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Reducing a felony conviction on your criminal record to a misdemeanor is described under California Penal Code Section 17(b). In other words, if you were convicted of certain California felony crimes, you have a chance of getting them reduced to a misdemeanor crime. This means a felony conviction...

California Penal Code Sections 664 and 21(a) are the statutes that descried attempted crimes. In other words, attempting to commit a crime is itself a crime, and a separate offense that can be charged on its own. This means if you attempt to commit a crime, but are unsuccessful in completing it, ...

California's self-defense laws allow you to protect yourself in certain situations. By law, you can't be guilty of a violent crime that you may have committed in order to protect yourself, as long as the conduct was “reasonable under the circumstances.” This primary factor is often aggressively d...

In California State criminal cases, pretrial motion practice is a crucial factor in an effective defense strategy. Clearly, any appropriate pretrial motions to be heard by the criminal court will always depend on the facts, circumstances, and allegations in the case. There are specific categories...

In felony criminal cases in in Los Angeles County, you will have a guaranteed legal right to have a preliminary hearing. This is when the prosecutor must prove there is sufficient evidence supporting that you committed a crime. The primary function of a preliminary hearing is for the court to dec...

Once you are charged with a crime, you have certain legal rights make sure of fair criminal proceedings and for an opportunity to defend yourself against the charges. Part of the fair proceedings is right to a court arraignment within a reasonable amount of time – usually 48 hours. At the arraign...

It's common knowledge the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution gives citizens the legal right to bear arms, but it's possible to have you gun ownership rights forfeited. For example, California Penal Code 29800 makes it a crime for anyone who convicted of a felony offense, some misd...

Most California criminal courts seek ways to relieve overcrowding in jails while maintaining control of criminal behavior.  For example, Los Angeles County criminal courts offer a wide range of alternative sentencing options for some people – rather than incarceration – while they attempt to ensu...

There are some crimes in California when a prosecutor has the discretion to file the case as either a misdemeanor or felony misdemeanor crime – commonly known as a “wobbler.” When making their decision, they normally take into consideration different factors – such as the specific circumstances o...

Under California Penal Code 1203.3, a judge has the legal authority to terminate probation early, but it will only be granted If you can show the court “good cause” – meaning you have to show the court good reasons for early termination. If you are seeking an early termination of probation, call ...

A crime involving moral turpitude is described as an offense of serious dishonesty, fraud, or conduct that would shock a reasonable person. The distinction is often important for a defendant who is attempting to decide whether to accept a plea bargain, or take their case to trial. This is especia...

California Penal Code 12022.7 describes a great bodily injury enhancement which means if you are convicted of a felony crime, you could face additional punishment. It should be noted the prosecutor must allege a sentencing enhancement, which typically occurs in a situation where you are accused o...

We have represented many clients who were charged with drug trafficking or drug sales case in Los Angeles County Criminal Courts. These type of serious felony drug crime charges will often depend on the quantity and type of drugs involved in the case. If convicted, you could be facing a significa...

Domestic violence is one of the most common crimes in Los Angeles County. In many DV cases, the alleged victim and suspect are involved in a marital or dating relationship living in the same home. Domestic violence incidents often begin with a simple verbal argument over a wide range of issues, b...

The internet enables anyone to communicate with others with anonymity. Many use various websites, chat rooms, and even social media to view sexually explicit material and attempt to locate a sexual partner. Obviously, this type of behavior is legal when it involves consenting adults, but some man...

In order for a prosecutor to convict you of a crime in a California criminal court, they have to be able to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are provided an opportunity to put up a defense against their charges, typically with legal representation from a criminal defense lawy...

In all California criminal courthouses, murder and attempted murder charges are some of the most serious violent crime cases prosecuted. In Los Angeles County, murder cases are aggressively investigated by all law enforcement agencies. If convicted, the penalties are severe. For example, a second...

If you are convicted of a crime, losing your freedom will impact every aspect of your life. Fortunately, alternative sentencing options offers some hope of staying out of jail. A conviction for a crime that carries county jail or state prison time doesn't always automatically result in serving ja...

It's important to understand the difference between a California arrest warrant and a search warrant. Warrants are a common tool used by law enforcement to investigate and arrest anyone who is thought to have committed a crime. It's important to understand there are two main types of types of war...

There are not many things more terrifying to drivers than being pulled over by police on a traffic stop after they have consumed some alcohol – even in cases where it was only one drink. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) under California Vehicle Code 23152 is a serious issue that has the potentia...

For the moment – but due to change, California law has a cash bail system under which defendants who appear in a Los Angeles criminal court are permitted to remain free into society pursuant to a bail bond. However, most criminal defendants don't have sufficient resources to post the entire cash ...

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. There are laws that can impact your right to own or possess a gun – and other specific laws that allow for severe legal penalties if you commit certain California crimes with a gun. This law in famously known as California's “use...

After an arrest for criminal case in Los Angeles, your first appearance in court is almost an arraignment. There are several important steps taken at the arraignment that you need to know. It's the first stage of court proceedings and your first appearance in front of a judge where you will be to...

The criminal offense of “accessory after the fact” is described under California Penal Code Section 32. This statute makes it a crime to harbor, conceal, or aid another person you know committed a felony – or if you help them to avoid arrest, trial, or being convicted. In other words, an accessor...

The misdemeanor crime of “trespassing” is described under California Penal Code Section 602. In basic terms, this law prohibits someone from entering or remaining on someone else's property without permission. There are a wide range of situations where criminal trespassing could occur. For instan...