Drug Manufacturing
If you or a loved one has been charged with drug manufacturing, your future is on the line. As a convicted felon, your charge will shadow you for the rest of your life. Even after serving a long prison sentence, a drug conviction will make it difficult to find employment or housing.
At Bird & Van Dyke, Inc., we fight our clients’ drug charges. We are dedicated to protecting you and your future.
From our office in Stockton, we defend clients throughout the Central Valley and Northern California against drug manufacturing charges.
Protecting Your Rights, Defending You Against Manufacturing Charges
The state of California and the federal government have laws making it illegal to manufacture drugs. If the federal government decides to prosecute you, you are facing harsh consequences. If convicted, you face long mandatory prison sentences with little chance of early parole. You need experienced drug manufacturing defense lawyers working on your side. You need Bird & Van Dyke, Inc.
Our firm has successfully defended clients against a broad range of drug manufacturing charges in both state and federal courts, including:
- Meth manufacturing
- Marijuana grow houses and cultivation operations
- Producing drugs on federal lands
- Synthetic drug manufacturing
A Former Prosecutor Defending Your Case
If you have been charged with a crime, who better to defend you than a former prosecutor? Attorney Bird has experience working on both sides of the table. Ms. Bird knows what the government needs to obtain a guilty verdict and builds successful defense strategies that protect her clients’ rights.
We attack the government’s case and question police action. Was there probable cause to search you or your home? Were warrants valid? Were you given your Miranda rights? Did drug labs use appropriate testing procedures?
Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Manufacturing In California
Drug manufacturing charges are among the most serious criminal offenses in California. The answers below address common questions people have when facing these charges.
What is considered drug manufacturing in California?
California law defines drug manufacturing as producing, preparing, compounding or processing a controlled substance through chemical extraction or synthesis. This includes every stage of making an illegal drug, not just the final steps.
Prosecutors can charge you under Health and Safety Code Section 11379.6 even if you did not finish making the drug. Possessing certain chemicals or equipment with the intent to manufacture can be enough to support a charge.
Is drug manufacturing a felony in California?
Yes, drug manufacturing is typically a felony in California, and it is one of the most serious drug offenses a person can face under state law.
A felony conviction can bring significant prison time, heavy fines and a permanent criminal record. The penalties depend on the type of drug, the quantity involved and whether children were present at the location.
What are the penalties for manufacturing methamphetamine?
Manufacturing methamphetamine carries some of the harshest drug penalties under California law. A conviction can include:
- Three, five or seven years in a California state prison
- Up to 10 years if the offense took place near a school or playground
- Up to $50,000 in criminal fines
- Federal charges, which carry mandatory minimum sentences
The penalties grow more severe if someone suffered injury or if a child was present at the location.
Can drug manufacturing charges be reduced or dismissed?
Facing drug manufacturing charges does not mean a conviction is inevitable. A skilled defense attorney may get charges reduced or dismissed based on the facts of your case.
Defense attorneys often examine whether law enforcement conducted a lawful search. If officers violated your Fourth Amendment rights, a court may exclude critical evidence and significantly weaken the prosecution’s case.
Defense Against Synthetic Drug Charges
Many synthetic drugs are created using legal products – such as bath salts – and California lawmakers are working hard to outlaw them. Attorney Bird was one of the first attorneys in California to defend a client against synthetic drug charges. We examine the chemical makeup of the alleged illegal drug to determine whether it is, in fact, illegal. If the chemical makeup of the drug is not banned under state or federal law, you cannot be charged with drug manufacturing.
When you are facing serious criminal charges, you need serious criminal defense attorneys. Contact Bird & Van Dyke, Inc., today at 209-507-0479 or reach out online. Consultations are free.