The Los Angeles Times is reporting that two people, one of whom is suspected of being a gang member, were recently arrested and charged with cultivating $2.5 million worth of marijuana.
Though marijuana is considered by most to be a gateway drug, charges involving the drug can carry extreme penalties in California. That's why a strong criminal defense in Simi Valley is important.
According to The Times, sheriff's deputies seized two caches of plants and dried marijuana in a commercial building fronting as a consultant's office on South Date Avenue in Alhambra. Inside, authorities found more than 440 plants, 150 pounds of dried marijuana, cultivation equipment and guns, the story says.
Authorities believe one of the two arrested was a member of Wah Ching, an Asian gang known for narcotics and weapons trafficking.
While the story says sheriff's detectives were working on a month-long investigation after a tip, it doesn't say why they felt they had the authority to raid an office building. As in any case involving a search, it's possible the search and seizure was done illegally by police.
When police riffle through your car, barge into your home or business or search your clothes, there are specific rules they must follow. Law enforcement must have probable cause, which is the belief that a crime has been committed and a reasonable certainty that you committed it, in order to conduct a search.
In cases involving a warrant, an officer must swear under oath to a judge that the information is accurate. If the officer misleads the judge, it could be grounds to dismiss the case.
These aren't matters that should be taken lightly. An experienced Ventura defense lawyer is like a checks and balance system for the police and the court. These are issues that an attorney should bring up before, and possibly during, trial.
If you are facing criminal charges that stem from a search and seizure, it is best to remain silent and contact a Pasadena drug defense lawyer immediately. Often, statements made by defendants can be more damaging than what police find in your possession or inside your house or business.
Many mistakenly believe charges involving marijuana are no longer serious -- both because of the state's medical marijuana law and because possession of less than an ounce has essentially been decriminalized. However, marijuana charges in Ventura and the surrounding area are still quite serious, particularly when cultivation or distribution is alleged. And any charges to which gang enhancements are attached carry more serious penalties for conviction.
If you need to speak with a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Kern, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, contact the Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann toll free at 888-744-7730 for a free consultation.
