Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney

Misdemeanor Vs. Felony

Under California law, you can be charged with three types of criminal offenses: infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. These are the three types of criminal charges that you may face if you have been arrested in the state of California.

An infraction is the most minor of these criminal offenses. These are minor violations. Examples of infractions are traffic violations. Typically, the penalty for an infraction is a fine, and jail time is usually not among the potential penalties for infractions.

Misdemeanors are slightly more serious offenses and come with tougher penalties. For example, misdemeanors have a maximum punishment of between six months and one year in county jail, and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Examples of crimes that fall into the misdemeanor category are vandalism, driving with a suspended license, DUI, and other crimes.

The most serious types of crimes that you can face in California are felonies. These crimes are extremely serious, and if you have been arrested for, or charged with a felony crime, it is important to get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer immediately. The penalties for felonies typically include a very hefty jail sentence, and in the case of serious felonies or violent crimes, you may receive the death penalty. A typical sentence for a felony could be a minimum of 16 months in prison. If you have been arrested for robbery, murder, or any type of sex crime like rape, or certain types of drug crimes, get in touch with a criminal defense attorney and ascertain your legal options for defense.

Aggressive Defense Every Step of the Way

If you are a Los Angeles-area resident or visitor and you’re charged with a crime here, don’t put your freedom and resources further at risk. You’ll need the services of a criminal defense attorney with a record of victories in similar cases, a lawyer who successfully guides clients through the often-confusing California justice system. Douglas Miranda is a defense lawyer who represents felony and misdemeanor defendants facing charges that include domestic violence, DUI, assault, sex crimes, and drug crimes. When seeking an experienced defense lawyer, L.A. natives turn to Attorney Miranda for tenacious and aggressive representation. Serving clients throughout Los Angeles County,  Miranda Rights Law Firm’s lead criminal defense attorney serves clients in both English and Spanish.

Whether you are ultimately charged with a misdemeanor or with a felony, and whether it’s your first offense or just one of many, it’s imperative to have quality legal representation if you are charged with any crime. If you need a criminal defense lawyer, Los Angeles natives can turn to attorney Douglas Miranda. Let an experienced criminal defense lawyer answer your questions, defend you aggressively, and work to bring your case to its best possible conclusion. If you are charged with a crime, now or in the future, don’t face the prosecution alone. Call our law firm for help.

WHAT IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE?

Many charges turn into convictions because the prosecutor was able to prove the defendant acted with criminal negligence. Under California law, criminal negligence is set to occur when the defendant behaves in a manner that is so reckless that it increases the risk of injury or death to another person. For a prosecutor to prove that you were criminally negligent, he must prove that not only did you behave recklessly, but that the recklessness also came with a disregard for the consequences of any such recklessness. The prosecutor must prove that any other person in the same situation would not have behaved in such a manner.

Prosecutors may be able to get a conviction based on criminal negligence, even if you did not intend to be negligent. All that they have to prove is that the negligence was so severe that it was almost guaranteed to result in injury or death to others. These laws are typically applied in those cases in which injury or death resulted as a result of someone’s carelessness, rather than his intention to cause harm. Besides, prosecutors must show that you were aware of the danger posed by your behavior and knew that it was likely to result in harm to others. Talk to a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney for help after an arrest.

A prime example of how these laws are used is the case of intoxicated driving. A person, who is driving under the influence of alcohol, may not really intend to harm others by drunk driving, but the law will consider that he understands how risky such behavior is.

If you have been arrested for an offense, talk to a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney immediately. Let us help you navigate the criminal justice system with confidence.