Have You Been Charged with a Drug Crime?
Contact us. We can help. Being accused of selling or possessing drugs can lead to terrible and long-lasting consequences. Being found guilty of many of these charges can lead to jail time, a hefty fine and an indelible criminal record. If you are facing one or more drug charges it is imperative that you obtain the help of a skilled attorney as soon as possible, to ensure that your rights are not abused. You need an experienced Santa Barbara drug possession lawyer fighting for you.
Contact our law firm today, or use the confidential form to the right to gain a better understanding of what you are facing and what a skilled criminal defense lawyer can do to make it better. There is no charge for the initial consultation.
Criminal defense attorney William C. Makler has more than 25 years of experience defending against drug possession charges on the Central Coast of California. He is familiar with both federal and California drug laws, which protect the accused—among other things—from unlawful arrests and illegal searches and seizures. Other illegal practices by the authorities can mean a constitutional violation of your rights, and result in the exclusion of evidence, or the dismissal of your case entirely.
If you believe you are being watched by law enforcement due to suspicion of drug sales, or if there is already a warrant for your arrest, contact us immediately. All calls and contacts are completely confidential. The initial consultation is free of charge and, of course, it is risk-free.
We Have Substantial Experience Defending Against Drug Charges
At the Law Offices of William C. Makler, P.C. we have more than 25 years of experience defending individuals against serious drug charges, including:
- Possession for sale, trafficking, sale cultivation and manufacturing of marijuana (including concentrated cannibis such as hashish and butane honey oil), cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines (such as “Xanny”), MDMA (aka “Ecstasy” or “Molly”), LSD, psilocybin (aka “mushrooms”), salts, synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., “spice”) and all other recreational drugs
- Transportation of controlled substances
- Possession with intent to sell
- Drug Sales
- Distribution or intent to distribute
- Unlawful Cultivation
Pursuing Alternatives to Incarceration
In addition to identifying all the viable legal defenses you may have, we will determine whether or not you are eligible for potential drug treatment programs which may reduce or eliminate any potential jail time you might otherwise serve and may allow you to walk away with little to no long-term negative impacts.
Examples of such alternatives to ordinary prosecution include:
- Proposition 36: If you qualify for this program a probation officer will determine the level of treatment you require. The drug charges are dismissed if you complete the prescribed treatment.
- Electronic monitoring and work-release: When coupled with drug/alcohol treatment.
- Santa Barbara’s Substance Abuse Treatment Court (aka SATC): If you qualify for this pre-plea program, you will be offered the opportunity to walk away without even having admitted any wrongdoing by agreeing to undergo, generally, abuse treatment and participate in a court-supervised 12-18 month program. This can mean a lot in terms of avoiding the long-term negative impacts on employment, academic pursuits and immigration status if you are not a US citizen.
- Deferred entry of judgment (also known as drug diversion) is a class on drug and alcohol use which is intended to reduce recidivism. The program takes place over a six month period, during 20 or so hours in group education and counseling sessions. Lower level drug offenders may be offered the option to take this class and then, after 18 months of law-abiding behavior, be able to move ahead with their life’s goals as though the arrest never happened.
Call Santa Barbara drug possession lawyer, William C. Makler now at (805) 892-4922 for a free, no obligation, consultation. Or, if you prefer it, message us and Mr. Makler will get back to you as soon as possible and frequently within a few minutes. Our offices are conveniently located near the Superior Court building.