In Orange County, California, and throughout Southern California the use and abuse of drugs are a fact of life. The rampant criminalization of the possession of prescription, recreational, and street drugs has overcrowded our jails and prisons and wrongfully incarcerated, embarrassed, and rendered indigent many good, hardworking Americans. At The Law Office of Keith J. Bruno, we believe that people who possess a controlled substance simply should not be treated as felons. It is simply not the government's business.

If you have been arrested for the possession of a controlled substance, please contact the Law Office of Keith J. Bruno immediately. We will vigorously defend you and your rights against a pernicious government policy determined to incarcerate simple drug possessors.

While the possession of drugs can often be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, in Orange County, California and many counties in Southern California possession is automatically charged as a felony. Unfair as this is, it is the reality borne of years of weak politicians caving to a "tough on crime" agenda that sweeps good people into the penitentiary.

State and Federal Drug Crimes Defense

Conviction of a drug-related offense can wreak havoc in your life well into the future. The Law Office of Keith J. Bruno will help you understand your rights and the full extent of the charges against you related to:

• Drug possession
• Drug trafficking
• Drug manufacturing
• Drug transportation
• Drug sales
• Ecstasy
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Meth (methamphetamines)
• Crack
• Prescription drugs such as vicodin or oxycontin

Bear note that first time, non-violent offenders may avoid jail time pursuant to Penal Code section 1000 or Proposition 36 which provides for probation and drug diversion courses and rehabilitation programs. This may be an option that is available to you. However, be wary of the attorney who simply wants to put you into a program and not vigorously fight the case.

In many drug cases, the first issue that a competent criminal defense attorney should examine is whether or not the government action was legal under the Constitution. How did they come to obtain that baggie of cocaine that was in your pocket? Was the search and seizure of your person and property legal? If not, you need an attorney to aggressively file the appropriate motions and intelligently argue why the evidence against you should be suppressed. It is true that California offers certain diversion programs for drug possession. These programs are generally available to a defendant as a matter of right. One should not hire an attorney simply to have that attorney turn the client over to a drug program that they were entitled to receive and the first instance. You hire an attorney to aggressively defend your case. A dismissal, suppression of the evidence, a not guilty verdict, these are the concepts that the criminal defense attorney should examine with you thoroughly prior to counseling you into any drug treatment program. Very simply, the drug treatment program will assume your guilt. At the Law Office of Keith J. Bruno, we do not assume any client's guilt. The presumption of innocence is alive and well from the moment you walk into our doors and you'll be treated as such.

If you have been accused of a drug crime such as possession of a controlled substance, contact the Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego criminal defense firm of The Law Office of Keith J. Bruno. We offer a free face-to-face consultation and can work out a payment plan in most situations.

Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer Keith J. Bruno represents Californians who have been accused, charged, or arrested for criminal offenses in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego.