we will do it together
Have you been accused of a drug crime? You have the right to turn to an experienced defense lawyer. When you turn to the Rooney Law Firm, we will take action immediately. We will thoroughly examine your case for opportunities to have it dismissed completely. We will make every effort to help you avoid jail and protect your future from the consequences of a drug charge.
At the Rooney Law Firm, we have the experience to protect your rights. We have more than 30 years of experience standing up for the rights of people in Chico and throughout California. Our commitment to the needs of our clients has earned our lead attorney the title of Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 by the Chico News and Review.
We are available to aggressively fight for your dismissal in all drug cases, including:
Whether your charge is related to meth, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, prescription drugs or any other controlled substance, we can help. Our attorneys have extensive experience in these matters runs deep, including the fact that our lead attorney was previously appointed to defend all methamphetamine laboratories cases in Yuba County.
There are several methods to attack drug charge cases. We know how to look for reasons to have your case dismissed. We will review the admissibility of evidence and circumstances of any investigation. Police action and conduct will be challenged if unconstitutional.
Dismissal, jail avoidance, and reduction of charges are not the only outcomes in drug cases. Through Proposition 36, an alternative diversion program may be an option in your case. Mr. Rooney was appointed for the Prop 36 implementation in Butte County, and can explain your rights and options under this provision. Also, PC 1000 can result in the removal of all charges from your record.
While both Proposition 36 and PC 1000 offer opportunities for rehabilitation and probation, each individual case is different. It is essential to consult Mr. Rooney to learn what options are available to you.
E-mail us or call us toll-free at (800) TKO-4LAW to schedule a free initial consultation with a drug charge defense lawyer.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
Drug charges are always serious — even if the drug is only marijuana and even if you are authorized to use, grow or possess the drug for under California’s Medical Marijuana and Compassionate Use Act. We advise patients on California legal marijuana grows and know when the Federal laws apply.
At the Rooney Law Firm, we take pride in taking every possible step to obtain dismissals or drastic reductions in the consequences our clients face if convicted on marijuana charges. We are serious about protecting your rights and keeping you out of jail. Dial (800) TKO-4LAW for immediate assistance, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Please note that our law firm handles federal marijuana-related criminal defense cases. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in any federal court.
These numbers tell some of our story. We tell yours.
In California, a conviction for misdemeanor possession of marijuana is punishable by a $100 fine but not jail time. While this may be a relatively light penalty as compared to the penalties in other states, don’t be fooled. A conviction for any type of drug crime could prevent you from obtaining a job, loans for college and even a home — regardless of whether you received a jail sentence.
Our aggressive marijuana criminal defense law practice handles complex marijuana possession andsales cases involving a wide range of issues and defenses including the following:
We understand what a drug conviction means and from the second we start work on your defense — will put forth every effort to see that you remain out of jail, and that your criminal record stays free of a conviction on marijuana charges. In practical terms, we look long and hard at the facts, at the evidence the state plans to use against you and at every potentially viable defense. We may also work with professional investigators and highly-regarded experts to strengthen your legal case, if necessary.
In short, we will work to see that you get the results you need to move beyond today’s legal troubles and move forward with your life.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
To talk with an attorney about the marijuana charges you’re facing and learn more about your rights and defense options, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact page of this Web site.
Criminal convictions involving methamphetamines can have nightmarish consequences. In fact, prosecutors routinely turn what should be simple possession cases into felony cases with charges ranging from distribution to manufacturing. Additional charges involving conspiracy, child abuse and weapons are typically included as well.
In other words, now is not the time to take chances with your defense.
At the Rooney Law Firm, we take pride in taking every appropriate step to obtain dismissals or drastic reductions in the consequences our clients face if convicted on methamphetamine charges. We are serious about protecting your rights and keeping you out of jail. Dial (800) TKO-4LAW for immediate assistance, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
These numbers tell some of our story. We tell yours.
No matter how successful or highly skilled a criminal defense attorney is, no one wins every case. And especially not every drug case. It just won’t happen. Our attorneys know that and know when to shift the focus of a client’s defense from trying to get methamphetamine charges dismissed to minimizing the damage. More importantly, our attorneys have the practical skills and resources needed to help accomplish this goal.
We use all appropriate tools to help ensure that our clients spend little to no time in jail. This includes getting our clients placed in diversion programs, using the provisions of California’s Proposition 36 and convincing judges to impose lighter sentences.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
Our law firm provides aggressive meth crimes defense on behalf of people in the Chico area and throughout the state of California.
To learn more about our practice or to schedule a free consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact page of this Web site.
Whether or not you did possess or distribute prescription drugs without a prescription — or store prescription drugs in unlabeled containers — you should talk to an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible if you are under suspicion. For best results, contact Rooney Law Firm before you are arrested, when you have learned that you are under investigation. However, we help many clients who call after drug-related arrests, as well.
Stakes are high when you have been charged with a drug crime. The fact that you are accused of possessing or trafficking in prescription drugs does not make the crime any less serious than a crime involving “street drugs.” Prescription narcotics obtained or distributed without a doctor’s prescription are also “illegal drugs.”
Do not take chances if you have been arrested for transporting controlled pharmaceuticals illegally. The defense lawyers at the Rooney Law Firm are ready to apply knowledge and skills developed through 30 years of experience along with zeal and dedication to your defense. Contact the law firm to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
You may have been charged with possession of a pharmaceutical product that you did not have a prescription for — or for trafficking when you allegedly distributed drugs such as the following:
Anna Nicole Smith, a deceased celebrity, allegedly possessed thousands of pills, narcotics, before her death by overdose. Her boyfriend and lawyer, Howard K. Stern, 41, and doctors Sandeep Kapoor, 42, and Khristine Eroshevich, 62, were charged with multiple felonies in connection with providing drugs or assisting her in obtaining prescription narcotics.
While your prescription drug possession or trafficking charges may be less dramatic, you could be on a path potentially leading to prison and a criminal record. Seek the best criminal defense attorney you can find — one who will tenaciously defend you through all phases and aspects of the criminal justice system.
Our criminal defense team works together to review evidence that can help protect our clients’ freedom and futures after a prescription drug-related arrest. This may include reviewing police actions leading up the arrest and working with professional investigators and experts to verify the validity of the prosecutor’s case against you, the defendant in a prescription drug criminal case.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
For a free initial consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the briefe-mail form provided on the Contact page of this website.
The lead attorney at Rooney Law Firm has been named Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year since 2010 in the Chico News and Review.
Your inquiry is welcome if you have been charged with a marijuana crime in California. If your criminal defense lawyer is able to demonstrate at your preliminary hearing that your activities fall within these descriptions, your marijuana-related criminal charges may be dismissed. Proof may include evidence of proper authorization from a licensed California physician.
Our criminal defense team will work together to ensure that nothing gets overlooked with your marijuana crime case when Proposition 215 is your defense. If our law firm represents you, at least two attorneys will review all facts and evidence. We may bring forward testimony of professional investigators and experts as necessary to challenge the evidence the state plans to use against you in court.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
For a free initial consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the briefe-mail form provided on the Contact page of this website.
*Note: It is never legal to sell marijuana at a profit, even when it is used for medicinal purposes. A supplier can only recoup costs.
California’s Proposition 215 (the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996) exempts patients and their “primary caregivers” from criminal prosecution under state law on the basis of possession and cultivation of marijuana, but does not exempt people from criminal charges based on sale and distribution to others.
Therefore, many medical marijuana growers form cooperatives or collectives as defined by Senate Bill 420 (Health & Safety Code 11362.7-8) that provide a legal way for members to distribute and sell medical marijuana on a nonprofit basis to members. A vigorous defense of those charged with crimes of distribution of marijuana will demonstrate that the parties were engaged in growth of the drug in a cooperative agreement and were not making a profit, but “recouping costs.”
Defendants are well-advised to seek representation by a well-respected criminal defense lawyer who has helped other defendants in similar medicinal marijuana cases obtain favorable outcomes, including dismissal of charges, reduction of charges and reduction of penalties for those convicted.
The Chico marijuana cooperative defense attorneys of Rooney Law Firm are prepared to work together to review evidence, work with professional investigators and experts, and challenge the evidence the state plans to use against you in court after you have been charged with marijuana sales and trafficking.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
For a free initial consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact page of this website.
You may have been acting as a caregiver for a patient receiving medical marijuana if you can show that you were consistently attending to patients’ needs while providing marijuana for their personal use. You are advised to seek representation from a Chico primary caregiver defense attorney with ample experience handling similar cases, often resulting in favorable outcomes.
Please note that our law firm handles federal marijuana-related criminal defense cases. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in any federal court.
Our criminal defense team at Rooney Law Firm is ready to review all of the evidence and facts in your medical marijuana case and prepare to challenge the evidence the state plans to use against you in court.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
For a free initial consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact page of this website.
Prosecutors sometimes attempt to use quantity as evidence that a defendant was planning to sell or otherwise distribute drugs to buyers. Or they cite as evidence the fact that a defendant had scales and plastic bags in his or her possession. Our defense lawyers, however, have challenged such allegations in many cases on the premise that the possessor had other motives for possession of scales and plastic bags in connection with personal use.
You may be eligible for dismissal of your California drug trafficking charges through participation in the deferred entry of judgment program after a first offense. If you fail to defend yourself, however, you could end up with a prison sentence and a criminal record. Your future and your freedom should not be left to chance. Contact a criminal defense lawyer with the reputation and track record of results that will give you confidence that your constitutional rights are being protected at every step.
The lead attorney of Rooney Law Firm has been named Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year every year since 2010 by the Chico News and Review.
Our Chico drug trafficking lawyers review all evidence connected with our clients’ cases. We may work with professional investigators and experts, such as toxicologists, to challenge the evidence the state plans to use against you in court.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
For a free initial consultation, call us at either of the two numbers listed above or complete the brief e-mail form provided on the Contact page of this website.
Since the passage of Proposition 215 (the Compassionate Use Act) in 1996, California marijuana laws have been continuously debated and challenged, resulting in uncertainty about what is legal, what laws can be enforced in various jurisdictions and the best ways to stay clear of criminal charges that can have very serious consequences.
Today, the intersection of federal laws prohibiting cultivation of marijuana with California state lawsand ordinances passed by individual California cities and counties (including Chico and Butte County) continues to create a serious quandary for people who want to fully understand their rights and avoid arrest and prosecution.
In addition to delivering skilled criminal defense, attorneys at the Rooney Law Firm advise people how to be safe and legal with their marijuana gardens and grow operations. We are dedicated to staying up-to-date on specific county ordinances and policies on marijuana grow prosecution, enabling our clients to avoid raids, arrests, crop destruction, property seizures and other harsh consequences.
Our approach at the Rooney Law Firm is hands-on and proactive, as evidenced by our experience leading district attorneys and law enforcement personnel on tours of our clients’ grow operations. We provide:
We have helped many medical marijuana patients, primary caregivers and others involved with legal marijuana cultivation obtain dismissals, acquittals, reduced charges and manageable consequences. In many other situations, we have worked proactively to help marijuana growers protect their rights and gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are in compliance.
Led by a seven-time Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year as recognized in the Consumer Business Review section of the Chico News and Review, our firm can put extensive knowledge and resources to work for you. Whatever your current problem or concerns about marijuana cultivation in California, we encourage you to contact us for a free initial consultation.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
Medical cannabis patients and caregivers are often uncertain about their cultivation rights. If you want to do all you can to verify that your grow is legal where you live — or if you have run into problems with law enforcement and need skilled, determined criminal defense in state or federal court, contact us at the Rooney Law Firm.
While the text of Proposition 215 is extensive, and its passage has been followed by other bills and much debate, there is currently no state law that universally answers the question, “How much is legal?”
California Senate Bill 420, signed into law in 2003, set default limits of six mature plants or 12 immature plants per patient, and a limit of eight ounces of dried marijuana, but allowed for variation by local governments. Those default limits have since been challenged and ruled unconstitutional, but no one should interpret this as an elimination of grow limits or permission to “grow as much pot as you can.” Doing so can result in felony marijuana cultivation charges.
Provided a personal or cooperative grow operation does not violate other aspects of the law, whether it is legal likely depends on specific ordinances passed by individual California counties and cities — such as “Chapter 34A” in Butte County, where our law offices are located. Such ordinances vary widely and cover issues such as:
We are dedicated to staying up-to-date on specific county ordinances and policies on marijuana grow prosecution, enabling our clients to avoid raids, arrests, crop destruction, property seizures, possible jail time and other harsh consequences.
Wherever you live in Northern California or statewide, our lawyers are prepared to consult with you on which laws apply to your grow operation and how best to ensure compliance. Call or e-mail our law firm now to schedule a consultation or get proven legal help if you have been arrested or come under investigation.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
The Compassionate Use Act of 1996, passed on the ballot as Proposition 215, led to the addition of certain protections for medical cannabis patients and caregivers to the California Health and Safety Code. Generally, these protections exempted authorized patients and caregivers from criminal charges for marijuana possession and cultivation and also prohibited punishment or persecution of physicians who recommend cannabis for medical purposes.
As with other aspects of California marijuana law, uncertainty and misinformation surround the issue of what a patient actually needs to avoid prosecution for marijuana cultivation or possession. Common, important questions include:
By the letter of the law, you need a “recommendation” from a physician, rather than a script like you would get for a pharmaceutical medication, and this recommendation must document the medical condition being treated. However, many people who believe they have what is necessary run into problems with law enforcement over legal grow amounts and other issues.
At the Rooney Law Firm in Chico, we are well equipped to defend medical marijuana patients as well as caregivers and physicians accused of violating the law. We also provide counsel to individuals and cooperatives that want to stay compliant and proactively avoid arrest or prosecution for marijuana crimes.
Please note that our law firm handles both state and federal marijuana-related criminal defense cases. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in any federal court.
You can turn to our lawyers with questions about legal grow amounts, operation of your cooperative, and other marijuana issues — or for skilled, resourceful defense against any marijuana charge. To schedule a free consultation at our firm, led by a seven-time Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year as recognized in the Consumer Business Review section of the Chico News and Review, call (800) TKO-4-LAW or send us e-mail anytime.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)
Throughout Northern California and statewide, federal, county and some local law enforcement authorities frequently conduct marijuana “sweeps” and arrest growers who believe their activities are in compliance with the law.
Unfortunately, having a doctor recommendation for medical cannabis use as described in the Compassionate Use Act and staying within grow limits and other local guidelines is not always sufficient protection against an arrest on felony marijuana charges such as marijuana cultivation, possession, sale or intent to distribute.
In some cases, cultivation arrests are made by federal law enforcement and prosecuted under federal laws. In others, county sheriffs target growers and file state-level charges based on allegations such as:
Our legal team includes numerous attorneys, a full-time investigator and experienced paralegals to ensure all aspects of your case are examined thoroughly. We will offer legal advice and representation specific to your California county, city or town.
Applying decades of experience, our attorneys offer comprehensive defense against all marijuana charges. We will go the distance in the effort to help you avoid conviction, jail and other harsh consequences by proving you had a legal physician’s recommendation, did not exceed grow limits, and did not violate other laws.
We have obtained many case dismissals, acquittals and reductions in charges for our valued clients. We have also helped many legal marijuana growers work proactively and effectively with local law enforcement to avoid raids, arrests and seizure of their crops and cash.
At the Rooney Law Firm, we stay current on changes in marijuana laws throughout California and have the skills and resources to help you. To discuss your defense against marijuana charges or the legality of your marijuana grow with a caring, knowledgeable lawyer, call (800) TKO-4-LAW or send us e-mail anytime.
Chico Phone: (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-5678)
California Toll Free: (800) TKO-4LAW (800-856-4529)