Under both state and federal law, it is a felony offense to possess any amount of cocaine, or a derivative of cocaine. Cocaine is a highly addictive substance that can lead to many years of addiction, which consequently can affect your physical and mental health and your ability to be a productive member of society. If you’ve been arrested for possession of cocaine in Los Angeles, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced drug defense attorney. Cocaine possession charges are taken very seriously, and the police and prosecution will not let you off the hook, even if it is your first arrest or you have no prior criminal history.
For the prosecution to successfully win their case, they must prove that you not only had cocaine in your possession but also that you knew the drug was your possession or that you had some control over the drug being in your possession. However, in order for the police to collect the evidence needed to suggest you had cocaine in your possession, they usually must conduct a search of you and/or your property. At Okabe & Haushalter, you can trust that we will look into your case to determine if the police had just cause or a valid search warrant. Without a valid search warrant or justifiable cause, the police cannot search you or your property—it’s a violation of the 4th Amendment.
At our firm, we are very skilled at defending people against cocaine possession charges, as well as using the text of the 4th Amendment as an effective defense strategy. In fact, together we co-authored the California Loose-Leaf Search & Seizure Handbook, a leading authority in California criminal law. We feel confident that with our help you will increase your chances of avoiding such penalties as imprisonment, heavy fines, probation, community service, court-ordered drug treatment, a mark on your permanent record, and other legal penalties.
If you’ve been charged with possession of cocaine in Los Angeles, please don’t hesitate to contact us today for experienced and committed defense representation!
