Drug Sales & Transportation Defense in Lancaster

I Prepare Your Lancaster Drug Sales Defense & Appear in Court

Drug sales and transportation charges require a defense focused on the conduct and intent the prosecution believes it can prove. At Law Office of Jesse P. Duran, I defend people accused of possession with intent to sell, distribution of controlled substances, and drug trafficking in Lancaster.

I personally prepare the defense and appear in court with each client. I have defended drug charges in local courts for more than a decade and have helped hundreds of clients since establishing my practice in 2007.

Call (661) 903-8056 to discuss a drug sales, transportation, or trafficking allegation directly with me.

California Laws Governing Drug Sales & Transportation

California prosecutes conduct commonly described as drug trafficking under statutes addressing the sale and transportation of controlled substances. The applicable law depends partly on the substance and conduct alleged:

• Section 11352: This statute makes it a felony to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, give away, or offer to perform those acts involving specified drugs, including heroin and cocaine. For a transportation charge, the prosecution must allege that the drugs were moved with the intent to sell them.
• Section 11379: This statute applies to methamphetamine and certain substances classified in Schedules III, IV, or V. It prohibits selling, transporting for sale, furnishing, administering, or giving away those substances. Transportation under this law means transportation for sale, not movement solely for personal use.

Potential Penalties for a Drug Sales or Transportation Conviction

Sentencing exposure varies with the statute, substance, and transportation circumstances. These are serious felony allegations, but the potential sentence differs by case.

Possible statutory penalties include:

• Section 11352: A conviction carries three, four, or five years in county jail under California’s realignment sentencing framework and a fine of up to $20,000.
• County-line transportation under Section 11352: Transporting drugs for sale across two or more non-contiguous county lines, meaning counties that don’t share a border, carries three, six, or nine years.
• Section 11379: A conviction is punishable by two, three, or four years in jail or prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• County-line transportation under Section 11379: Transportation for sale across non-contiguous county lines carries three, six, or nine years.

Section 11352 also provides sentencing enhancements for specified quantities of heroin and cocaine. An enhancement is an additional penalty attached to the underlying offense. The added prison term and potential fine depend on the weight attributed to the substance.

Convictions under sections 11352 and 11379 aren’t eligible for drug treatment diversion under Penal Code section 1000 or Proposition 36. Diversion generally allows eligible defendants to pursue treatment instead of a conventional conviction and sentence, but these sales and transportation offenses are excluded.

How I Prepare a Drug Sales Defense in Lancaster

An arrest, investigation, or filed charge doesn’t establish guilt. The prosecution must prove the charged conduct, including intent to sell when transportation for sale is alleged. I examine the evidence supporting both the alleged movement or transfer of drugs and the claimed intent behind it.

I have been a member of the California bar since 2006. Before entering private practice, I worked in the District Attorney’s Office in Van Nuys. That background informs how I assess the prosecution’s allegations, prepare for court, and identify factual or legal issues that can affect a case.

Criminal cases arising in Lancaster and the Antelope Valley are handled at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse. I draw on my experience in local courts to prepare each case for its specific allegations and procedural stage.

Discuss Your Charge Directly with Me

A consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss the accusation, the applicable statutes, and your options for legal representation. I serve clients in Lancaster and remain directly involved from the initial consultation through court appearances.

You can contact Law Office of Jesse P. Duran by phone or through the contact form. Bring any available charging documents, release paperwork, or court information so I can review what has been filed or alleged.

Call (661) 903-8056 to speak with me about your drug sales or transportation case.