Orange County Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys

Thanks to the "war on drugs," even minor drug crimes are still punished harshly in Orange County. Simple possession of many drugs or even their ingredients will get your driver's license suspended and may draw time in jail. "Bigger" drug crimes such as sales, manufacture and trafficking are felonies that can put you in jail for decades, even if there was no violence, and force you to live as a felon after release. If you're federally charged, the government may also legally take any money or property they believe is related to the drugs. With that much at stake, you need advice from an experienced Orange County drug crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible.

Wallin & Klarich can help. We have more than three decades of experience defending clients in Orange County and throughout Southern California from drug crimes. Our attorneys can handle state and federal drug charges of all kinds, including:

• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of drug ingredients
• Illegal possession of prescription drugs
• Possession of narcotics
• Possession with intent to sell
• Distribution or sales of drugs
• Manufacturing or cultivation of drugs
• Trafficking or importing drugs

The penalties depend on the drug, the amount of the drug and whether you're charged in the State of California or under federal law. Possession and other relatively minor charges are usually charged as misdemeanors under California state law, while large-scale sales or manufacture are likely to be state or federal felonies punishable with decades in prison. Unfortunately, those charged with a felony in California also face the effects of California's "three strikes" law, which can get you up to life in prison even for a nonviolent drug felony. That's why it's so important not to say a single word to police officers until a criminal defense lawyer from Wallin & Klarich is by your side.

Experienced Orange County Criminal Defense

Some drug cases can make headlines or even careers for prosecutors and police. But in their eagerness to build a case, some officers make mistakes or ignore civil rights laws. Just one mistake like this can collapse the evidence against you, forcing prosecutors to drop all charges against you. That's why Wallin & Klarich will always comb through drug cases to look for and aggressively challenge these flaws. If that's not possible in your case, we will use bad assumptions and thin evidence to negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf or defend you thoroughly in court, if appropriate. Prosecutors must prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction; we will force them to live up to that standard or lower or drop your charges.

If you're charged with a first or second nonviolent offense, you're probably also eligible for Drug Court, an alternative sentence available in California only to drug defendants. In Drug Court, you appear in court regularly, attend classes and meetings and are subject to random drug testing. If you can successfully complete these and other requirements, you can avoid jail and other penalties altogether. Wallin & Klarich is proud of our strong record of placing clients in Drug Court, including clients accused of small-scale sales, manufacture or cultivation.

Wallin & Klarich Will Be There

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach each case with the belief that we could easily be defending one of our own family members. After more than 30 years of practicing criminal defense law, we understand how upsetting and stressful criminal charges can be to our clients and their families. That's why we're committed to being there for our clients at all times: 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year. We also offer reasonable legal fees and payment plans for clients who request them. And we offer free case evaluations to potential clients, so there's no risk in speaking with an experienced Orange County drug defense attorney about your case. To schedule a free consultation with Wallin & Klarich, call us today at 1-877-680-8173. We promise to be there when you call.