Drug Crime Defense Attorney Rancho Cucamonga

Charged with a drug offense? How evidence was found matters.

A former prosecutor who handled drug cases, Daniel Kolacia knows how possession and sales charges are built, and where the stop, search, or lab work may leave room to fight.

Schedule a Consultation Call (714) 725-7072
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Seen in national and regional media, and recognized by respected legal and business organizations.

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Daniel Kolacia Founding Attorney of Kolacia Law
Daniel Kolacia Founding Attorney of Kolacia Law
Daniel Kolacia Founding Attorney of Kolacia Law
Daniel Kolacia Founding Attorney of Kolacia Law

As Seen In

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  • Dateline
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  • CNBC

Rancho Cucamonga Drug Crime Attorney Who Knows Both Sides

A drug conviction can show up on background checks, trigger a licensing board review, and threaten a commercial driver’s license or security clearance. Non-citizens face immigration risk, and a felony can mean prison and lost gun rights. We treat addiction as a health issue.

California drug charges turn on the drug, the amount, and whether prosecutors claim sale or personal use. Simple possession is usually a misdemeanor, but since Proposition 36 took effect in December 2024, repeat hard-drug possession can be a felony.

Many cases begin with a traffic stop or probation search. Rancho Cucamonga arrests are made by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies, with booking usually at West Valley Detention Center. Cases from Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Upland, Ontario, Montclair, Chino and Chino Hills land at the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse on Haven Avenue, where the District Attorney’s West Valley office decides what to file.

Drug Crime Defense Built on Trial Experience

Trial-Tested

Trial preparation begins the day a drug case comes in.

Former Prosecutor

Your defense is guided by firsthand experience as a prosecutor.

Focused on Getting Charges Dismissed

Every charge is checked against what the prosecution can lawfully prove.

Committed to Keeping You Out of Jail

Treatment-based alternatives to custody are pursued whenever they are available.

Protecting Your License and Career

Professional licenses, commercial driving privileges, and immigration status are weighed in every decision.

Drug Charges We Defend in San Bernardino County

Misdemeanor Drug Charges

  • Simple Possession: Usually a misdemeanor, with up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
  • Under the Influence: Up to one year in county jail.
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: Up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
  • Illegal Cannabis Sales or Cultivation: Usually up to six months in county jail and a $500 fine.

First-time possession cases may qualify for pretrial diversion, which ends in a dismissal.

Felony Drug Charges

Fines can reach $20,000, or $50,000 for manufacturing. In sales cases, more than an ounce of fentanyl, a gun, a nearby school, or a minor’s involvement can add years.

  • Possession for Sale: Up to four years, or three for methamphetamine.
  • Sale or Transportation: Three to five years (two to four for methamphetamine), and up to nine across noncontiguous counties.
  • Manufacturing: Three, five, or seven years.
  • Prescription Fraud: A misdemeanor or a felony, with up to three years.
  • Repeat Hard-Drug Possession (Proposition 36): Up to three years with two or more prior drug convictions, or a dismissal if you complete treatment.

Related Charges

Driving under the influence of drugs is charged under DUI laws, and weapon charges often accompany drug cases.
Many drug convictions later qualify for expungement.

Schedule a Consultation Call (714) 725-7072
Daniel Kolacia Founding Attorney of Kolacia Law
Why Choose Kolacia Law

A former prosecutor, now on your side.

Daniel Kolacia was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2006. He served as a Deputy District Attorney in Riverside County and later as a county attorney in Iowa, and he handled cases ranging from DUI and drug charges to white collar crime and homicide. In 2021 he opened Kolacia Law to put that experience to work for the accused.

2006

ADMITTED TO THE BAR

100+

JURY TRIALS

200+

BENCH TRIALS

The Burden of Proof: Why It Matters So Much in Criminal Cases

Insight Into the Prosecution's Case

A scale, packaging, or a text message is often the basis for charging possession as possession for sale. Daniel anticipates how the prosecution will argue intent to sell and tests whether the evidence supports it.
The Burden of Proof: Why It Matters So Much in Criminal Cases

Credibility at the Negotiating Table

Diversion, treatment, and the reduction of a sales charge to simple possession are often settled early. Daniel presents the supporting facts before those decisions are made.
Facing Felony Charges in California: What to Expect and How to Respond

Prepared to Go to Trial

When a stop, a search, or the lab results are open to challenge, Daniel is prepared to cross-examine the officers and analysts in court.
Questions to Ask Your Criminal Defense Attorney

Direct Access to Your Attorney

Clients speak with Daniel personally and can expect discretion where a professional license or career is involved.
How to Get Charges Dropped Before Court Date

A Practice Devoted to Criminal Law

Kolacia Law handles criminal defense exclusively, and drug charges are a regular part of that work.

Proven Results

Recent Case Results

Dismissals, diversions, sealed records and reduced charges: a sample of how we have fought for our clients.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts and circumstances. Client last names are abbreviated for privacy.

Why Choose Kolacia Law

What Happens When You Call

Free consultation

Tell us about the stop, the search, and what was found. We explain the charge and any diversion options.

Case review

We examine the reports, video, warrant, lab results, and phone evidence.

Action

We move to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence and push for a dismissal, diversion, or a reduction. If the offer falls short, we prepare for trial.
payment

Flexible Payment Plans

Flat

FEES

50%

UPFRONT

No

CREDIT CHECK

Court dates will not wait for payday. Flat fees are set up front, and in-house plans need no credit check.

Pay 50% of the flat fee upfront and spread the balance over several months (a one-time service fee applies). We accept cash, checks, and credit and debit cards, and Affirm financing is also available.

Cash

Checks

Credit & Debit

Affirm Financing

Trusted in the Legal Community and Close to Home

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Part of the state’s leading criminal defense bar organization.

Riverside County Bar Association

Riverside County Bar Association

Active in the Inland Empire legal community.

Leo A. Deegan American Inn of Court

American Inn of Court

Leo A. Deegan Inn, promoting professionalism and ethics in the law.

California CLETS User Group

California CLETS User Group

Connected to the statewide law enforcement records community.

Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce

Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce

A local firm invested in the community we serve.

BBB Accredited Business A+

BBB Accredited Business

A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Schedule a Consultation Call (714) 725-7072

What Our Clients Say

Rancho Cucamonga Drug Crime Lawyer FAQs

Talk With a Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Rancho Cucamonga Today

Call before you answer police questions or allow a phone search, ideally before charges are filed. Diversion and suppression issues are strongest when raised early.
Schedule a Consultation Call (714) 725-7072