Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I have a court date for this Friday April 1st in Orange Co at the Harbor Justice Center for 11358 cultivating marijuana & 593 injuring electric power line. I had started growing about 6 weeks prior to the police showing up at my residents. I had about 6 small plants & about 10 just started plants. I totally cooperated with police about growing and had told them that i just made a appointment earlier that same day for the next day to receive my medical marijuana card (how ironic). Anyway i also told them that the power was diverted and i was attempting to have it reversed since i did not like cheating the system. I ask them to notice that in the grow room i had only plug in one light and the rest of the equipment was plug into normal outlets. They said that since i did not have a medical marijuana card that they would half to JUST take the plants. I told them that since what i have grown was still so early in a long process that a medical marijuana card was not required yet, but like i said i had just made a appointment (which i follow through with the next day). The police did not arrest me and as soon as i let them in my home all things changed, they took all my equipment > lights, fans, ect. They spent around 4 hours in my home & had every undercover or plain dress cop come through my home (about 12 to 15 guys), of course every neighbor watched & now everybody pulls their kids in whenever we go out. They turn off all electric power & it took about 3 weeks to get it reinstalled & a cost of money and inconvenience that i could not begin to tell you. I would like to ask you what should i expect is going to happen this coming court date & can i get my equipment back or is the judge going to find me for more $ ? Should i ask for a public defender (since i have no $) ? If justice is what they want, it has already been served. Any advice will really help. Thanks!


Asked on 3/28/11, 4:14 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Once you have an attorney, he will worry about your case arguments, and will be able to give you an opinion when he has them and all the charging docs and evidence against you. Your issue is: either hire private counsel if you can afford to, or APPLY for the Public Defender to see if you qualify. If serious about hiring counsel, feel free to contact me.

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Answered on 3/28/11, 4:52 pm
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

You used poor judgment in "cooperating" with the police or speaking to them at all. If all you can afford is the public defender, good luck with that.

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Answered on 3/28/11, 6:57 pm


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