Ventura Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you face criminal charges in Ventura, you have critical legal rights that you must protect. Be sure to hire a Ventura criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
The experienced California defense attorneys at Chudnovsky Law have decades of combined experience fighting criminal charges. Our lawyers are skilled former prosecutors with the respect of judges and district attorneys alike in criminal courts.
Our firm has handled thousands of criminal defense cases, and we know how to find the right legal strategy for resolving any criminal matter. The sooner you have an experienced defense lawyer fighting on your side, the more protection your legal rights will have.
We may also find better options for resolving your case if you hire us as soon as you learn of the charges against you. If you wait until after arraignment or further into the criminal process, you may accidentally say or do something that can hurt your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Our Ventura Criminal Defense Lawyers Get Results
A quick internet search for “Ventura criminal defense lawyer” will show you many attorneys in the greater Los Angeles area. While many attorneys claim to be the best, Chudnovsky Law lets our results speak for us.
Here are some recent case results our lawyers have obtained for actual clients:
- One client faced a life sentence without the possibility of parole on first-degree murder charges. We secured an acquittal after a jury trial.
- Another client faced ten years in prison for transporting and selling cocaine. We once again secured an acquittal at trial.
- Our client faced twenty years in prison for felony rape and aggravated assault charges. We obtained a charge reduction to false imprisonment, and our client was sentenced to just two years in prison with credit for time served.
- Our client faced charges of felony domestic violence. There was a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury, which meant our client might face a sentence of up to seven years in prison. Instead, we got the charge reduced to a misdemeanor for “simple” battery, and our client received no jail sentence.
- In another domestic violence case, our client was charged with a felony for corporal injury to a spouse. A conviction might have resulted in two years in prison and serious immigration consequences. Not only did our client face possible deportation, but they might not be admissible into the U.S. again. Our team fought to get the case dismissed. Our client spent no time in jail and had no problems with immigration status due to the charges.
- Another client without citizenship faced a felony charge for battery on a police officer. This client faced sixteen months in prison and deportation. Instead, our defense lawyer negotiated a misdemeanor plea bargain. Our client spent no time in jail and faced no immigration consequences.
- Another client on a student visa faced charges of felony grand theft. Instead of jail time and deportation, we got the charges dismissed. Our client had no criminal sentence and no immigration consequences. They even continued with their college education.
Ventura Defense Resources
The criminal case process can be overwhelming for anyone - especially if you have never faced criminal charges. Here are some resources that provide helpful information about the criminal case process:
Ventura Law Enforcement Agencies
Many local, state, and federal agencies investigate crimes in Ventura. Our defense lawyers work with these investigators before charges are filed in court to prepare the best defense for your case. Sometimes, we can have charges reduced or dropped entirely before the prosecutor files them in court.
Some of the law enforcement agencies we work with in Ventura include:
- The City of Ventura Police Department
- The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
- The California Highway Patrol
- The Division of Law Enforcement (through the state Department of Justice)
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Many other law enforcement agencies may be involved in your case. Chudnovsky Law has experience defending all types of investigations at the local, state, and federal levels and working with all law enforcement agencies.
Ventura County Courthouses
A Ventura criminal case can occur at many courthouses in the greater Los Angeles area. The court overseeing your case will depend on which law enforcement agency is investigating the case, what charges the prosecutor files, and what prosecutor’s office will take the case.
Our criminal defense attorneys are ready to represent you in any local courthouse:
- The Ventura County Superior Court has Ventura, Oxnard, and Simi Valley locations.
- The Court of Appeal has a main location in Los Angeles. There is a secondary courthouse in Ventura for appeals originating in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.
- The Central District of California hears federal cases arising in Ventura County. Ventura cases occur at the two federal courthouses in Los Angeles.
Our Experienced Ventura Defense Lawyers Handle All Types of Criminal Matters
No matter your charges, our experienced criminal defense team is ready to fight back to protect your rights.
We handle all types of criminal cases, including:
- Theft crimes
- White-collar crimes
- Violent crimes
- Vehicular crimes
- Sex crimes
- Drug crimes
- Domestic violence and related offenses
Our defense lawyers can protect your legal rights at all stages of the criminal case process. Even before charges get filed, we can advocate for your interests and protect your constitutional rights during a law enforcement investigation. We defend clients at arraignments, bail hearings, scheduling conferences, evidentiary hearings, and other pretrial matters in court.
We also advocate for clients at trial. In many cases, we negotiate fair plea deals to protect our clients from going to trial. We also handle post-conviction matters such as appeals, probation violations, civil rights restoration, and criminal records expungements.
Criminal Defense and Immigration Status
In addition to jail time, fines, and other criminal penalties, defendants can also face immigration consequences. A visa holder or lawful permanent resident can face automatic deportation for being convicted of certain crimes. Even an arrest can cause problems with the immigration authorities, so it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible. It is best to hire a lawyer with experience in criminal defense and immigration law.
When your immigration lawyer is also an experienced criminal defense lawyer, you get the most effective representation on both legal matters without the risk of miscommunications or conflicting goals between two separate attorneys. Attorney Tsion Chudnovsky is a nationally recognized criminal immigration lawyer. She represents holders of all visas and green cards who face charges of any criminal offense.
You might be surprised to learn that even naturalized citizens can face removal from the U.S. due to a criminal conviction. This process is far more complicated than removal proceedings for a visa or green card holder. If a person has obtained citizenship, the government must petition for “denaturalization” to have them removed from the country. This process is far more lengthy, expensive, and complex than other removal proceedings, so it is usually used only for the most serious criminal charges, but it is a possibility.
Always consult our experienced immigration lawyers about any potential immigration complications. Whether you hold a visa, a green card, or are a naturalized citizen, your status in the U.S. can suffer effects from a criminal conviction.
FAQ About Ventura Criminal Defense
How are criminal charges filed in court?
Prosecutors formally file criminal charges with a court in many ways. In misdemeanors, a police officer might file a citation with the court. You will receive a summons to appear in court to respond to the charges.
In more serious cases, an officer might arrest you and hold you until you can appear before a judge. In these cases, a prosecutor will often draft the criminal complaint and file it with the court.
A prosecutor will take the case to a grand jury on the most serious charges. If the grand jury agrees there is probable cause to charge the defendant with the crime, it will issue an indictment, which serves as the charging document. A defendant can receive a summons to respond to the indictment, but the court will often issue an arrest warrant. Police officers can then arrest the defendant and hold them until they appear before a judge to be arranged and set bail.
Our defense lawyers are familiar with all different types of charging documents. We know how to challenge insufficient charges to protect you from wrongful prosecution. Whatever charges you face and whatever Ventura court oversees your case, Chudnovsky Law is here to help.
How do I know when the state files criminal charges?
In some cases, an officer might issue you a citation for a misdemeanor (or other relatively minor criminal offense). The citation will list a date and time to appear in court, serving as your summons. In other cases, a prosecutor reviews the case before filing charges in court. In these cases, a summons might come directly from the court. In either event, you should receive notice in writing that the state filed charges and when you must appear in court.
When charges are more serious, a defendant is likely to be arrested. You have the right to appear before a judge within a short time after your arrest. The judge will determine whether to set bail or impose other release conditions (such as electronic ankle monitoring). You have the right to hire an attorney and argue for less restrictive release conditions.
For example, if bail is so high that no one can reasonably pay it, our lawyers can argue for a lower, more manageable amount. They can also prove to the judge and prosecutor that you are not a flight risk. You will be arraigned before a judge if you get arrested on criminal charges. The arraignment serves as formal notice of the charges against you and notice of your next court date.
When should I contact a defense attorney?
The sooner you contact a criminal defense attorney, the better protected your constitutional rights will be. Consider the right to silence. Police officers do not have to read the Miranda Warnings unless you are in their custody. This means that, during the informal early stages of a police investigation, officers might ask you some "friendly questions." The state can still use your answers against you.
If you hire a defense lawyer as soon as you learn of a criminal investigation, you can protect yourself from this type of incriminating statement. Simply let the officers know that you have hired an attorney, and all questions must go through our office.
The other reason to hire a defense lawyer as soon as possible is a matter of strategy. At the start of the case, our lawyers may have several options to resolve criminal charges. These options can become limited as a case progresses. If you already spoke to the police, entered a plea in court, or spoke to the prosecutor about a plea deal, you will limit the options available for resolving your case favorably.
The sooner you hire Chudnovsky Law, the more options we will have for developing the best case strategy for your unique circumstances.
Experienced, Aggressive Ventura Criminal Defense Lawyers For All Criminal Matters
When you face criminal charges, the full force of the government works against you. Police and prosecutors work together to get convictions at any cost. You don't have to face this power on your own. You have the right to hire an attorney to protect all your legal rights during a criminal case.
You even have the right to hire an attorney before the prosecutor faces charges. Law enforcement officers can use anything you say against you, so get a lawyer on your side even if the state did not yet file formal charges. The Ventura criminal defense lawyers at Chudnovsky Law have years of experience handling all types of criminal matters. We work hard to protect our client's legal rights, prevent wrongful convictions, negotiate fair plea deals, and find the right resolution to any criminal matter.
Contact us today at (805) 892-8020 for your free, confidential consultation. The sooner you get advice from an experienced Ventura criminal defense lawyer, the better options there will be for resolving the charges against you.
