Criminal Defense Attorney for Major Felonies in Los Angeles

In California's criminal justice system, there are three basic types of violations: Infractions, misdemeanors and felonies. Infractions are like speeding tickets and are not considered crimes. Misdemeanors are violations of the law that can case you jail time for up to one year. Examples are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, certain types of domestic violence, or driving without a license.

Felonies on the other hand can get you sent to state prison or county jail. A major felony, in my mind, is a crime that can get you sent to state prison for an amount of time in excess of five years. In the California state prison system, you get two credits for every one day of "Good time" you do. So, if you get sent to prison for thirty six months, you will do eighteen months.

Major felonies are crimes like murder, robbery, assault with intent to commit rape, rape, or any crime that would call for a sentence of over five years in state prison. In addition, a felony that would normally carry a relatively light sentence can become an aggravated felony if the person has a strike or other type of enhancement which increases the sentence and necessitates the offender to do eighty percent of the time without credits. Thus, a person with no priors who gets arrested and convicted of possession of methamphetamines will probably do his or her time at a county jail where if the person had a strike would do 80% of a thirty six month sentence.

It would be wrong to say that a lawyer would treat one case differently than another. Any case where a client is being accused of a crime is serious. A ten or fifteen year prison sentence tends inspire more concern, more worry for the well-being of your client and consequently, more work. These types of case tend to be more complex and require more motions and more preparation time.

• Assault with a deadly weapon

• Homicide

• Manslaughter

• Vehicular Homicide

• Assault with intent to commit rape

• Robbery

• Gang related cases

• Burglary