Question
Can I use the fact that I was on a controlled substance as a criminal defense?
I was under the influence of a controlled substance and had possession of an illegal substance, prostitution and driving on a suspended license.LawQA.com Answer Library
Answered By: Law Office of Tracey S. Sang
Yes, you can try. It's not so much a defense as a mitigating factor that explains your actions and would hopefully get you a more lenient plea bargain probably one that involves drug treatment.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Peter F. Goldscheider
No, that is the crime in and of itself.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Edward J. Blum
Probably not. Being under the influence of a controlled substance would only be a defense if the crimes you were accused of were specific intent crimes. In crimes like burglary which have a specific intent element voluntary intoxication can be a defense because you would lack ability to form the specific intent (diminished actuality). None of the crimes you are accused of have a specific intent element.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Jeff Yeh
Nope. This issue has already been litigated by the courts. It might be a mitigating factor at sentencing, but it is no defense.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/3/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: The Law Offices of Christopher J. McCann
No. Voluntary intoxication is not a defense. Otherwise everyone would do it.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: The Chastaine Law Office
Being under the influence is not likely to help you with those allegations. Get a lawyer and discuss what defenses might work in your case.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Theresa Hofmeister, Attorney At Law
Generally being under the influence of a controlled substance would only be a defense to a crime if the influence/intoxication was involuntary (someone else gave you the substance and you ingested it without knowing). Consult a local criminal defense attorney in your area with specifics of your case. Good luck!
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Eric Sterkenburg
The defense of being under the influence only works when you were administered the drug by someone else without your knowledge. With the charged you stated you need to have an attorney go over all the facts of the incident to outline any defenses you may have. An attorney will help in this matter and should be consulted as soon as possible.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/30/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
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