Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers

Being charged with committing a crime is one of the most frightening scenarios any one of us can ever face in our lives. It presents the prospect of jail or prison time. It could mean a job loss, the end of a marriage or losing custody of one’s children. Clients who are charged with criminal wrongdoing seek our assistance as criminal defense lawyers in the darkest hours of our lives, when they feel overwhelmed by everything around them, trapped by a system they can’t comprehend, perceiving that the odds are stacked up against them.

Types of Cases We Handle

Here are some of the types of cases our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have successfully handled:

Arson: This refers to the crime of intentionally and maliciously setting fire to property including structures or wild forest area. When you have been accused of intentionally setting fire, you are facing a number of life-changing consequences. The penalties in an arson case are usually determined by whether or not anyone was injured or killed in the fire. In the most severe circumstances, arson is punishable by up to nine years in state prison. In less severe cases, a defendant may get three years in prison. If you have prior offenses on your criminal record, you could also be looking at additional enhancements that could increase your penalties.

Domestic violence: In our experience, domestic violence cases generate a large number of fake or phony allegations against defendants. Domestic violence or domestic abuse refers to acts of violence or threat of violence perpetuated by individuals against a spouse, ex-spouse or partner. This is a crime that could be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. A misdemeanor conviction could result in a year in jail and formal probation while a felony offense can result in up to four years in prison and formal probation. You need a committed advocate on your side who can shed light on your side of the story and help you fight the charges.

Hit and Run: Leaving the scene of a car accident is unlawful. When an individual leaves the scene of an injury or fatal crash, it will most likely be charges as a felony. Motorists have a duty to stop and remain and the scene regardless of whose fault the accident was. A number of hit-and-run arrests occur because of mistaken identity or some type of misunderstanding. There are frequent cases where drivers leave the scene because they don’t know they hit someone or simply did not realize it at the time. A hit-and-run conviction almost always results in a jail or prison sentence in addition to other penalties. You need an experienced lawyer on your side who can gather witnesses, expert testimony and other evidence to build a solid defense.

White-collar crimes: Fraud, bribery, forgery, money laundering, identity theft and embezzlement are some of the crimes that fall under this category. A number of these are charged as federal crimes, which means they would be handled in the federal court system. Being convicted or these crimes could have serious implications for individuals because it casts a shadow on their integrity. They may never be able to find gainful employment or get an organization’s trust with a white-collar crime on their record. You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to clear your name and get these charged dismissed.

Assault: This is one of the common crimes charged in Los Angeles County. It could range from a simple assault charge, which is a misdemeanor, to assault with a deadly weapon where an individual is accused of assaulting someone with an object or weapon that has the potential to cause great bodily injury. Assault with a deadly weapon is usually charged as a felony. The consequences of a conviction usually depend on the circumstances of the incident, the extent of injuries suffered by the alleged victim and the defendant’s prior criminal record.

Drug crimes: If you have been charged with drug crimes in Los Angeles, you can expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Those who face charges of possession, sale and/or transportation of controlled substances can face prison times and thousands of dollars in fines. Despite the legalization of marijuana in California, you could still be looking at charges if you are found to be in possession of marijuana on federal lands because of the discrepancy in state and federal laws with regard to this drug. Charges could be dismissed in your case if the law enforcement agency conducted illegal search and seizure.

Burglary and robbery: These are property crimes that involve forcible taking of property from another. Robbery is different from burglary in the sense that it involves the threat of harm to the individual who is being relieved of the property. Robberies also often involve the use of weapons including firearms. In such cases the charges could be rather severe. Mistaken identity often plays a part in these criminal charges and our attorneys can help dissect the facts in these cases and help you fight the charges.

Driving under the influence: It is illegal under California law to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Drunk driving charges could result in the suspension or revocation of your driving privilege. In cases where injuries or fatalities have been caused, individuals could be looking at murder or manslaughter charges in addition to felony DUI charges. DUI cases could not only cost you a lot of money, but could have devastating consequences on your career and future. You need an airtight defense strategy to help counter these charges.

Sex crimes: A sex crime conviction without question could be career ending, particularly if you work in a position of authority and trust. A sex crime conviction could result in prison time, fines and required registration as a sex offender for life. This could prevent you from getting a job, professional licenses of even housing in the future. These charges must be fought vigorously.

The Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Randy Collins welcome a tough challenge. Our confidence to be able to help you comes from not just years of experience handling these types of cases, but having successfully obtained acquittals and getting charges reduced for our clients. We are relentless in our pursuit for justice and fight hard to protect your rights every step of the way. Call us at (844) 285-9559 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.