Photo: Shark Club. Source: Los Angeles Times.

Last Friday, a man was arrested for selling drugs to minors. Israel Soriano, 26, was at The Shark Club in Costa Mesa on Friday night for “teen night”. The event was held at The Shark Club for 14-18 year old teenagers to attend. Club security saw Soriano acting strangely with another club-goer, so security took him outside and told him to empty his pockets. Inside his pockets there was a wad of cash and a bag of pills that were thought to be Ecstasy pills. Soriano was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, as well as child endangerment.

California Health & Safety Code Section 11352 makes it a felony to sell, furnish, administer, give away, transport or import an illegal narcotic. Common defenses to possession of a controlled substance for sale include entrapment and illegal searches and seizures. Punishments for drug crimes include prison time, probation, penalties & fines and drug classes.

California Penal Code Section 273a punishes child endangerment that occurs when an individual places a child in a dangerous situation. A child does not actually have to be hurt to be convicted of child endangerment. Punishments for child endangerment include prison or jail time, fines, a protective order, probation and counseling programs & classes.

If you are charged with a drug crime or child endangerment/abuse, please contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.