I took a plea of Housing A Manufacturer when I was 21. I completed everything requested by the courts fines, probation,etc. That was 16 years ago, and I haven't even gotten a traffic ticket since. And no trouble prior. I was young dumb and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I swore my innocence but after 4 weeks in jail I was bullied into taking a plea by the DA. Bottom line is I want my firearm rights back so I can protect my family if ever required to do so. I have no idea if I qualify and don't want to waste too many resources trying if I don't.
It depends on whether your conviction was for a "wobbler" -- a crime that can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor. If it was a straight felony (meaning it could not be charged as a misdemeanor) a padon is your only option. If it was a wobbler, then it depends on whether your sentence included any jail time. If so, your only option is likely a pardon. If not, you may be able to reduce your conviction and restore your firearm rights. You should speak with a few attorneys, most offer free consultations to determine whether they can even help you. The attorney you choose should be someone who is familiar with the process and is sensitive to your specific desire to restore your firearm rights. There is a ton of information on restoring your firearms rights on my firm's website that you can access through my profile for further information. Also, you may or may not have a case to challenge your prohibition on Second Amendment grounds. This is a very new area of the law, and is changing almost daily. So if an attorney tells you there is nothing you can do pursuant to statute, you may want to talk to firearms attorneys to see if your case has merit to bring a constitutional challenge. Good luck.
Michel & Associates, PC
Firearms Attorneys
(562) 216-4444
I'm not sure what you mean by "housing a manufacturer," but if you were convicted of violating Health & Safety Code 11366.5, maintaining a place for drug manufacturing, it is a "wobbler" that can, as Mr. Brady notes, be reduced to a misdemeanor.
However, if you were sentenced to prison -- even if the judge suspended the sentence and gave you probation -- the offense stays a felony forever.
There's really no such thing as a true expungement in California. People use the term to describe a dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4, which adds a note to the court's file saying the case was dismissed after completion of probation. However, section 1203.4 specifically says a dismissal does NOT restore your firearm rights.
