California's attempted crimes laws, as stipulated in Penal Code Sections 21a and 664, are not to be taken lightly. It's crucial to grasp that attempting to commit a crime is a punishable offense in its own right. An attempt is a separate offense that can be charged independently.
In essence, if you make an effort to commit a crime, even if you don't succeed, you can still be charged with attempting that specific crime, a fact that underscores the severity of the consequences.
It's vital to remember that lack of success does not erase the potential legal repercussions. The attempt law penalizes individuals who try to commit a crime, even if they fail to complete it. Prosecution for attempt crimes is a frequent occurrence in Los Angeles County Criminal Courts, highlighting the necessity for caution and the importance of seeking professional legal guidance.
An attempt crime is the act of trying to commit a crime. Prosecution hinges on proving that you had the specific intent to commit a certain crime and took a direct step towards it. This underscores the importance of not just any legal defense, but a robust one in such cases.
You can be convicted for the “attempt” even if you changed your mind before actually completing the crime. PC 21a criminalizes all attempt crimes, other than attempted murder (PC 664 and PC 187). Some common examples include attempted robbery, burglary, extortion, theft or rape.
Case Examples
For example, let's take a situation in which you intend to burglarize a house and actually attempt to open the door with the intent to commit burglary.
However, the front porch light comes on, and you flee the scene. In this situation, the Los Angeles County prosecutor could charge you with attempted burglary (PC 664/459) because you tried to open the door while intending to burglarize the house. In other words, your act was considered a substantial and direct step towards the completion of the burglary crime.
Another example includes a situation where someone attempts to commit rape under California Penal Code Section 261. However, the victim is successful in resisting and able to escape before sexual intercourse occurs. It's important to note that a substantial step towards the commission of the crime means you actually did something more than just preparation.
The prosecutor would have to be able to demonstrate that you had the specific intent to commit the crime. The legal penalties for attempt crime will depend on the nature of the attempted crime. Typically, an attempt is punished by a sentence that is equal to one-half of the completed crime.
It should be noted that an attempted crime is a lesser included offense of a completed crime. As long as the Los Angeles County prosecutor is able to prove the completed crime, the attempted crime is included. For example, you can be convicted of attempted burglary or burglary, but not both crimes.
If you have been accused of an attempted crime, you need to contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Eisner Gorin LLP right away. The specific details are critical in any attempt crime offense.
Let us thoroughly review the case details and evidence to start preparing a strategy to defend you. Now that we have covered a general overview of California's attempted crimes law, let's examine the legal definitions, penalties, and defenses below.
Definition of an Attempted Crime
Under California Penal Code Section 21a, the legal description of an attempt consists of just two elements of the crime. Understanding these legal definitions is crucial for anyone facing charges of attempted crimes in California. This means the Los Angeles County prosecutor must be able to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, the following:
- You had a specific intent to commit a crime; and
- You took a direct but ineffective step toward the commission of that crime.
This legal description requires a closer examination of the keywords. Remember, the prosecutor has to prove both elements of the crime listed above in order to obtain a conviction.
Specific Intent
The first element is a specific intent to commit a crime. This means you can't be guilty of a crime of attempt unless it can be proven that you had a specific plan to commit the underlying offense. For instance, while shopping at the store with your rowdy kids, you carelessly place some cosmetics that you were looking at in your purse while chasing your kids.
A store security guard confronts and accuses you of attempting to steal the cosmetics. However, you had no specific intent to steal, and the prosecutor would find it difficult to prove intent. In this example, you would not be guilty of the attempted crime in California.
Direct Step
A “direct step,” known as an act in furtherance, is an overt act that is more than just a plan or some type of preparation to commit a crime. It's an act that shows you are actually putting the plan into action.
For instance, if you were planning to rob a bank, a direct step could be purchasing a weapon or casing the bank.
It needs to be some type of direct action towards committing the crime after preparations. Again, it's critical to note that making plans or engaging in a discussion to commit a crime is not considered a direct step.
In fact, the direct step has to come somewhere close to completing the crime. Your act has to be a substantial step in completing the crime. This means it's not just a plan or preparation, but an action that brings you closer to actually committing the crime.
A direct step must show a definite intent to commit the crime and be immediate, setting the plan to commit the crime in motion. If you need additional information, contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our law firm.
Common California Attempt Crimes
- California Penal Code Section 664/187 - Attempted Murder,
- California Penal Code Section 664/211 - Attempted Robbery,
- California Penal Code Section 664/459 - Attempted Burglary,
- California Penal Code Section 664/261 - Attempted Rape,
- California Penal Code Section 664/484 - Attempted Theft,
- California Penal Code Section 664/207 - Attempted Kidnapping.
Penalties for Attempted Crimes
Under California Penal Code Section 664, the legal penalties for an attempted crime will depend on the underlying crime.
Attempt crimes can be either misdemeanors or felony offenses, depending on what crime you were attempting to commit. Most attempted crimes will result in the following penalties:
- One-half the potential county jail or California state prison sentence for the underlying crime, and
- One-half the maximum potential fines for the underlying crime.
For example, if you are convicted of attempting to commit a felony offense that carries a jail sentence of up to 6 years in a California state prison and a fine up to $10,000, you will be facing a sentence of 3 years and a fine up to $5,000.
However, if the attempted crime carries a potential sentence of life in prison or the death penalty, you could be sentenced up to 9 years in a California state prison.
Suppose you are convicted of premeditated attempted murder of a police officer, a firefighter, or a corrections officer that was willful and deliberate. In that case, you will face a sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
Defenses for Attempted Crimes
If you have been accused of an attempted crime under California Penal Code Section 21a, our California criminal defense attorneys can use several defense strategies on your behalf. It's critical to note that every attempt crime charge has its own unique set of facts.
Therefore, any legal defense would first require a close review of all the details. Some of the most common legal defenses against an accusation of an attempt crime include the following:
- No intent to commit the crime – As we have discussed extensively above, one of the main elements of the attempt crime is that the Los Angeles County must be able to prove you specifically intended to commit the particular crime. This key element can often be quite challenging for a prosecutor, as they must present evidence that proves their intent beyond a reasonable doubt. Our criminal lawyers may be able to cast some reasonable doubt on this main issue of specific intent. If we are successful, you can't be guilty of an attempted crime.
- No act in furtherance of the attempted crime – This legal defense deals with the “direct step” discussed above in the elements of the crime. Again, the Los Angeles County prosecutor has the burden of proof to show that you committed an act of furtherance of the attempted crime. Remember, thinking about committing a crime is simply not enough to convict you. Thoughts are not a crime. Preparing to commit a crime is not enough. You simply can't be guilty of an attempt unless you took a direct step to commit the crime. It has to be an overt act or a substantial step in completing the crime.
Other potential legal defenses include abandonment of the attempted crime, mistaken identity, insufficient evidence, or an unlawful arrest in violation of your constitutional rights.
Suppose you have been accused of an attempted crime in violation of California Penal Code Section 21a. In that case, you need to immediately contact the Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at Eisner Gorin LLP. We know how to challenge charges of attempted crime effectively. Let us thoroughly review the details to discuss your options.
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