Domestic abuse is defined by the state as when a person inflicts injury on a former or current spouse, a cohabitant, or a mother or father of one’s child deliberately. These types of crimes typically involve a lot of emotion and can be detrimental to the family dynamic.
In California, domestic abuse and its related violent offenses are wobblers, meaning they can be tried as either misdemeanors or as felonies. A defendant’s criminal record and the details of the crime are the determining factors as to the severity of the offense.
For these types of crimes it’s important to employ a skilled criminal defense attorney who has good-standing relationships with prosecutors and judges.
California takes a firm stance on crimes related to drugs, these include: possession, possession with the intent to sell, trafficking, distributing and cultivating. The majority of drug charges in California are felonies, meaning you will serve mandatory prison time and have a permanent mark on your criminal record.
A skilled criminal defense attorney will know the appropriate steps to take to minimize the impact on your criminal record, driving record and most importantly, your life.
Drug charges are technical and require a thorough understanding of the law and sufficient time to prepare for the trial. A skilled criminal defense attorney will know the appropriate strategy to take depending on the facts of your case.
It’s common for people to plead guilty to a DUI charge because they feel like fighting the charges isn’t worth the time, money and effort. As attorneys, we assure you this isn’t true! Having a DUI on your record can have detrimental effects on your future employment and other important factors of your life.
A skilled criminal defense attorney will know the appropriate steps to take to minimize the impact on your criminal record, driving record and most importantly, your life. A criminal defense attorney can help you through each stage of your case starting with the very important DUI DMV Driver’s License Hearing. This hearing is not an opportunity to prove if you’re innocent or guilty but only pertains to if/or for how long your driving privileges will be suspended or revoked.
If your case goes to court then an attorney can point out the necessary evidence to provide you with the best possible outcome.
It is common for children to make mistakes, but sometimes mistakes can be costly. You should contact a criminal defense attorney if your child has been arrested and asked to stand before a judge. A conviction can have detrimental effects on a child’s life even though children are not eligible for the same punishments that adults are susceptible to.
A skilled criminal defense attorney will ensure that your child gets counseling and rehabilitation, instead of juvenile incarceration.
Having a juvenile criminal record can scar a child’s life and prevent him/her of getting accepted to college, obtaining employment and can have a negative impact on his/her family.
Probation Violation
Probation is a supervisory sentence that a judge can institute in place of a formal jail or prison sentence. A probation term can vary in length depending on the severity of the crime you committed. The judge can impose probation on either a misdemeanor or a felony conviction and the term is usually accompanied with a checklist of rules of what you can and cannot do during the duration of the term.
If during your probation term you break the law or don’t follow the rules of your probation then you will likely serve jail time. If you violate your probation you will need a criminal defense attorney to represent you for your Probation Violation Hearing and the subsequent events of your charges.
Sexual related offenses include: rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure, internet exposure, crimes against children and prostitution – each comes with its own set of serious punishments, especially in California. If convicted of a sexually related crime, you will need to register with the sex registry for life.
It pays to have a skilled criminal defense attorneys who knows the law and the strategies to prove your innocence. For instance: misinformation about age, consent, or mistaken identity. Utilizing these defenses has the potential to reduce your punishments and save you the embarrassment of being registered as a sexual offender.
Theft and Fraud
Theft and Fraud cases include everything from grand theft to embezzlement to burglary. These crimes can be tried as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the details of the crime and your criminal record. These cases typically involve illegally taking something from another without their consent.
These types of crimes can be difficult for a prosecutor to prove because of the specific elements of each crime. With that being said, there are many strategies that a criminal defense attorney can utilize to prove your innocence, and have the charges dropped before going to trial.
Weapons and Gun Charges
Getting caught carrying an illegal firearm comes with serious punitive measures in California. Most weapons and gun charges are felonies, meaning if convicted the defendant will serve mandatory jail time.
There are also defense strategies that can be used against weapons and guns charges, including: self-defense, improper search and seizure, accidental firing, and non-ownership of the possessed weapon.
White Collar Crimes
There are a variety of white collar crimes which require specific defense techniques.
Most white collar crimes involve an employee who’s being accused of an offense against a company or institution. These cases require institutions to turn over records in your defense.
Defending white collar crimes is a particularly specialized field that only a small percentage of attorneys are willing to pursue. In these case, the defense attorney will need to investigate thoroughly in order to provide some reasonable doubt.
If you’ve recently been arrested for a crime, the single most important thing to do is hire a skilled criminal defense attorney. An criminal defense attorney knows the laws and understands the necessary actions that must be taken to ensure you spend the least amount of time in jail or prison and pay the smallest amount possible in fines and fees.
