Criminal Defense

Services Covered

• DUI / DWI Defense: A DUI arrest triggers two separate proceedings: a criminal case in court and a DMV Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing that can suspend your license. We handle both simultaneously — scrutinizing the legality of the traffic stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, and the accuracy of breathalyzer or blood test results to build the strongest defense possible.
• Drug Charges: California law draws sharp distinctions between simple possession, possession for sale, and distribution — each carrying very different consequences. We evaluate every available option, including diversion programs, Proposition 47 reclassification, and Penal Code 1000 deferred entry of judgment, to minimize or eliminate the impact on your life and record.
• Theft & Robbery: From shoplifting and petty theft to grand theft and robbery, we defend clients at every charge level. The value of the alleged taking, the circumstances, and prior record all significantly affect outcomes. We challenge the evidence at every turn and work toward the best result possible, up to and including dismissal.
• Assault & Battery: These charges often arise from a single moment of conflict — but the legal consequences can follow you for years. We examine the facts carefully, including the viability of self-defense claims, the credibility of witnesses, and the full context of the incident, to build a defense that tells the complete story.
• Domestic Violence Charges: Domestic violence cases carry mandatory arrest policies, mandatory fees, and required counseling that go well beyond ordinary criminal penalties. We defend clients facing these accusations with a thorough understanding of how these cases are prosecuted and the legal strategies available to challenge them effectively.
• Misdemeanors: Even a misdemeanor conviction can cost you a job, a professional license, housing, or — for non-citizens — immigration status. We take every case seriously and pursue every avenue: charge reduction, diversion, deferred entry of judgment, and outright dismissal.
• Felonies: A felony conviction carries the most serious consequences the law provides: state prison, lifetime firearm restrictions, loss of professional licenses, and a permanent mark on your record. We defend felony cases at every stage — from arraignment and preliminary hearing through jury trial — challenging evidence, pursuing alternative explanations, and protecting your constitutional rights throughout.
• Expungements (PC 1203.4): Under California Penal Code 1203.4, many people who have completed probation are eligible to have their conviction dismissed from the record. An expungement can reopen doors to employment, professional licensing, and housing that a conviction would otherwise keep closed.