San Diego Criminal Attorney

Drug crimes in San Diego are aggressively prosecuted as they are usually viewed as a trigger for further criminal activities. Prosecutors impose harsh penalties to make an example of those convicted. Even if the law is becoming more relaxed about the use of marijuana, that does not mean that you will automatically get a slap on the wrist when arrested for a drug-related offense. Drug charges are determined by the type of drug obtained during the arrest, the quantity of the drug, and the location of the alleged crime (specifically if near a place where children assemble), and your criminal record.

Some of the most common types of drug crimes in San Diego and Southern California include:

• Possession of a narcotic
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession for sale of a controlled substance
• Manufacturing of a controlled substance
• Transportation or distribution for sale of a controlled substance
• Sale or transportation of a controlled substance

A conviction can result in imprisonment, probation, enormous fines, mandatory drug counseling, restitution to law enforcement, and driver’s license revocation. What’s more, a drug crime conviction will be used to enhance future sentencing. At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we employ exceptional defense strategies for all types of drug crimes and are willing to challenge every part of the prosecutor’s case against you. We will use every resource at our disposal to have the charges dropped or reduced.

Episodes of domestic violence often unfold in seconds, but the physical and emotional implications on both parties are seemingly endless. California takes cases of domestic violence very seriously. In fact, there are special units set to exclusively prosecute domestic violence crimes and will pursue the cases even when the victim changes his/her story or decides not to press charges. The California Penal Code defines domestic violence as a criminal offense that involves the use of physical violence against a spouse or former spouse, partner or former partner, cohabitant in an intimate relationship, or a dating partner. The law also applies to parents who have children together. The charges of domestic violence can include:

• Corporal Injury to a Spouse
• Domestic Battery
• Criminal Threats
• Kidnapping
• Intimate Partner Stalking
• Violation of Restraining Order

Domestic violence charges on your record can significantly disrupt your personal and professional life, including the ability to successfully pass a background check or even find a spouse. Unfortunately, some domestic violence victims make false accusations to punish the alleged offense and have an advantage in a civil matter such as divorce or child custody dispute. San Diego Criminal Attorney makes an excellent choice of legal representation, thanks to our years of experience, in-depth understanding of the legal statues relevant to domestic violence crimes, and our commitment to leveraging all available evidence to defeat the charges. We’ll focus on protecting your rights and keeping you out of jail.

The San Diego area is well-known for its car culture and traffic jams, so it should not come as a surprise that there are many cases of driving offenses in the region. While many of these driving offenses are minor infractions, there are various misdemeanor and felony driving crimes. Some of the commonly charged driving crimes in San Diego include:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
• Misdemeanor Hit and Run
• Felony Hit and Run
• Driving On a Suspended or Revoked License
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Negligent Operator Law

Penalties associated with driving offenses can be severe, including points on your driver’s license, suspension/revocation of your driver’s license, substantial fines, and incarceration. To avoid the harsh penalties, San Diego Criminal Attorney can help develop the most effective strategy to disprove the charges. As your driving crime attorney, we’ll thoroughly investigate your case and fight aggressively for your best outcome.

Not every offense requires physical harm to another person. Some offenses, such as fraud, cause financial harm to a victim. A fraud crime involves using deceit or artifice to deprive another person of money or property and enable you to obtain a benefit you don’t deserve. Fraud crimes involve the use of lies, omissions, and misinterpretation to obtain unfair financial gain. California law prohibits various types of fraud, including:

• Insurance Fraud
• Auto Insurance Fraud
• Welfare Fraud
• Worker’s Compensation Criminal Fraud
• Check Fraud
• Credit Card Fraud
• Health Care Fraud
• Securities Fraud
• Foreclosure Fraud
• Real Estate Fraud

Fraud crimes are sometimes treated more harshly than common theft crimes because they involve a violation of trust. The consequences of a conviction are too great to ignore. You need to hire an attorney as soon as possible. San Diego Criminal Attorney law firm is here to help. Our attorneys have decades of experience in San Diego courts and have successfully handled many fraud cases. We take a comprehensive evaluation of your case, determine the best defense strategy, and aggressively fight for the best possible outcome.

Few crimes are stigmatized or as emotionally charged as those related to a person’s sexual conduct. While our legal system holds that individuals are innocent until proven guilty, that is not always the case with individuals charged with sex crimes as those around them may jump to conclusions based on allegations made against them. As such, anyone accused of a crime cannot afford to take chances with their defense. A sex crime conviction carries extreme legal consequences, and the evidence presented in court may be incredibly embarrassing ad could permanently harm the accused’s reputation. Furthermore, those convicted will be required to register as sex offenders for the remainder of their lives.

At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we take sex crimes charges seriously and never try to provide a one-size-fits-all defense strategy. Instead, we’re dedicated to developing a personalized defense strategy tailored to your case and goals. We will do everything to protect your rights and good name. We know the rules of evidence and forensic analysis that come to play in sex crime cases. We will know how to counter tactics employed by prosecutors and challenge evidence used against you. And if the evidence is strong, we can help by negotiating a plea deal with the prosecutor to secure a more lenient penalty. Some of the sex crimes we handle include:

• Rape
• Child Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Assault
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Obscenity
• Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
• Internet Sex Crimes
• Sex Offender Registration Violation

Theft is generally defined as the illegal action of taking another person’s property and permanently depriving him/her of that property. With advances in technology, non-traditional forms of theft, such as card cloning and identity theft, are popping up everywhere. Common types of theft crimes include:

• Petty theft
• Grand theft
• Identity theft
• Shoplifting
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Receiving stolen property

In many cases, the value of an item can determine whether the prosecutor files misdemeanor or felony charges. Also, more charges may apply if the defendant is accused of using threats, force, or a weapon in the commission of a theft crime. Penalties for a conviction can range from a slap on the wrist to years of incarceration A conviction will also severely limit your future employment or housing prospects as no employer or landlord will want to have a thief in their company or property. It could also disqualify you from procuring a loan or obtaining/renewing your professional license.

With so much at stake, you need an experienced theft crime lawyer who can work hard to deliver solutions for your unique legal needs. At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we know all statutes that apply to theft crimes as well as the best ways to prevent a conviction. We will start by reviewing the evidence against you to find weaknesses and violations of law. Depending on what we find, we may be able to get the evidence thrown out, get the charges dropped, or secure an acquittal.

California has some of the toughest penalties in the country for violent crimes, and individuals convicted of these offenses can face long prison sentences and enormous fines. And if you’re a repeat offender, you risk significant prison time due to sentence enhancement under California “Three Strikes” Law. If you’re found guilty, the conviction will have serious implications on your life. You’ll likely face social isolation, removal from your residence, difficulty finding a job, denial of loans, and more.

Some examples of violent crimes in California include:

• Assault and battery
• Arson
• Robbery
• Kidnapping
• Gang violence
• Homicide
• Rape and sexual assault
• Acts of terrorism or being involved in a terrorist organization

Many times, law enforcement officers rush to attempt to solve these offenses without a complete investigation. The outcome of this can be a case that is overly charged, or worse yet, resulting in the conviction of an innocent person. Many factors can cause this, including prosecutors and investigators who jump to wrong conclusions, unreliable witness statements, mistaken identity, and even racism. In some cases, it could be that the individual charged with a violent crime was acting in self-defense, which is allowed by the law.

Having an experienced criminal attorney is critical to protecting your freedom. At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we know how to create a viable defense strategy to prove your innocence and why you deserve minimal or no punishment. We can also use our negotiation skills to bring your charges down to something less extreme. We can even use our legal prowess to have your charges thrown out completely. This will make your record clear and ensure that the events are behind you.

California has some of the stringent gun laws in the nation. It’s very easy for any firearm-related charge to turn into a serious offense. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, you could face imprisonment and loss of the right to own a firearm. And if you use a weapon in the commission of another criminal offense, your sentence could be enhanced, and that means that the penalties will be much harsher. At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we understand California’s complicated firearm laws, and we can help build a strong defense to the charges against you. And if it’s not possible to discredit the evidence against you, we can negotiate for a favorable plea deal. We’re committed to ensuring that you stay out of jail whenever possible.

We defend clients against various weapon charges, including:

• Assault with a weapon
• Illegal discharge of firearms
• Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
• Illegal sale of a firearm
• Brandishing a firearm
• Improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle
• Dealing in assault weapons without a license
• Using firearms in a restricted area
• Making false statements to acquire firearms
• Transfer of large-capacity magazines
• Carrying a concealed handgun
• Possession or manufacture of destructive devices

White-collar crimes refer to a wide variety of illegal actions committed for the purpose of financial gain, usually by public officials, entrepreneurs, business people, and other professionals. Simply put, white collar crimes are perpetrated by nonviolent individuals or those in positions of power through deceptive or fraudulent means. Here are some of the most common white collar crimes:

• Bribery
• Fraud
• Embezzlement
• Forgery
• Extortion
• Perjury
• Identity theft
• Money laundering
• Tax offenses

Theft involving the abuse of another person’s trust or the abuse of a position of power can result in serious criminal penalties. This can include jail or prison time, huge fines, and being forced to pay restitution to the victims. Furthermore, a white collar crime can have a lasting negative impact on a person’s professional and personal life. As such, you need to fight back with the help of an experienced white collar crimes defense attorney.

At San Diego Criminal Attorney, we have the skills, tenacity, and experience required to conduct a complete investigation without being thrown off by complicated financial or complicated evidence. We will work diligently to poke holes into the prosecution’s case against you. We can be able to prevent formal charges from being filed by intervening early in the case. And if the evidence against you is problematic, we can negotiate with the prosecutor to ensure you get the most lenient penalty possible.