Los Angeles Meth Possession Lawyer

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Meth Possession Lawyer in Los Angeles

If you have been charged with possession of methamphetamine in Los Angeles this page is for you. Not someone researching drugs — someone who was arrested, is looking at charges, and needs to know what happens next and who can help. A possession charge under HSC 11377 can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on your prior record and the circumstances of your arrest. The outcome of your case depends on how early and aggressively the defense is built. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years defending clients against methamphetamine and drug charges throughout Los Angeles County. Contact our office today at (310) 448-1529 for a free confidential consultation.

Is Meth Possession a Felony in California?

This is the question most people search immediately after being charged and the answer matters enormously for what happens next. Under Proposition 47 simple possession of methamphetamine under Health and Safety Code 11377 is a misdemeanor for most first and second time offenders. A misdemeanor carries up to one year in county jail and fines. It also preserves eligibility for diversion programs that can result in the charge being dismissed entirely with no conviction on your record.

The charge becomes a felony when the defendant has prior convictions for certain serious or violent offenses that disqualify them from Proposition 47 treatment. It also escalates when law enforcement believes the methamphetamine was possessed for sale rather than personal use and files the charge under HSC 11378 instead. That single distinction between hs 11377 possession and HSC 11378 possession for sale is the difference between a misdemeanor with diversion eligibility and a felony carrying up to three years in state prison. Our criminal defense attorney challenges the possession for sale determination in every case where the evidence does not clearly support it.

Methamphetamine Possession Charges in California — What You Are Facing

Health and Safety Code 11377(a) covers simple possession of methamphetamine for personal use. Hs11377(a) is the charge filed when law enforcement believes the amount possessed was consistent with personal use and no sales indicators were present. Health and Safety Code 11377 possession cases are also the ones most likely to qualify for diversion and the ones where early attorney involvement most directly changes the outcome.

A related charge that appears frequently in the search data for this page is HSC 11379 which covers transportation and distribution of methamphetamine. That is a separate and more serious felony charge with its own elements and penalties. If you have been charged under HSC 11379 rather than health and safety code 11377 the exposure is significantly higher and the defense strategy is different. Our criminal defense attorney handles both charges and analyzes from the first consultation which statute the prosecution is relying on and whether the facts actually support that charge.

Beyond the criminal penalties a methamphetamine conviction carries long-term consequences. A felony record affects employment, housing, and professional licensing permanently. For non-citizens even a misdemeanor possession conviction under hs 11377 can trigger serious immigration consequences including deportation and denial of reentry. The immigration consequences of a meth charge are often more severe and more permanent than the criminal sentence itself and our criminal defense attorney analyzes immigration exposure in every drug case involving a non-citizen from the first consultation.

Diversion Programs for Meth Possession Charges in Los Angeles

For clients charged with simple possession of methamphetamine under 11377 a hs diversion is one of the most valuable options available and it is one that requires early action to preserve. Penal Code 1000 pretrial diversion allows eligible defendants to complete a drug education or treatment program before trial and have the charge dismissed entirely upon successful completion with no conviction on your record. Proposition 36 allows first and second-time nonviolent drug offenders to receive treatment instead of incarceration. Both programs require the defendant to have no prior drug sales convictions and to be charged with simple possession. Our criminal defense attorney evaluates diversion eligibility from the first consultation and pursues every available program because a successful diversion completion means no conviction and no permanent record from the charge.

How We Defend Meth Possession Charges in Los Angeles

The defense starts with how law enforcement found the drug. Most possession of meth arrests begin with a traffic stop or a search of a vehicle, home, or person. When that stop lacked reasonable suspicion or the search lacked probable cause the methamphetamine can be suppressed and without the physical evidence the prosecution cannot proceed. Our criminal defense attorney analyzes the legality of every stop and search from the first consultation because suppression is the most direct path to dismissal in possession cases.

When the search was lawful the defense focuses on whether the prosecution can prove knowing possession, whether the quantity and circumstances actually support a possession for sale theory, and whether the defendant qualifies for diversion. Every meth possession case has a specific set of facts that create specific opportunities and finding those opportunities early is what determines what the defense can accomplish.

Why Choose Attorney Hashemi

Attorney Arash Hashemi has defended clients against methamphetamine possession charges throughout Los Angeles County for over 20 years. He understands how the District Attorney’s office at each filing location approaches HSC 11377 cases, which diversion programs each court favors, and where the defense has the most leverage at every stage. Every case is handled personally by Attorney Hashemi with no associates and no handoffs. When you retain our firm you work directly with the attorney defending your case from the first call through resolution.

If you have been charged with possession of methamphetamine in Los Angeles contact our office today. Our criminal defense attorney will review the facts of your arrest, analyze the evidence, discuss your diversion options, and give you an honest assessment of where your case stands and what can be done. Contact our office today for a free confidential consultation.

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We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers serving clients facing methamphetamine and drug charges across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, and all surrounding communities. Your defense starts the moment you call.