records. PC 1000 and the 2024 § 11395 treatment path have different entry requirements and defined dismissal effects. Penal Code § 1000.4 deems a qualifying arrest not to have occurred after successful diversion for specified purposes but contains law-enforcement and licensing exceptions; a sealing order may be issued. Ask counsel what the actual disposition and order mean for a particular background check, license or immigration question rather than assuming every record vanishes.
Reading the charge and the two drug-treatment laws
The complaint and citation matter more than a broad label such as “drug crime.” Simple possession under Health and Safety Code § 11350 or § 11377, being under the influence under § 11550, possession for sale under § 11351 or § 11378, and transportation for sale under § 11352 or § 11379 require different proof. If police found an item in a shared car or room, the government still has to prove knowing control of the charged substance; shared access alone neither proves nor defeats possession. If a sale allegation appears, ask what evidence supports intent to sell beyond the amount. If a transportation allegation appears, the current statutes require transportation for sale. Keep the complaint, release conditions, any search inventory and later lab result together so counsel can compare what was first alleged with what was actually filed.
PC 1000 today is pretrial diversion, not a present-day guilty-plea “Deferred Entry of Judgment” procedure. Penal Code § 1000 lists eligible offenses and history/charge conditions. Section 1000.1 says the defendant pleads not guilty, waives specified speedy-hearing and trial rights, and may enter a court-approved education or treatment program. The court dismisses an eligible charge after successful completion, a positive recommendation and the required motion within the statutory timing. Enrollment alone does not dismiss the case. Some court pages still use the older DEJ shorthand; the actual statutory procedure and signed order control. Section 1000.4 defines the qualified arrest-record effect and exceptions, including licensing and law-enforcement contexts. It permits, rather than automatically issues, a sealing order.
The 2024 Proposition 36 is different from the 2000 Proposition 36 treatment measure. The newer measure added Health and Safety Code § 11395, a treatment-mandated felony process for specified possession offenses and substances. Two prior convictions are relevant only if they are among the statutes listed in § 11395(c), are alleged in the charging paper, and are admitted or found true. A person who elects the statutory treatment path pleads guilty or no contest and admits qualifying priors, with judgment deferred while treatment proceeds. After successful completion, a positive recommendation and the specified motion, the court dismisses the charge and applies the arrest protections the law identifies. This is not automatic eligibility for anyone with “two drug priors,” and it should not be confused with current PC 1000. The old and new Proposition 36 paths have different plea and record consequences.
The defense review should match the charge to evidence: source and custody of any substance, laboratory identification, who controlled the location, statements and recordings, alleged sale indicators, search authority, and prior-conviction documents. A person considering treatment should ask about program length, cost, attendance, testing, consequences of noncompletion and whether the actual case qualifies. A noncitizen should obtain criminal and immigration advice before any admission or plea; a California dismissal does not answer every federal question. If professional licensing, employment, or a driving allegation also matters, raise it at the start rather than relying on a generic promise that a drug case will leave “no record.”
Evidence questions to bring to the first case review
Write a private timeline of the stop, search and arrest while details are fresh. Note who could access the vehicle, room, bag or device; where each item was located; what the officer said was observed; and whether a search warrant, claimed consent or other asserted authority appears in the report. Keep a copy of lawful prescription records, relevant messages, treatment documentation and any witness names for counsel. Do not ask others to coordinate stories or delete material. The defense may need to compare body-camera footage, dispatch records, laboratory notes and chain-of-custody records with the filed charge rather than relying on the arrest summary alone.
If the accusation is possession for sale, ask which facts are alleged to show intent to sell and whether the prosecution can actually link those facts to the accused person. Packaging, cash or phone messages can have more than one explanation; they do not replace proof of the statutory elements. If the accusation is transportation for sale, ask what supports the for-sale purpose rather than assuming any travel with a substance meets the charge. A manufacturing or cultivation count needs its own process, equipment, plant-count and control analysis. A firearm, school-zone, jail-entry or fentanyl enhancement must be identified separately in the papers and supported by the additional facts its statute requires. That distinction keeps a serious enhancement from being treated as an automatic consequence of the base drug count.
Finally, keep court and administrative papers separate. A possession citation is not itself a drug-impaired-driving charge. If officers also allege driving under the influence, review the vehicle-law count, test timeline and any DMV notice with counsel as distinct deadlines. If a case is dismissed or completed through diversion, request the final minute order and ask what record relief actually follows. The court’s order, not a generic online success story, determines the next administrative step.
More questions about drug charges
Do I need to answer police questions if I have illegal drugs on me?
Comply with lawful instructions and give identifying information when required, but do not assume you must discuss the alleged substance or sign a narrative statement without counsel. Ask to speak with a lawyer. Preserve any citation, search inventory and release paper so counsel can review the actual charge and how the evidence was obtained.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Redondo Beach, CA?
California offers different dismissal and record-relief paths; “expunged” and “sealed” are not the same. Penal Code § 1203.4 is a qualified dismissal, not deletion for every purpose. A successful PC 1000 case has the specific arrest-record rules in § 1000.4, including exceptions. An attorney should review the actual disposition, program completion and application before predicting what a background check or licensing agency will see.
What's the difference between PC 1000 and Proposition 36 diversion?
Current PC 1000 under Penal Code §§ 1000–1000.1 is pretrial diversion for eligible charges and people, with a not-guilty plea and specified program conditions. The 2024 Proposition 36 added HSC § 11395 for certain repeat possession allegations with enumerated priors; a treatment election involves a guilty or no-contest plea with judgment deferred. The 2000 Proposition 36 treatment law is different again. Eligibility and record effects depend on the actual statute and court order.
If I don't have a record, will my drug possession charge be a felony in Redondo Beach, CA?
A first arrest does not determine the charge by itself. Many simple-possession allegations are misdemeanors, but the substance, alleged conduct, a sale or manufacturing count, an enhancement, or a qualifying history can change the analysis. The 2024 HSC § 11395 treatment-mandated felony requires specified current possession conduct and enumerated priors alleged and established. Have counsel read the complaint and history before drawing a sentencing conclusion.
