On Oct. 7, California authorities arrested 12 people during a drug raid in Ceres. The incident occurred at around 7 a.m.
Local media outlets report that members of the Ceres Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on the 1600 block of Richard Avenue. During the ensuing search of the property, they located six outbuildings that contained processed marijuana and marijuana plants. Twelve unidentified defendants were taken into custody as a result of the raid.
While marijuana use is legal in California, there are strict laws about growing and selling it. In fact, earlier this year, a law allowing local governments to fine people for breaking local cannabis regulations went into effect. The law, known as Assembly Bill 2164, even lets law enforcement officers fine landlords if their tenants break cannabis rules. The legislation is intended to help communities crack down on illegal marijuana growers.
Defendants facing drug possession or drug trafficking charges might fear they have little choice but to plead guilty and accept whatever sentence is handed down. However, with the help of a criminal defense attorney, it might be possible to get the charges reduced or completely dropped. For example, if the attorney discovers that police overstepped their authority during the search that led to the seizure, any evidence they collected could be ruled inadmissible in court, reducing the chances of conviction. Another strategy might be for the attorney to negotiate a plea bargain that allows the defendant to plead guilty to less serious charges. This might help the defendant avoid a trial and obtain a more lenient sentence. For instance, first-time offenders may be allowed to complete a drug diversion program instead of going to jail.