Drug Distribution Defense Lawyer in Orange County

Over 30 Years of Criminal Defense Experience Protecting Orange County Clients

California Health and Safety Code 11351 makes drug distribution a felony, carrying real prison time and substantial fines. But the charge doesn’t stop there. For many people, it also threatens professional licenses, careers, and immigration status. If you’re facing this charge in Orange County, you need a defense attorney who can address every dimension of what’s at stake.

I’m Alan Castillo. I’ve handled over 5,000 cases and conducted over 100 trials across more than 30 years of criminal defense practice. Before entering private practice, I served as an Orange County Public Defender from 1998 to 2000, which gives me a direct understanding of how local prosecutors and law enforcement build these cases. I’ve been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers, earned 39 5-star Avvo ratings, and hold a high peer-reviewed rating at Martindale-Hubbell for legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication skills, and professional experience. OC Metro Magazine and Coast Magazine have both named me a Top Attorney in Orange County.

I represent clients at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, and other Orange County courthouses. For licensed professionals, I handle both the criminal defense and any professional license review that may follow. You don’t need separate counsel for each.

Have you been arrested or are you under investigation? As a drug distribution attorney serving Orange County, I’m ready to help. Contact me at (949) 234-6525 to discuss your case in a FREE initial consultation.

California Drug Distribution Laws

California Health and Safety Code 11351 makes it a felony to possess controlled substances with intent to sell. The law covers both illegal drugs and certain prescription medications. Prescription opioids, sedatives, and stimulants all fall within its reach.

Controlled Substances & How Cases Are Built

Controlled substances covered under HS 11351 include:

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Valium
• Adderall

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and local police regularly collaborate on distribution investigations, sometimes working alongside state task forces when cases involve large quantities or movement across multiple cities. Surveillance and confidential informants are common investigative tools.

Prosecutors don’t need to catch someone in the act of selling. They build intent-to-distribute cases from circumstantial evidence.

Indicators prosecutors commonly rely on include:

• Large quantities of controlled substances
• Baggies, bundles, or other packaging materials
• Scales for weighing drugs
• Large amounts of cash
• Frequent short-duration visitors

Proximity to schools, parks, or other protected areas can trigger sentencing enhancements. Related charges under HS 11352 may apply when the alleged conduct involves actual sale, transportation, import, or export of controlled substances.

Common Legal Defenses in Orange County Drug Distribution Cases

Because HS 11351 requires the prosecution to prove intent to sell, not just possession, there are multiple points in the case where the defense can intervene. I review police reports and witness statements in every case to identify investigative errors, procedural flaws, and gaps in the prosecution’s evidence. My background as a former Orange County Public Defender informs how I read local law enforcement tactics, including undercover operations and sting procedures.

Defenses that may apply in a drug distribution case include:

• Unlawful search and seizure: If police violated your Fourth Amendment rights, evidence obtained through that search may be suppressed.
• Chain of custody errors: Mishandling of drug evidence can raise questions about its reliability or admissibility.
• Personal use defense: Quantity alone doesn’t establish intent to sell. Evidence of personal use habits can counter that inference.
• Lack of knowledge: Drugs found in shared spaces or placed without your awareness may negate the knowledge element the prosecution must prove.
• Entrapment: If law enforcement induced you to commit an offense you wouldn’t otherwise have committed, that’s a recognized defense.
• Unreliable informant testimony: Informant credibility can be challenged, and false accusations can be contested on the same grounds.

Cash and packaging materials don’t automatically prove intent to distribute. Every case gets a full review so the defense reflects the actual facts.

Navigating the Orange County Criminal Process After a Distribution Charge

After arrest, you’ll attend an arraignment where charges are formally explained and bail is addressed. Pretrial hearings follow, giving the defense the opportunity to challenge evidence and argue motions before the case reaches trial. Discovery requires both sides to share information, and what emerges in that process shapes the defense strategy. The Orange County District Attorney’s office prosecutes drug distribution cases aggressively, typically with substantial law enforcement support. I handle appearances at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana and other county courthouses, and I keep clients informed at every stage so nothing comes as a surprise.

For clients who hold professional licenses, a distribution charge doesn’t stay in the courtroom. California licensing boards may open their own reviews, putting your career at risk alongside your freedom. Because I handle both criminal defense and professional license defense, you get coordinated representation on both fronts without managing multiple attorneys.

Call a drug distribution lawyer serving Orange County for a FREE initial consultation at (949) 234-6525. Contact my office online or by phone today.