Criminal defense

Say that you want a lawyer, and then stop talking about the case. That is not being difficult, it is a constitutional right, and officers are trained to keep a conversation going after you invoke it.

Do not discuss the facts with anyone, including family, on a jail phone line. Those calls are recorded. Call an attorney before you give any statement.

Yes, and the clock is short. You have 10 days from receipt of the suspension or revocation order to request a hearing from the California DMV. That hearing is separate from your criminal case, and the DMV can suspend your license even if the criminal charge is later reduced or dismissed.

The DMV also states you may generally drive for 30 days from the date the order was issued, provided your license is otherwise valid. If you do nothing in those first 10 days, you give up the hearing. Call before the deadline passes.

Talk to a lawyer first. Officers are permitted to be strategic in an interview, and explanations given in good faith are frequently used as admissions later.

You can be polite, provide identification, and still decline to answer questions about the incident until you have counsel.

Broadly, misdemeanors carry up to a year in county jail, while felonies can carry state prison time and longer term consequences for employment, housing, professional licenses, and firearm rights.

Some California offenses are wobblers, meaning they can be charged either way. Which side of that line your case lands on is often something a defense attorney can influence, especially early.

Sometimes, and the earliest stage is often the best opportunity. Outcomes can turn on the strength of the evidence, how a search or a stop was conducted, whether statements were properly obtained, and what your record looks like.

No honest attorney will promise a result before reviewing the reports. What we can tell you is what the realistic range looks like for a case like yours.

Not always. California law allows many people to petition to have a conviction dismissed after successfully completing probation (Penal Code section 1203.4). Eligibility depends on the offense, the sentence, and your compliance.

If a prior conviction is holding you back, it is worth asking whether relief is available.

A first offense is exactly when representation tends to matter most, because it is the point where diversion, reduction, or dismissal is most achievable, and because what happens now sets the baseline if anything ever happens again.

It is your first court appearance. The charges are formally read, you enter a plea, and the court addresses custody status and bail. For someone held in custody, arraignment generally occurs within 48 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and court holidays (Penal Code section 825).

It moves quickly, and it is far better to walk in with counsel than to sort it out afterward.

The initial consultation is free. Call (925) 390-3035 and we will tell you what you are facing and what the next step is.