Los Angeles County Criminal Defense Lawyer Offers Advice You Can Trust
Helping clients navigate the California criminal justice system
If you or a loved one is arrested, you know you need a lawyer. But you may not realize that you should retain an attorney whose practice is focused on criminal law. At the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, defending people who have been arrested is what we do best!
Felonies
In Los Angeles and throughout California, crimes are classified as felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are serious offenses that can be punished by more than a year in prison. Most violent crimes are felonies. Many felony crimes in California are what are known as “straight felonies” — meaning offenses that can be charged and sentenced only as felonies. Examples of straight felonies are murder, rape and sale of a controlled substance.
Other crimes are known as “wobblers,” which are offenses that may be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances. Common wobblers are possession of methamphetamine, statutory rape and spousal battery. Other wobblers include:
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Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be charged with a first- or, second-degree offense. Second-degree offenses carry the least severe penalties, and first-degree crimes are the most serious. For example if you are charged with robbery in the first degree, you face a three-, six-, or nine-year prison sentence, but if you are charged with robbery in the second degree, you are looking at two, three or five years in prison. An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney will work to get your charges reduced to a lower degree.
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors are punishable by no more than one year in jail. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, contact an experienced defense lawyer in Los Angeles as quickly as possible. Examples of misdemeanor offenses include public intoxication, petty theft, DUI and possession of more than 28.5 grams of marijuana. Other common misdemeanors include:
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Three strikes law
Under California’s three strikes law, individuals convicted of a third felony face 25 years to life in prison if the third conviction involves a “strike crime.” Offenses that qualify as strike crimes include:
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Self-Defense
If you ever find yourself or someone else in a dangerous situation, California laws allow you to act in self-defense to keep yourself safe. You can apply physical force to protect yourself or someone in trouble, fight back if you are attacked unexpectedly, and even use deadly force if your life is in danger. In any self-defense case, it all boils down to the evidence in hand and the pertaining facts. If you have been involved in such a case, you must speak to a criminal defense attorney to review the case details and plan the legal recourse available. Facing criminal charges? You have control over your defense. Contact the experts at the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi right away. With decades of experience, we’ve defended many clients all over California in their self-defense case and can assist you too.
Skilled criminal law attorney defends clients in Los Angeles
The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi is dedicated to fighting aggressively for the rights of those who have been arrested. To schedule a consultation with a lawyer at our firm, contact us by phone at (310) 448-1529 or contact us online. Our office is conveniently located in the Westside Towers in Los Angeles, within minutes of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and steps away from the Expo/Bundy Station. We have flexible hours and weekend appointments, and we will visit you in jail to discuss your case.