Category: Criminal Defense

Under California Penal Code 192(c) PC, vehicular manslaughter charges can be filed against someone if they drive their vehicle negligently or unlawfully and then causes the death of another person. Simply put, if somebody dies in a car accident in California, you might face vehicular manslaughter charges if you were driving negligently or doing something illegal. The severity of the penalties will always depend on the level of negligence (ordinary or gross), whether you were driving under the influence, and your criminal history. Some common examples of PC 192(c) vehicular manslaughter cases include: A driver texting on their cell phone… Read More

A common question we encounter in consultations with new clients is whether there is a way to avoid prison after they are charged with residential burglary under California Penal Code 459 PC. The crime of burglary is described as entering a residential or commercial structure with the intent to commit grand theft, petty larceny, or any other felony crime. A burglary occurs when someone enters a structure with criminal intent, even if nothing was stolen. PC 459 burglary laws are divided into either a first-degree or second-degree burglary. First-degree burglary, commonly called residential burglary, is when someone enters a residence with… Read More

Many people are arrested for a California theft crime charge in Los Angeles, whether it be working for some business and you steal, or you go to the store, and you steal, you get a ticket and get arrested, you have to post bail, and now your whole future is on the line. The reason your whole future is on the line is that with a theft conviction on your record, a future employer who will be able to look you up by way of a background check will see that you have been arrested and convicted of stealing. That’s… Read More

Many people are out there looking for an attorney to help their loved ones in trouble.  They’re doing their research.  They’re checking on law firms.  They’re making phone calls.  The best way to help them is to find the best criminal defense attorney you possibly can. That attorney will know what to do regarding everything associated with a criminal case if you get the best. They’re going to help you figure out the bail. They’re going to help you figure out whether to bail the person out or not, and they’re going to direct the case.  If they know what they’re… Read More

This is a good question, especially for someone looking for an attorney.  I hear many potential clients and people who become clients ask how different lawyers are charging different prices.  The answer to that question is not just one particular answer. First off, you’ve got to look at the skill level of an attorney.  If an attorney has been practicing for one to five years and that attorney quotes you a fee, and then you get a price quote from someone who’s been practicing for 25 – 30 years, those quotes will likely be different.  The attorney who has been around… Read More

There are many things that I could say in this area, having practiced criminal defense now in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years.  But I think I’m going to break it down into three things. First, we’ll look at the District Attorney’s office and how their office is run related to dealing with criminal cases in LA County. Next, we’ll look at what roles judges play in criminal cases in Los Angeles. Finally, we’ll look at what the best criminal defense attorney does strategy-wise to get the best results for their criminal clients. First, we’ll talk about the District Attorney’s… Read More

This is a good question because anybody who has been arrested or their loved one has been arrested, and they’re trying to find an attorney and want to know what the price is going to be and how the lawyer is going to decide exactly what they’re going to charge for their services. I can give you an idea of having quoted people prices in California criminal cases for nearly 30 years.  Several factors go into what I charge in a criminal case. My law firm is based in Los Angeles County, and I represent people across Southern California. One… Read More

If You’re Charged with a Criminal Case in Los Angeles, Should You Hire a Large Law Firm or a Solo Lawyer? Many people who get arrested and charged with crimes in LA county set out to find a criminal defense attorney, but they don’t know how to look, where to start, who to hire, and what makes sense because they’ve never been charged with it a crime before. I’ve been practicing criminal law for 30 years in all aspects of the criminal field.  I’ve worked for the District Attorney’s office, the prosecuting agency for felonies in LA county. In 1994,… Read More

If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, you’ve either posted bail or been cited out with a ticket to appear in court. You must get a criminal defense attorney right away, so you have an idea of what you’re facing at the initial appearance. First, what’s typically going to happen is your attorney will either continue the arraignment, which is the first court date or enter a not-guilty plea on your behalf and set a new court date. Another thing that will happen at your initial appearance is the judge will set bail.  So, let’s say you were… Read More

When you hire a criminal defense lawyer before a criminal case is filed, hire the lawyer prefiling. The reason you would want to do that is that after a case is filed, the authorities attempt to gather evidence. In other words, they will investigate you.  They will surveil you.  They will get wiretap evidence by tapping your phone or catching you talking to somebody who has a phone that has been wiretapped. They can also do a pretext phone call, where they have someone call you and ask you incriminating questions and tape-record the conversation. Another essential investigative tool is… Read More