What California Health & Safety Code 11379.6 Actually Charges
California Health and Safety Code 11379.6 makes it a felony to manufacture, compound, convert, produce, derive, process, or prepare a controlled substance through chemical extraction or synthesis. The statute is broad. A person doesn’t have to complete the manufacturing process to face charges. Participation in any initial or intermediate step of production can be enough for the prosecution to proceed.
A conviction under HSC 11379.6 generally carries a sentence of three, five, or seven years in state prison, along with fines up to $50,000. Offering to manufacture a controlled substance is charged separately under the same statute. Sentencing enhancements can increase exposure significantly depending on the facts. When methamphetamine manufacturing allegedly occurred in a structure where a minor under 16 resided, near an occupied dwelling, or involved quantities exceeding statutory thresholds, the potential sentence can increase. These are general ranges; actual exposure depends on the specifics of each case.
Investigative Resources Built for Manufacturing Cases
Drug manufacturing prosecutions hinge on physical and chemical evidence: precursor chemicals, lab equipment, chain of custody documentation, and the conditions of the search that produced it all. Our defense team includes a licensed private investigator and former LAPD officer who examines that evidence directly rather than accepting the prosecution’s account of what the lab reports and search warrant show.
Because we’ve worked inside the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, we understand the evidentiary frameworks prosecutors rely on in methamphetamine lab cases and similar manufacturing allegations. That perspective lets us identify weaknesses in the state’s case that aren’t always visible from the outside. Robert Ernenwein holds the Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent distinction for legal ethics and skill and a Super Lawyers rating. For clients who need legal counsel in Spanish, we provide that service directly.
Defense Strategies for a Drug Manufacturing Charge
We don’t apply a single approach to every case. From the moment we begin, we look for pretrial dismissal opportunities, grounds to reduce a felony charge, and whether deferred entry of judgment is available. Each manufacturing case has a different evidentiary record, and the strategy follows the facts.
Search & Seizure Challenges
Search and seizure challenges are common in manufacturing cases. Evidence obtained through an invalid search warrant or an unlawful search may be challenged and, if successful, excluded from the prosecution’s case. The distinction between preparation and actual manufacturing also matters legally: purchasing ingredients or equipment before any assembly generally constitutes preparation rather than manufacturing, and prosecutors must show an overt act toward production. We examine the timeline and physical evidence closely with both of these issues in mind.
Diversion & Trial Readiness
When diversion is appropriate, we advocate for it. Standard drug diversion programs like Proposition 36 and deferred entry of judgment under Penal Code 1000 are generally limited to nonviolent drug possession offenses and typically exclude manufacturing-related charges, but we still pursue mental health, substance abuse, and military service diversion programs where a client’s circumstances may make them available. When none of those paths fits, we prepare for trial. We’re ready to take a case before a jury when that’s what defending our client requires.
Where a Torrance Manufacturing Case Is Heard
Felony charges arising in Torrance are generally filed at the Torrance Courthouse, which serves the Southwest District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. We practice regularly in that courthouse and know its procedures and personnel well.
Manufacturing allegations can also draw federal attention. When the DEA or another federal agency becomes involved, a defendant may face prosecution under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act in addition to state charges arising from the same conduct. Navigating dual proceedings requires a defense team that understands both systems.
-
I cannot thank Robert enough for his efforts, knowledge, and execution in my case. He gave me a second chance.- Kevin Q.
-
Michelle has had a profound impact on my life. She not only has a firm grasp of legal matters, but also of human emotions. This dynamic duo worked all hours of the day and night on my case. They exerted effort way beyond the amount that I had paid them.- Khadijeh K.
-
If you are in need of a great attorney with an abundance of experience as well as a very professional office staff who constantly will keep you updated, call Ernenwein & Mathes!- Jake L.
-
They are the gold standard for defense attorneys. A+- Former Client
Serving Torrance, Long Beach & the South Bay
We represent clients facing drug manufacturing and other serious criminal charges throughout Torrance, Long Beach, the broader South Bay, and all of Los Angeles County. If you’ve been charged or are under investigation, early action matters.
Get a Free Consultation with a Criminal Law Specialist
Contact Ernenwein & Mathes, LLP to speak directly with Robert Ernenwein or Michelle Mathes. We don’t route clients through case managers. You get a direct line and cell phone access to your attorney from the start, backed by a full team of paralegals and support staff who take every concern seriously.
We offer free, confidential initial consultations. Call us at (310) 361-3068 to discuss your case today.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 310-361-3068 today!
-
Should I Hire A Torrance Juvenile Attorney For My Child?
Absolutely.
The right counsel can help you avoid pitfalls that may arise in the case, such as the juvenile court’s determination that the case is serious enough (i.e., felony) to justify your child being charged and tried as an adult. If your child is tried as an adult, his or her case is moved to adult criminal court, and if convicted, may go to prison with adult offenders.
The defense lawyers at Ernenwein & Mathes, LLP, have handled over 1,000 juvenile cases over the course of their combined 60 years of experience. We will make every possible effort to allow your child to remain in juvenile court. We can attend your child’s fitness hearing, where the court makes the decision regarding whether to try your child as an adult or a juvenile. Psychiatric reports, probation reports and legal arguments can be arranged to help convince the juvenile court to retain its jurisdiction over the minor.
As Robert Ernenwein is a former Los Angeles deputy district attorney, the lawyers at Ernenwein & Mathes, LLP, know the criminal process inside out, giving them a distinct edge when they represent you in court. They are well-respected and well-known by Los Angeles prosecutors and judges.
If your child has been charged in a criminal case, contact Ernenwein & Mathes, LLP, Los Angeles and Orange County criminal defense lawyers today at (310) 361-3068 for a free case review.
-
What Kind Of Punishment Will My Child Received If She Or He Is Convicted?
Generally, punishments fall into four different categories. First, your child may be sent home on probation. Second, the juvenile may be sent to a placement facility within the community, such as a boys’ or girls’ home. Third, the juvenile may be sent to a camp facility. The camp may be a short-term camp and last as little as four months or as long as 12 months. Finally, your child may be sent to DJJ, which is a juvenile version of an adult state penitentiary.
-
If My Child Is Convicted, Will The Conviction Remain On His Criminal Record?
If you hire us, we will try to get your child’s case deviated out of the criminal justice system through deferred entry of judgement or to seek informal probation with dismissal or a dismissal after formal probation. If we can secure these as conviction/sentencing options, the offense will not go on his or her criminal record. If a plea of no contest or conviction occurs in a case, the record can be sealed after the juvenile’s 18th or 21st birthday.
-
My Child Has Been Taken Into Custody. What Can He/She Be Charged With?
Depending on the seriousness of the charged offense, the prosecutor can file either misdemeanor or felony charges. If a minor is convicted of a misdemeanor, he will be placed on probation, detained in a juvenile facility, such as a boot camp or a ranch, ordered to pay a fine or a combination of these punishments. If the minor is convicted of an infraction, such as a motor vehicle violation, he or she will usually be punished with a fine.
However, the minor will face much more severe consequences if he is convicted of a felony. The court may sentence to incarceration in a state institution, such as the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), which is the equivalent to a state prison sentence for adults. In addition to or in the alternative, the court may order house arrest (electronic monitoring), commitment in a youth center, probation, parole or undergoing treatment programs.
There are rules and procedures that are unique to the California Juvenile Court and, therefore, make it very different from adult criminal court. For instance, juveniles are not entitled to jury trials (the theory being that, since juveniles are being rehabilitated rather than punished, they are not entitled to all protections otherwise afforded adult criminals). Juveniles also have no right to bail.
-
If You Were Not Drunk When The Fatal Crash OccurredEven if you were not drunk when the accident took place, you could still be charged with vehicular manslaughter. The prosecution will need to show that you committed an unlawful act while driving and were grossly negligent. For example, if you were speeding or driving recklessly, it could be considered an unlawful act. Gross negligence could come into play, too, which basically means you disregarded the safety of others.
-
Our Areas of PracticeOur firm is dedicated to criminal defense. See how we can help!
-
Dedicated to Your DefenseGet to know our defense law firm and see how we can help!
-
Request a ConsultationReach out today to speak with a member of our team.