Facing criminal charges can be scary. When you have been arrested for a criminal offense, it can seem as if your life is ending. But all hope isn’t lost.
You can still defend yourself against a criminal offense, regardless of your arrest. When you have been accused of committing a crime, speak with a Chino criminal defense lawyer from the Simmrin Law Group.
Common Crimes We Handle in Chino, CA
Criminal charges can be violent and nonviolent. Some of the common crimes include:
- Theft crimes. Theft crimes involve robbery, grand theft auto, petty theft, and grand theft. Theft crimes are not victimless crimes. Identity theft, for example, can affect the victim’s life for years.
- Sex crimes. Sex crimes are violent crimes where inappropriate sexual activity has happened. Some common sex crimes involve child molestation, rape, sexual harassment, and statutory rape.
- Drug crimes. Drug crimes happen when a person possesses, distributes, or manufactures substances. Possession is usually one of the most common drug crimes.
- Violent crimes. Violent crimes are crimes that many of us are familiar with. Homicide, assault, and domestic violence are some of the common violent offenses.
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Felonies and Misdemeanors
These crimes can be categorized as felonies or misdemeanors. Misdemeanors are minor criminal charges. You may be entitled to minor consequences when you have endured a misdemeanor.
Felonies, however, are the charges you don’t want to face. These serious charges can result in hefty fines or a lengthy stay in prison. It doesn’t take much for your charges to progress to felonies. The extent of your incident and other serious factors can transform your charges into felonies.
One factor that can turn a criminal charge into a felony is the presence of a weapon. If you had a firearm or another weapon on you while allegedly committing a crime, your charges might progress to a felony.
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Your Legal Rights in Chino, CA
After being accused of committing a crime, you have the right to defend yourself. You should not just accept the punishment that comes with the offense.
You have the right to a speedy trial, the right to remain silent, and the right to a Chino criminal defense attorney. That means that even if you’ve been arrested, you still have a chance of having your criminal charges dismissed.
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Why You Need Legal Representation from a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chino, CA
There are serious penalties for people who are facing criminal charges. Your entire livelihood will be affected if you are convicted. After facing several years in prison, you’ll find yourself in the same position.
It will be hard for you to find and maintain decent employment. You will be denied certain housing opportunities. You can even continue to have legal issues because it is difficult to find employment as a convicted felon.
You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Chico, CA, on your side. Even though the courts can appoint you a lawyer, you want an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Criminal defense attorneys in Chino are experienced in resolving complex criminal cases.
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How a Chino Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help
Criminal defense lawyers can use their legal expertise to reduce your charges. It’s common for prosecutors to adjust misdemeanor charges to felonies. With a criminal defense lawyer on your side, you’ll have someone who can negotiate to reduce your charges.
You also have someone who knows how to use criminal defenses in your favor. Several criminal defenses can be used to reduce or dismiss your charges.
Common Criminal Defenses
Criminal defenses are compelling arguments that a defense team can use to question the credibility of a crime. For a person to be charged with a crime, all elements of the crime must be established through sufficient evidence. These elements must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the accused has committed a crime.
Criminal defenses help cast doubt on whether the offender’s actions meet the burden of proof. Some common defenses against criminal charges include self-defense, duress, having an alibi, insanity, and others.
Self Defense
This defense is often used for violent crimes like homicide and assault. This defense argues that the offender’s actions were justified because they were responding to the victim’s violent actions. With this defense, the amount of force used by the defendant will be scrutinized. It must be reasonable and proportionate to the amount of force used by the victim.
Duress
This defense justifies an offender’s actions based on a threat of violence. If the offender was forced to commit a crime because of the threat of violence, their actions might be justified. If not for the threat of violence, the offender may not have committed the crime.
Alibi
This defense argues that the offender was not at the crime scene and could not possibly commit the crime. For this defense to be effective, it must be proven that the offender was somewhere else at the time of the crime.
Insanity
This defense argues that the offender suffered a mental defect when the crime was committed. It must be proven that the offender was either unable to distinguish right from wrong or that they experienced an “irresistible impulse” to commit a crime.
Necessity
This defense argues that the offender committed a crime to prevent greater harm from happening. If the offender stole a vehicle to save someone from being killed, that would be an example of necessity.
Constitutional Violations
Another common defense that can be used in your favor is constitutional violations. There are important procedures that police officers and other law enforcement officials must follow. When they fail to follow those procedures, it can be argued that their constitutional rights were violated.
This defense is often used when police officers fail to obtain a warrant before searching the premises or failing to collect evidence properly.
Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chino, CA, Today
When you have been accused of committing a crime, speak with a Chino criminal defense lawyer at the Simmrin Law Group. Call our office, or submit our contact form to schedule an appointment today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form