Long Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer

We Defend Against Long Beach Felony Charges

There are many felonies created under California law. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors, and the sentencing for felonies reflects this fact. Defendants need to have the opportunity to consult with an experienced Long Beach criminal defense lawyer about any felony charges. Never speak to the police, appear in court, or discuss plea negotiations without getting advice from a defense lawyer who is actually on your side.

Common examples of serious California felonies include:

• Murder (and attempted murder)
• Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
• DUI with multiple prior convictions
• Arson
• Rape
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Kidnapping
• Grand theft
• Carjacking
• Sex crimes
• Aggravated assault
• Sale of controlled substances

The Penalties For Felonies

Felony offenses carry the strictest punishments possible. California has not banned the death penalty, although a federal court and Gov. Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on it. This means that some defendants still receive death sentences that the state has not carried out.

More commonly, a defendant convicted of murder will get a life sentence in prison. This sentence can be either with or without the possibility of parole, depending on the circumstances. When you face consequences as permanent as the death penalty or life in prison, there is simply no substitute for the advice of an experienced felony defense lawyer.

While the most serious felonies carry the possibility of life in prison, it is more common for a felony to carry a potential sentence involving years in prison. Imprisonment can sometimes be for decades.

Sometimes, it is worth the risk of trial to let a jury determine whether you are guilty. Often, however, a good defense lawyer can negotiate a plea deal that will cut years (or even decades) off of the prison sentence a defendant faces at trial. The investment of attorney’s fees can give a defendant years of freedom.

A defendant can receive a probation sentence instead of serving prison time for a felony. Serious felonies usually require formal probation, in which the defendant must regularly check in with a probation officer. Common requirements include community service, substance abuse screening, and drug or alcohol testing (depending on the nature of the charges).

In less serious cases, the defendant might receive informal probation. Here, they do not have to check in regularly with a probation officer, but they do have to meet certain basic requirements. The court can revoke formal probation if the defendant gets a new arrest, fails to maintain a job, or violates other basic conditions of probation.

The Collateral Damage of a Felony Conviction

In addition to prison time and fines, many other consequences affect a person’s life after a felony conviction. A felony conviction results in the automatic loss of certain civil rights. A person cannot vote, serve on a jury, or legally own firearms with a felony on their criminal record.

In some cases, people can have these rights restored after years of keeping a clean criminal record, but there is no guarantee. A felony conviction can also make getting a job or housing difficult. It can even make it difficult to enroll in school or access credit from a financial institution. Hiring a good defense lawyer at the start of your case can help mitigate these risks and consequences.

An attorney can sometimes arrange for a plea deal to lesser misdemeanor charges. Other prosecutors are willing to let a defendant “earn” a misdemeanor – while they initially file felony charges, the prosecutor may allow the defendant to plead guilty to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal or after completing a diversion program. This program might require community service, alcohol counseling, or other terms that are specific to your case.

These are just some of the many options available for mitigating the damage of a felony conviction. Our Long Beach criminal defense attorneys work hard to prevent wrongful convictions and mitigate the collateral damage of a conviction by negotiating fair plea agreements.

We Defend Against Misdemeanors in Long Beach

Many offenses are misdemeanors under the California Penal Code, making them crimes anywhere in the state.

Common examples include:

• Shoplifting and petty theft
• Receiving stolen property
• Public intoxication
• Disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct
• Trespassing
• Driving on a suspended license
• Reckless driving
• DUI
• Prostitution
• Violating a restraining order
• Domestic battery
• Assault and battery
• Drug possession

In addition to the misdemeanors created under California state laws, there are also misdemeanors under the Long Beach Municipal Code. These offenses can result in misdemeanor charges within the City of Long Beach’s jurisdiction.

The Penalties For Misdemeanors

Most misdemeanors come with a set sentence written directly into the statute. These sentences generally do not exceed up to one year in jail and a possible fine of $1,000. When the statute lays out no specific sentence, the California Penal Code has a default sentence of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1000, or both for any misdemeanor conviction.

Added Penalties For Domestic Violence Offenses

A jail sentence or fine is not the only penalty a person faces for a misdemeanor conviction. Some offenses have collateral consequences. In the case of domestic violence, these consequences can be permanent.

The Brady Bill went into effect after the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. The law aimed to limit handgun ownership, and, as a result, anyone with a conviction of a domestic violence offense (even a misdemeanor) permanently loses the right to own a gun legally. You cannot reinstate the right to own guns later, and there is no appeals process to challenge the ban once you have a conviction.

Always consult with a Long Beach criminal defense lawyer before pleading guilty to any offense – even if it seems minor. Even if the state does not classify your case as domestic violence, federal law might, and the Brady Bill can still apply.

In addition to the Brady Bill, there are other collateral consequences to a conviction for domestic violence. A family court can use the conviction against you during divorce or custody proceedings. The best way to mitigate this damage is to have the best possible defense in the criminal court. This will help prevent an unfair outcome to criminal charges that can follow you from the criminal court to the family court.