The Challenge
During a coordinated raid on a suspected marijuana trafficking operation, law enforcement searched multiple Menifee residences and arrested several people. Our client was charged with possession of approximately 160 pounds of marijuana for sale — a felony at the time, before Proposition 64 — with an enhancement for being armed with a firearm during the offense under Penal Code § 12022(c), which adds three to five years and, in most cases, makes probation unavailable. The combination of a large quantity and a firearm meant the client faced a mandatory state prison sentence if convicted.
Our Strategy
We conducted an independent investigation into the law enforcement procedures used in the raid — the warrant, its execution, and the seizure of evidence — and identified major constitutional defects in the search. Rather than wait for trial, we presented the violations to the prosecutor as the basis for a motion to suppress under Penal Code § 1538.5, demonstrating that the evidence against our client could not survive it. The District Attorney agreed to a full dismissal of all charges.
Media Coverage
The Result
CASE DISMISSED
Your Case Belongs at the Southwest Justice Center.
Your Defense Belongs Here.
If you were arrested in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Winchester, or French Valley, your future will likely be decided at the Southwest Justice Center (SWJC) on Auld Road. In these courtrooms, local knowledge is the ultimate advantage. Since 1999, Nic Cocis has been a weekly fixture in the SWJC, appearing before the same judges and negotiating with the same Riverside County prosecutors for over 25 years. We don’t just know the law — we know the specific nuances, procedural quirks, and judicial tendencies of the Southwest District. Whether you are facing a felony or a misdemeanor, you need a firm that treats the Southwest Justice Center as its home turf.
