Drug charges in California run the gamut from the possession of medication without a prescription to large-scale drug trafficking, carrying penalties from a small fine to many years in prison. Whatever the level of the charge you are facing, you should discuss your case with an experienced drug crimes defense attorney, and there is no one more experienced in Orange County than John D. Barnett. John believes that everyone accused of a drug offense deserves an attorney who will work hard to build the best possible defense and fight for his freedom in court. If you are facing a misdemeanor or felony drug charge in Southern California, call Law Office of John D. Barnett to discuss your case with us. If we can help you get a fair shake, we will immediately start fighting for you.

Understand the Drug Charges You Are Facing

In his over 40-year career as a criminal defender, John Barnett has helped enough defendants to know that everyone has a story to tell. There is a reason you ended up in the situation you are in, and he cares enough to know what that reason is. The police and prosecutor may not care about the life you led before your arrest or the extenuating circumstances surrounding the incident, but John does. He cares because he knows this information may play a vital role in your defense. He has successfully defended clients charged with the following serious drug offenses in Orange County:

  • Possession. Anyone carrying or with access to a controlled substance can be arrested for drug possession. The controlled substance could be a prescription medication that you do not have a prescription for, a large amount of marijuana, or street drug such as heroin or cocaine. The penalties you face depend on the amount of drug in your possession, the type of drug it is, and what the authorities believe you intend to do with it. There are multiple defenses to a drug possession charge, including illegal search and seizure and mistaken identity, and John Barnett will develop an effective strategy to defend you.
  • Trafficking. Trafficking refers to the transportation and distribution of narcotics or controlled substances and is a more serious charge than drug possession. Depending on the drug in question and the amount in your possession, state and federal penalties range from five years in prison and a $20,000 fine for selling a drug like Xanax to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for trafficking a large amount of cocaine. These are difficult charges to defend, but the consequences are too serious to trust just anyone with your case.
  • Manufacturing. A charge of manufacturing relates to the production, derivation, processing, preparation, conversion, compounding, chemical synthesis, or chemical extraction related to the production of a controlled substance. If you are caught manufacturing drugs in a home with children or are working with volatile substances close to occupied buildings, the penalties will be significantly greater. An experienced attorney will investigate the circumstances so that you face the least extreme charges possible.

John Barnett will fight to tell your story in court. He knows both state and federal drug laws and potential penalties and will do all he can to secure the best possible outcome for you.

Prescription Drug Charges Should Be Taken Seriously, Too

It is important to understand that if you are arrested for possessing or selling a substance that is legal by prescription, such as fentanyl, hydrocodone, Adderall, Ritalin, Xanax, or Zoloft, you will face the same penalties you would face if you were caught with cocaine. Just because they are not street drugs does not mean you do not face serious prison time and steep fines and that you shouldn’t fight the charges with everything you have. John Barnett has helped defendants faced with prescription drug charges and can help you too.

Protect Your Child’s Future

If your teenage or young adult son or daughter has been arrested for drug possession or distribution in California, you may be tempted to exercise “tough love” and let the system handle it. While your intentions may be good—you want to teach him a lesson to put them on the right path—the consequences are just too serious to risk. Without the best possible defense now, your child’s entire future could be in jeopardy. Even if it is a first offense, and he avoids jail time, a conviction could ruin his ability to go to college or get a job. Whatever your personal feelings are about your child’s mistakes, you owe it to him to hire a defense attorney who understands what is at stake. The best way to get your child on the right path is to hire a skilled defense attorney as soon as possible. 

Let John Barnett Tell Your Story

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Orange County, you need a skilled attorney immediately. Make the Law Offices of John D. Barnett be the first call you make. If we can help, we will put our team to work for you right away.