Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Bail Review & Reduction
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
• Conspiracy
• Criminal Threats
• Domestic Violence
• Driving with A Suspended License
• Drug Possession
• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
• Elder Abuse
• Embezzlement
• Expungements
• Hit and Run
• Housing Violations
• Juvenile Defense
• License Defense
• Nursing License Defense
• Murder
• Police Misconduct Litigation
• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
• Prostitution
• Public Intoxication
• Sex Crimes
• Indecent Exposure
• Solicitation of Prostitution
• Rape
• Theft Charges
• Robbery
• Purse Snatching
• Burglary
• Petty Theft
• Embezzlement
• Identity Theft
• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

Accused of a Drug Crime? Find Out How to Stay Out of Jail

Being accused of a drug crime in Los Angeles or Orange County can be a scary experience, especially if you are facing a more serious drug offense, such as manufacturing drugs. At the Law Offices of McGregor & Ernenwein, we have been able to get our clients' serious charges reduced to lesser offenses, such as possession of drugs. A drug possession charge could make you eligible for an alternative sentence, including deferred entry of judgment, drug treatment under Proposition 36 or other minor penalty.

Deferred Entry of Judgment

If you have never been accused of drug possession for personal use before, you may qualify for a deferred entry of judgment. In a deferred entry of judgment, you plead guilty to the charges, but the conviction does not go on your criminal record. You are given an 18-month period in which you will be required to take drug awareness and education classes for 6 months. As long as you do not have any further arrests or convictions during the 18 months, your case will be dismissed.

This option is not as simple as it sounds. You need to talk with an experienced Los Angeles drug attorney who can explain this alternative.

Proposition 36 Drug Program

In 2000, Proposition 36 was enacted, which requires drug treatment instead of jail time for most nonviolent drug offenders. If you are ineligible for a deferred entry of judgment, you may qualify for drug treatment under Proposition 36. You may complete the drug treatment as an outpatient or inpatient. To qualify, the drug conviction must be your first and it has to be a nonviolent offense, such as drug possession, under the influence of drugs, transportation of drugs for personal use or other similar charge.

There are other alternative sentences available that will keep you out of jail, such as probation, private drug treatment programs or county or state run drug treatment programs.

If you have been arrested for possession of drugs or another drug crime, you need to contact an experienced Torrance defense attorney at the Law Offices of McGregor & Ernenwein at 310-782-0552. We are former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys who will build a strong defense to keep you out of jail.