California Drug Investigations Attorney

If you’re accused of drug possession, manufacturing, transportation, or another drug crime, it’s important to learn about the investigation process and how a Fresno drug investigations attorney with Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer can protect your rights. Being the target of a drug investigation in California is a very serious situation since drug charges can impact a person’s life in a variety of negative ways, including prison time and a haunting drug conviction attached to your criminal record. For a free and confidential consultation with an experienced California drug investigations attorney, call Michael McKneely at (559) 443-7442 right away.

Drug Investigation Process

In some areas, there may be more than 20 detectives and police officers working on drug cases. They usually begin investigations based on leads from informants and those in the community. Often they will go undercover to perform a “controlled buy” of drugs from a person they suspect is dealing. They may also work with other law enforcement agencies in order to share information. In some cases, drug dealers who have already been arrested may share details they have about other individuals in exchange for reduced penalties.

If the police have acquired information about you, but not enough to warrant a search, they continue with other methods to gather more evidence. The truly scary part is that you may not even know this is happening.

Members of law enforcement may follow you around. They may even take fly-over photos of your residence, trying to detail your comings and goings, looking for incriminating activity. They may tap into your phone and other electronic devices and listen to your conversations or view emails and texts. Often they will search your trash and mount cameras aimed at your property to view your comings and goings.

Once they have enough evidence, they may get a search warrant in order to search your home. With a warrant, they can search your home without your permission. If they find drugs in your home, or other evidence of a crime, they will usually arrest you on the spot. As intrusive as all this may seem, for someone accused of a drug crime, this is just the beginning. A drug investigation in California is just the first part of a lengthy process.

Your Rights During Drug Investigations in California

A police officer must have a search warrant in order to search your home unless it is an emergency, or they see evidence of a crime, like drugs, in plain view, or you give them permission to search. And incidentally, you should never consent to the search of your home. If the police are asking for your permission you do not have to give it. If a police officer searches your home without a warrant and without the so-called “exigent circumstances” mentioned above, then the search was done illegally.

Police do not need a warrant to search your car if it has been towed or impounded or you have been arrested for something you did inside of it. They can do a thorough search of your vehicle – even if your only violation was a parking violation. However, police cannot tow and impound your car simply because they feel the need to search it. Proving this is the case in court though, is difficult.

If you are accused of drug charges it’s best to get an experienced drug investigations attorney in Fresno on your side. If any evidence was collected in a manner that violated your rights, your attorney may be able to have this evidence excluded, but you should always withhold your consent to a search until you have spoken with a lawyer first.

If you are arrested for a drug charge, you will understandably be scared of the potential fallout that may result. Police use your fear against you. They are hoping that you will say something incriminating and once you do, it may be too late. That makes it essential that you avoid saying anything until you’ve met with an attorney, who will inform you of your rights and keep them protected.

Talk to a California Drug Investigations Attorney Today

While drug crimes are common in California, they can be punished harshly, leaving you dealing with the consequences for a long time. Certain drug convictions will stay on your criminal record forever, affecting nearly every aspect of your professional and personal life. If you’re facing drug crime charges or believe that you are a suspect in a drug investigation – no matter how minor – preserve your legal rights by contacting Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer. Fresno criminal defense attorney Michael McKneely has been on both sides of the criminal justice system, so he knows what to expect and how to make the process easier for you.

With 15 years of experience, Fresno drug investigations lawyer Michael McKneely can effectively help you fight your allegations. He has worked with people like you who have been charged with every imaginable type of drug offense. For aggressive criminal defense in Fresno, contact Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer at (559) 443-7442 for a free and confidential consultation.