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If you were arrested for allegedly committing a crime in the Los Angeles area, it’s imperative that you pursue legal representation from a trusted criminal defense lawyer today. Depending on your charges, you could end up being sentenced to jail time, fines, and additional penalties, so you want to avoid leaving the outcome of your case to chance. Instead, you should contact California Legal Counsel to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney who will create a personalized legal defense strategy for you.
When you hire our legal team to represent you, you’ll have the full attention of a well-respected Los Angeles criminal attorney dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome on your criminal defense case. If you’re concerned about the criminal charges you’re facing, contact our Los Angeles, CA law office for a free consultation with a compassionate criminal defense lawyer.
What Types of Criminal Defense Cases Can We Confidently Handle?
Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers have spent over 25 years representing Southern California clients from serious criminal charges, so you can trust that you’re in good hands no matter what your specific charges are. Many of the criminal cases our law firm has successfully handled involve:
- Drug Crimes
- DUI
- Sex Crimes
- Domestic Violence
- Theft Crimes
- Restraining Orders
- Violent Crimes
- Gun Possession
- White Collar Crimes
- Juvenile Cases
- Expungements
- Warrants
- Sealing of Records
- Pardons
Our Los Angeles criminal defense team understands how terrifying it is to be accused of committing particularly serious crimes that could result in prison time, such as vehicular manslaughter, child molestation, and most violent crimes. Even if your criminal offense may be charged as a misdemeanor, we realize you don’t want a conviction on your criminal record. This is why we fight hard for our clients whether they’re facing petty theft, grand theft, or domestic violence charges in Los Angeles, CA.
In short, no criminal case is too minor or complex for our criminal defense lawyers to take on, as you deserve legal representation regardless of your charges. If you’re worried about the outcome of your case, call our Los Angeles County criminal defense law firm today so our skilled legal professionals can begin strategizing a suitable defense angle for you.
What Penalties Do You Face If You’re Convicted?
One of the worst parts of being charged with a crime is the time you’ll spend worrying about what kind of punishment to expect if you’re found guilty. Talking to your Los Angeles area criminal defense attorney should provide some clarity for you, since they can tell you the range of penalties that typically result from a conviction for a specific offense.
In general, your penalties will depend on how California criminal law categorizes your alleged crime and whether you have a prior criminal history. Of course, your punishment will also depend on how effective your Los Angeles criminal attorney is when it comes to proving you didn’t commit the crime as charged or negotiating your penalties if a conviction is likely. Consider the types of crimes in California, and then contact our firm in Los Angeles, CA to discuss your case.
Misdemeanors
Another type of crime you could be charged with is a misdemeanor. This is more serious than an infraction since the punishment exposes the individual to county jail, in addition, to substantial fines. In particular, you could be sentenced to up to one year in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Depending on the nature of the offense, you could face other penalties, too.
For example, a DUI conviction could require you to complete a drug and alcohol addiction program in addition to fines and jail time. Most theft crimes, including petty theft, require restitution for the stolen property, along with possible jail time and fines. Domestic violence charges in Los Angeles can result in a restraining order that requires you to stay away from the alleged victim, while most sex crimes state that you must register as a sex offender if convicted.
In some instances, a misdemeanor can be upgraded to a felony, resulting in harsher penalties. This is called a wobbler, as the offense can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances of the crime. Repeat offenders with prior convictions on their record are most likely to have a wobbler charged as a felony. However, this may also be the case if your alleged actions caused someone else severe harm, such as if you’re accused of severely injuring someone while committing grand theft, assault, or domestic violence.
On the other hand, if your criminal record is clear of any convictions, a wobbler may be charged as a misdemeanor instead of a felony. If you’re unsure of what charge and punishment to expect, you should seek legal advice from an experienced criminal defense lawyer who serves Los Angeles County.
Felonies
The most serious crimes are charged as felonies, which can result in state prison time and hefty fines. In fact, what sets felonies apart from misdemeanors in this state is that felonies can be punished by more than one year of state prison and thousands of dollars in fines. For instance, first-degree murder can be punished by life in prison, as can kidnapping and certain sex crimes, depending on the circumstances.
On the other hand, rape is a felony that can result in three to eight years of prison time, or up to 13 years if the victim was a child. You’ll also likely have to register as a sex offender and pay fines of up to $10,000 if convicted by the Los Angeles courts. Certain crimes involving domestic violence, theft, and drugs can result in anywhere from a few years to decades in state prison, which is why it’s essential to find the best criminal defense firm possible to protect you from the harshest penalties.
Note that California has a Three Strikes Law that aims to punish repeat offenders more severely than first-time offenders, as the penalties increase for second and third offenses. This means if you’re convicted of a violent crime for the first time, you face the regular penalties according to the criminal law system. If you’re convicted of a violent offense for a second time, your mandatory sentence will be double the typical sentence. If you’re convicted of a violent offense for a third time, your mandatory sentence will become 25 years to life in prison.
If you’re uncertain if the Three Strikes Law applies to your case or if your offense could qualify as a wobbler due to your clean criminal record, it’s time to get legal advice from a highly ranked Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. You deserve to be represented by a defense lawyer who has a proven track record of successfully defending clients in the Los Angeles County criminal justice system, so we urge you to call our trusted firm today for legal help with your case.
What Are the Possible Outcomes of Your Los Angeles Criminal Case?
If the crime you were accused of often results in prison time and other serious penalties, you’re likely concerned about how your criminal defense case will go. While it’s impossible to guarantee a specific case outcome, you can improve your chances of avoiding the most severe penalties by hiring a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer with a proven track record of winning cases like yours.
After all, our experienced defense team has spent years creating effective strategies for complex criminal cases, so they often know which defense arguments are most likely to work in court. This is why we encourage you to contact our Los Angeles criminal defense law firm to discuss the potential outcomes of your case and the court procedures you need to prepare for.
The most sought-after outcome for most clients involves getting the criminal charges dropped at the beginning of the case. For this to occur, your highly rated Los Angeles criminal attorney would have to show that any evidence against you is inadmissible or insufficient for the prosecutor to prove guilt. This could result in the prosecutors office or the judge deciding that you’re unlikely to be convicted based on evidence and it would be a waste of their time and resources to proceed to trial, so the charges should be dropped.
If there is enough evidence for the case to move forward, your Los Angeles criminal lawyer will begin gathering evidence in your favor, such as police reports, video footage, pictures, and witness statements. Depending on the strength of the evidence on your side, your Los Angeles attorney might advise you to plead not guilty and allow the case to go to trial. This way, a judge or jury can decide if you’re innocent or guilty of the offense you were accused of committing.
On the other hand, if there is ample evidence to suggest you committed a criminal act, your Los Angeles criminal lawyer might recommend you plead guilty to a lesser crime. This means they will negotiate either earn a dismissal or plea to a lesser offense with less stigmatic obligations and charges.
Our highly skilled LA criminal team has the legal experience and education necessary to determine what kind of evidence is most effective at creating reasonable doubt in criminal cases. They also know how to use the facts of the case to decide whether clients should plead guilty or not guilty, and they can successfully negotiate with prosecutors to get their clients the best possible outcome. If you’re looking for Los Angeles dream team who fit this description, contact our Southern California office for a free consultation with a caring, trusted legal team.
Why Should You Hire a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney from Our Firm?
Being accused of breaking one or more criminal laws in California can be stressful, especially if this is your first arrest. But it’s important to know you’re not alone. You have the right to hire a skilled Los Angeles lawyer who is more than capable of meeting your criminal defense needs.
When you come to California Legal Counsel for representation, you’ll meet with a compassionate Los Angeles criminal defense firm eager to give you peace of mind regarding your case. We know you’re nervous about possible prison time and fines, and we want you to know we’ll work hard to help you avoid these harsh penalties.
Our founding attorney at this Los Angeles law firm have more than 25 years of criminal defense experience, so you’ll get legal support from a trusted team equipped to advise you during every step of your case. From the first court date to the sentencing hearing, our Los Angeles criminal lawyers are here to provide the quality legal assistance you deserve. So, if your initial court date is fast approaching and you want to learn your legal options, call our Los Angeles law firm at 866-691-2077 to schedule a free consultation with our team.