Orange County Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you have been accused of a crime, and you don’t know where to turn, your first phone call should be to an experienced Orange County criminaldefense attorney. Far too many people facing misdemeanor or felony charges across Orange County and elsewhere in California make the mistake of assuming that they can handle these charges on their own. They may attempt to figure out the best way to represent themselves or hire an inexperienced public defender. This can be a catastrophic mistake for the outcome of your case, as the influence of your attorney cannot be understated. An experienced criminal defense attorney in Orange County can go a long way towards helping prevent serious penalties, including incarceration, fines, and more. The right lawyer should be retained as soon as possible in your case.

Knowledgeable Orange County Criminal Defense

If your loved one has already been charged with a crime, you need a knowledgeable Orange County criminal defense attorney to protect your freedom. If you believe that you are being investigated for a crime or if you were recently arrested or contacted by the police, you need to stop what you are doing and contact an Orange County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. One of the most important things you can do to protect your freedom is to contact the aggressive and experienced attorneys at our law firm. Trying to handle your case on your own could be a major mistake, and getting a lawyer on your side immediately gives you the most opportunities to protect yourself. It does not necessarily mean that you are guilty or that you should have to be treated like a criminal if you have been accused of a crime.

The number one priority of your Orange County criminal defense attorney should be to protect your freedom, to keep you from the negative impacts of having a criminal record, and to keep you out of jail. It can also be extremely detrimental to your work obligations to be accused of and have to defend yourself against a crime. There are many different types of crimes throughout California that may prompt you to hire a criminal defense attorney. Although the police may suggest that you help provide information to them about your case, this can be very damaging. It is unsettling when someone has been accused of a crime. It is important to understand the way in which federal and state prosecutors pursue these criminal charges. Every potential charge may be levied against the defendant, and a seasoned criminal defense attorney may be your only opportunity to protect your rights and your future.

Orange County Prosecutors & Law Enforcement Don’t Expect You To Fight Back

Regardless of where you live in Orange County, the prosecutors and law enforcement officers will expect that you will not fight back, that you will cave quickly, and that you may automatically accept any consequences that are levied against you. A conviction rate focused district attorney may even try to intimidate you into accepting a plea bargain deal without giving you the chance to talk to your lawyer.

Bear in mind that you have the right to speak to your attorney as soon as you have been arrested. The investigators working with your Orange County criminal defense team should understand the police officers, the clerks, the prosecutors, and the investigators often involved in these cases so that they can use this information to craft a compelling defense strategy and work as hard as possible to get the charges quickly dismissed. Prosecutors should know that your criminal defense lawyer in Orange County will not back down and will make it a fair fight.

Among the actions that your Orange County criminal defense attorney may take immediately are:

• -Request an immediate bail hearing and work towards a minimal bond or release without bail.
• -Review your charges and your arrest circumstances for any violations of your rights and police misconduct behavior.
• -Demand and receive information early on the proof against you, including witness statements, police reports, and physical evidence and evaluate each of these for defects.
• -Work to conduct an investigation that reveals tainted evidence exposes false witnesses, identifies speculation or lies in the government’s case and clarifies any history of disciplinary problems among the police involved in your case.

No matter what role your lawyer plays in your case, he or she must be prepared to help you adapt to a broad range of challenges. It’s never easy to find yourself in this situation, but having the right lawyer can make this difficult incident easier to understand. A lawyer familiar with how the authorities handle crimes and the common missteps made gives you a multitude of options for your defense strategy.

If the police try to tell you that you must cooperate with them and answer all their questions, pause for a moment and request your lawyer. The authorities may be counting on your lack of knowledge about what to do, but you can protect yourself and decrease your chances of self-incrimination by requesting an attorney immediately.

Common Criminal Defense Frequently Asked Questions in Orange County

There are many different questions that you may have as it relates to your arrest and the handling of your case. Do not expect that the police officers or other authorities will keep you informed about your rights and how this process works. Without the extensive insight provided by a knowledgeable Orange County criminal defense attorney, you may find yourself struggling to find the answers to these questions. Read on to learn more about some of the most common questions asked by those individuals who are accused of crimes in Orange County.

Do I Have to Allow Law Enforcement to Search My Car or My House?

Remember that you are never required to consent to a police search. This is speaking in general terms, but it is often not a good idea to allow the police search your home or your car. The police can detain you, however, until they have a search warrant. This may be an intimidation tactic. Under certain situations, law enforcement can search your home or your car without a warrant. However, they need probable cause in order to carry out this search. If they did not have probable cause to do so and gathered evidence as a result, this could be a crucial component of your criminal defense.

Do I Have to Give a Statement?

You cannot be charged with any crime or arrested for exercising Constitutional rights such as remaining silent. The Fifth Amendment is protected under the Constitution, and this assists you with avoiding giving testimony against you as an individual and empowers you to stay silent. If an officer tries to intimidate or coerce you into waiving these rights, you do not need to believe him or her and should instead request to speak with an Orange County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Judges are not allowed to set high bail for refusing to cooperate with law enforcement, but certain officers may try to tell you these kinds of facts to tell you that you must give a statement. Officers are more likely to intimidate you into making a statement to improve the chances of a conviction.

Are the Police Required to Read My Rights When I’m Arrested?

The Miranda warning is only required in the event that law enforcement intends to use your statements against you in court, and this warning is only required if you are in police custody. Consult your Orange County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to get answers to these questions.

What is the Burden of Proof for the Prosecution?

The prosecution will usually pursue charges that have a minimum level of evidence to support your guilt and this means they usually look for a legally sound case at the outset. If there is some kind of inherent flaw, the prosecution may determine that it is not worth pursuing. Prosecuting attorneys will often determine whether or not there is enough evidence to pursue a conviction. The case may be dropped or another charge will be assessed if there is not enough evidence in that particular case. Consulting with a criminal defense attorney is a crucial component of protecting your rights.
Is It Ever a Good Idea to Accept a Plea Bargain?

When the defense and the prosecution work together to make a deal with one another, this is known as a plea bargain. Sometimes, plea bargaining is your most valuable legal option. If the evidence appears stacked against you, your Orange County criminal defense attorney can help you decide whether or not a reasonable plea bargain is on the table.

Is There a Difference Between Parole and Probation?

Parole occurs after someone has been in prison for a criminal offense, but probation may be used as an actual crime sentence in lieu of jail time. Parole is used to monitor someone after they have been released from prison, but probation is an actual criminal sentence that is used to monitor individuals who are convicted for lower offenses, such as theft crimes and DUI.

Do I Still Need a Criminal Defense Attorney if I am Innocent?

You should not assume that the facts of the case will emerge and be relatively clear to a jury or a judge. You need an Orange County criminal defense attorney with years of experience in the field who can help you navigate this situation and fight for a powerful outcome for your rights. There is so much on the line for your future when you have been accused of a crime that you cannot afford to hesitate if you have questions about how to fight any of the criminal charges you are facing, and the best way to proceed with a criminal defense strategy. There are still plenty of reasons to consider hiring a lawyer even if your first intention was to plead guilty, too.

Contact an experienced Orange County criminal defense lawyer with years of experience who can help you navigate this complex process and give you further peace of mind that someone is looking out for your best interests. It is easy to feel as though no one is concerned with protecting you, but one of the most important things you should know after you have been arrested is that the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution secures your right not to act as a witness against yourself. Your future may be at risk if you have been arrested in Orange County, but you could do further damage to your case by continuing to provide information to investigators or police officers.

You should always consider pleading the fifth and insist on having your Orange County criminal defense attorney with you. A prosecutor cannot use the fact that you refuse to answer any questions as evidence against you, and since this is one of your most basic rights as a citizen of the United States, you need to consider it no matter how clear it may seem to you that you are innocent of the crime. Remember that the police would not have arrested you if they did not already suspect that you committed the crime. They already believe that you are guilty and every question they ask you is an effort to identify this even further. Do not wait to get help from an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney if you have already been accused.