H&S 11355: Sale of a Substitute Controlled Substance

Legal Definition: “Every person who agrees, consents, or in any manner offers to unlawfully sell, furnish, transport, administer, or give (1) any controlled substance specified in subdivision (b), (c), or (e), or paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 11054 , specified in paragraph (13), (14), (15), or (20) of subdivision (d) of Section 11054 , or specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 11055 , or specified in subdivision (h) of Section 11056 , or (2) any controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV, or V which is a narcotic drug to any person, or who offers, arranges, or negotiates to have any such controlled substance unlawfully sold, delivered, transported, furnished, administered, or given to any person and who then sells, delivers, furnishes, transports, administers, or gives, or offers, arranges, or negotiates to have sold, delivered, transported, furnished, administered, or given to any person any other liquid, substance, or material in lieu of any such controlled substance shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code .”

In order to be found guilty of violating H&S 11355, the prosecutor must show that you:

1. Arranged, offered to sell, gave, or transported a controlled substance; and
2. You then delivered, arranged to deliver, a fake drug instead.

What does this mean?

This section establishes legal consequences for individuals engaging in the sale of counterfeit controlled substances. For instance, consider the scenario where Shawn sells Sammy a purported bag of methamphetamine, which ultimately turns out to be an imitation, devoid of actual methamphetamine. It is crucial to note that for this offense to transpire, the fraudulent drugs must be physically delivered to the buyer. If there was an intention to distribute counterfeit substances, yet no actual delivery occurred, or the seller failed to show up for the transaction, this section does not classify such actions as criminal offenses.

Additionally, it is vital to emphasize that the mere act of offering counterfeit drugs for sale does not constitute a criminal act in itself; the criminality lies in the actual delivery of said counterfeit drugs. The underlying purpose of this section aims to not solely protect potential victims from deception but also to impose punishment on individuals involved in the trafficking of illegal substances, as well as those who inflict harm upon buyers.

Penalties

A violation under HS 11355 is a wobbler offense. This means you can be charged with this crime as a felony or as a misdemeanor offense. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony offense, will depend on your criminal history, the specific facts of your case. If convicted under this section as a felony, you could be punished up to 16 months, 2 or 3 years in a County Jail Prison. If convicted of this charge as a misdemeanor, you could be sentenced to up to 1 year in County Jail. You would have to serve at least 50% of that time in custody.

This is not a strike offense under the California Three Strikes law, and it is not a Sex Offense under PC 290. You could also face a loss of your Professional License if convicted, and if you are not a legal resident, you could face Deportation in Immigration Court since this offense may be a crime of moral turpitude and is an aggravated felony, and finally because it involves drugs.

Common Defenses

1. Statute of Limitations
2. Violation of Rights
3. Insufficient Evidence
4. False Accusations
5. Coerced Confession

A person who confesses to a crime forced out of them by police conduct would be inadmissible to be used against them in Court. This makes logical sense, if the police force a confession out of a person illegally, it should not be able to be brought into Court to be used against them. Generally, this can happen during police interrogations where police, believing they have their person, do whatever it takes you to make you confess. They can do this through physical abuse or psychological abuse. Police can lie to you. They can claim there are witnesses that saw you at the scene, that another person has blamed you as the one responsible, whatever it takes to get you to confess. These are generally considered normal police conduct, but there are limits to what they can and cannot do. When they go too far, they end up with a coerced confession. If police coerced you into confessing to committing this crime, your attorney can argue that it should be suppressed, which likely would lead to a dismissal of your case.

False accusations are not technically considered a “defense” in criminal law. In essence, the defense of false accusations comes from a person who falsely blames you for a crime you did not commit. So in essence, there is a witness that is blaming you for the crime, and you are claiming you are innocent. In many other defenses under California law, you are guilty of the crime, but there is a technical defense that prevents a conviction, different than here. A person can falsely accuse you of selling them fake drugs, in order to get you arrested and dealing with a criminal case. Here, you would defend by showing that you are being falsely accused of a crime you did not commit, and this can lead to the dismissal of your charges and case.

Call Today

Navigating the complexities of a criminal conviction, particularly for drug-related offenses like HS 11355, requires not just legal representation but an advocate with deep understanding and expertise. The consequences of such charges are far-reaching, potentially impacting your employment, personal liberty, and even leading to severe outcomes like deportation or the revocation of professional licenses.

At Inland Empire Defense, our Ontario HS 11355 attorney is well-equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to defend against such serious charges. Our track record in the Inland Empire speaks to our commitment and ability to successfully navigate the legal system, ensuring the best possible outcome for our clients.

Facing criminal charges can be a daunting experience, but you don’t have to go through it alone. For trusted and expert legal representation, reach out to your local Rancho Cucamonga Criminal Defense Attorney at Inland Empire Defense. Call us at 909-939-7126 for a consultation. Our office, conveniently located in Ontario, is ready to provide the support and guidance you need during this challenging time.