SHERMAN OAKS—Stephen Beecher, a 63-year-old Sherman Oaks criminal defense attorney, pleaded no contest on December 10, to a felony count of bringing drugs into a jail.

In December 2012, Beecher allegedly attempted to smuggle $30,000 worth of heroin to his client in North County Correctional Facility, but was promptly arrested when drug-sniffing dogs instantly detected the scent coming from the attorney’s direction.

Police searched Beecher and subsequently found the heroin hidden in an envelope labeled with his client’s case number.

Beecher, his client, Jesus Antonio Duenas and his girlfriend, Jessica Paredes, were all arrested on the charge of conspiracy.

The criminal complaint alleges that Paredes’ involvement consisted of flattening 36 grams of heroin with an iron so that it could fit discretely in a greeting card placed inside an envelope.

Paredes was immediately sentenced to two years in custody and given credit for time served following a no contest plea to the conspiracy charge on Wednesday.

Beecher and Duenas are due back in Los Angeles Superior Court, before Judge Craig Veals, on January 27.