Criminal Defense Attorney in Santa Monica
Santa Monica has been around for a long time, and many people have been arrested in this particular city. There used to be a criminal court that handled all the cases, and I had been practicing there for many years.
However, they ended up closing it down for criminal matters when they built the Airport LAX courthouse, a multi-million-dollar project. This much bigger facility could handle many more cases.
So, now, if you get arrested in the city of Santa Monica, you're typically going to be sent to the LAX court, or if it's a severe case, you could get sent to downtown Los Angeles, 210 West Temple Street.
Common Crimes of Burglary, DUI, Domestic Violence
Santa Monica is a city with significant buildings, nice houses, and a lot of people being arrested for burglary, DUI, and domestic violence.
I've defended people for a whole slew of crimes over the years. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office staffs the courthouse that handles criminal cases arrested outside that area.
I always deal with those prosecutors and judges and have a pretty good feel for their tendencies and how they handle certain criminal cases. It just depends on the type of criminal case.
For example, violent crimes like a robbery, where you're taking somebody's property either by force or with a weapon, are going to be treated very harshly. The prosecutors are typically going to be looking at prison time.
DUI, on the other hand, as long as nobody's hurt, will typically be prosecuted as misdemeanors and are a lot easier to deal with. There are all sorts of other crimes.
Reviewing Details of Your Arrest
But what we do strategy-wise if you're arrested in Santa Monica is I have you come and meet with me. We review all the details of the arrest, circumstances, witnesses, and information you have related to the arrest.
I encourage you to be honest with me so that I can get a good feel for what you're up against. To make the final decision on handling your case, I will need the police report, which details all the information related to the evidence the prosecutors will have against you.
Then, I will want to speak to the prosecutor because they're the lawyers like me on the other side. They'll be able to give me a good feel for number one, what type of evidence they have against you, how they feel about your case, and what their arguments would be if you were to try to fight the case.
Number two, if we decide to work out a resolution with them, they'll give me a good idea of what they'll be seeking should you agree to plead guilty or no contest in the case.
Sometimes, instead of dealing with the prosecutors, I will deal with the judge on the case. Even though the prosecutors control the charges filed in the case and what are dismissed, the judges, on the other hand, will typically prevent the sentence. Understanding the judge's role in the process is crucial for a successful defense strategy.
Negotiation Between Prosecution and Defense
In most criminal cases, whether you're arrested in Santa Monica or anywhere in Los Angeles, it will be a negotiation between the prosecution and the defense. This means that your attorney will work with the prosecutor to reach a resolution that is favorable to you, and the judge will then approve the case.
But there are circumstances where if you don't feel like the prosecutor is being reasonable in a criminal case, you have the option as a criminal defense attorney to go to the judge and see what type of indicated sentence they might have if your client was willing to plead guilty. This means that if you choose to plead guilty, your attorney can help you understand what the potential consequences might be.
They are part of the process, too, and they know how to handle criminal cases since they're the ones that control the sentence. Sometimes, there is some leeway in dealing with a particular criminal case by going to a criminal judge.
So, pick up the phone if you were arrested in Santa Monica and appearing in one of the courthouses, like the Airport court. Make the call. Let's sit down. Let's talk about it.
Let's develop a strategy when you're arrested in Santa Monica. Taking control of your case is the first step to getting out of the criminal justice system as quickly as possible. We'll protect your rights, records, reputation, and freedom.
