Long Beach Criminal Defense Attorney

With decades of experience in criminal law practice, our Long Beach criminal lawyers have built a reputation of integrity and success with our clients. We are known for winning cases that were initially believed to be lost, a testament to our expertise and dedication.

Our primary commitment is to our clients, and we are dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for them. With a proven track record of success, we aggressively fight for our clients to achieve a favorable resolution, whether it's a case dismissal, acquittal, reduced charge, or sentence.

Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse 275 Magnolia Long Beach, CA 90802

The City of Long Beach, California, is within Los Angeles County and has a population of about 470,000. It's located approximately 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles and on the border of Orange County. It also has the Long Beach Airport and a large shipping port.

The Long Beach criminal court is the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, at 275 Magnolia Long Beach, CA 90802, phone: (562) 256-3100. This courthouse handles misdemeanor and felony cases surrounding Long Beach, including Carson, Gardena, Maywood, and Lakewood.

The Long Beach Courthouse handles arrests made by the Long Beach Police Department, Signal Hills Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Port Police, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

Most people who are arrested in Long Beach are booked at the Long Beach City Jail, located at 400 West Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 435-6711.

Our Long Beach criminal defense and DUI lawyers have decades of experience in fighting charges to get them reduced or dismissed. Some of the most common cases involve the following:

Domestic violence,
Drug possession (HS 11350),
Driving under the influence (DUI),
Hit and run (VC 20002),
Gang crimes (PC 186.22),
Grand theft auto (PC 487(d)(1),
Lewd conduct,
Sexual battery (PC 243.4),
Shoplifting (PC 459.5),
Assault and battery (PC 242),
White collar crimes.

Our criminal defense attorneys also serve surrounding cities, such as Artesia, Los Alamitos, Bellflower, Cypress, Paramount, Carson, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro, Palos Verdes, West Carson, Lomita, Hawaiian Gardens, Torrance, Orange County, and Cerritos.

Driving Under the Influence

Long Beach is known for aggressively enforcing public intoxication and driving under the influence offenses. Our DUI lawyers have represented countless clients facing charges, including violations of:

Vehicle Code 23152(a) and 23152(b) VC - driving under the influence
Vehicle Code 23152(f) - DUI of drugs
Vehicle Code 23153 VC - DUI causing injury

Vehicle Code 23152 VC says, "(a) It is unlawful for a person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage to drive a vehicle. (b) It is unlawful for a person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in their blood to drive a vehicle."

Most DUI cases are filed as misdemeanors, but if there was an accident or injury, the prosecutor could file the case as a felony. If you have been arrested for DUI, it's critical to retain a lawyer at our law firm immediately, as we could handle your case in pre-filing and attempt to avoid the formal filing of charges.

As a former prosecutor, we know how DUI cases will be handled in Long Beach Court. We have developed effective defense strategies and know how and when to file a motion to suppress evidence when the prosecutor is attempting to obtain a conviction for driving under the influence.

There is a wide variety of ways to fight DUI cases. For example, California law governs how a breath or blood test shall be administered, and police officers often cut corners while investigating a suspected drunk or drugged driver.

Drug Crimes

Our criminal attorneys also handle misdemeanor and felony drug cases that are prosecuted at the Long Beach Courthouse. In drug-related offenses, early intervention by our law firm can have a tremendous impact on the resolution of your case. We have successfully defended our clients against charges of:

drug possession
drug sales
drug paraphernalia
drug trafficking
operating a drug house, and
altering or forging a prescription

Health and Safety Code 11351 HS makes possession for sale of a particular controlled substance a serious felony crime in California. If the prosecutor can prove you had possession of drugs intending to sell them, you will face several penalties. Some drugs covered by the Federal Controlled Substances Act include cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy.

Our defense lawyers frequently negotiate with the prosecutor to allow our clients to enter drug diversion programs instead of criminal prosecution. Once our clients complete drug diversion, known as Deferred Entry of Judgment, they will avoid having a conviction on their record. The diversion programs include:

Penal Code Section 1000 PC - drug diversion and
Proposition 36 (Prop 36), which mandates drug treatment.

In other words, Proposition 36 allows first and second-time, simple, non-violent drug offenders the opportunity to seek treatment in drug rehabilitation rather than face incarceration.

Theft Crimes

Theft-related offenses are common, but many clients don't realize theft crimes are considered a crime of moral turpitude. If you are convicted, you will most likely find it challenging to find a job, as most employers are reluctant to hire someone they perceive to be dishonest.

Therefore, if you have been accused of a theft case, you need to consult with our criminal defense lawyers immediately. We handle all theft crime cases, including the following charges:

Penal Code 459 PC – burglary
Penal Code 215 PC – carjacking
Penal Code 487 PC – grand theft
Penal Code 484 PC – petty theft
Penal Code 530 PC – identity theft
Penal Code 496 PC – receiving stolen property
Penal Code 211 PC – robbery

California Penal Code 459 PC defines burglary as entering a residential or commercial structure with the intent to commit grand or petty theft or any other felony crime.

PC 459 burglary laws divide this crime into first-degree and second-degree burglaries. A first-degree burglary involves entering a residence, while a second-degree burglary includes all other structures, such as a business.

California Penal Code 487 PC defines grand theft as unlawfully taking another person's property valued at $950 or more. PC 487 is a “wobbler” that can be filed by the prosecutor as either a misdemeanor or felony crime. If the property taken is less than $950, a misdemeanor petty theft charge can be filed.

The serious felony crime of robbery is defined under California Penal Code 211. This statute describes robbery as the felonious taking of personal property in possession of somebody, from their person or immediate presence, against their will, using force or fear. There are two robbery charges under California law, including first or second-degree.

A theft case conviction on your record could severely affect your immigration status and may lead to deportation. Our lawyers can help you decide whether to accept a plea bargain in your case. We might be able to dismiss your charges or plead down to a lesser charge.

Violent and Gang Crimes

A violent crime charge is one of the most serious offenses you could face. Long Beach police typically thoroughly investigate these crimes, and they have a specialized unit within their department known as the "Gang and Violent Crimes Division." These detectives are dedicated solely to investigating the case and making arrests of career criminals.

Therefore, if you are under criminal investigation for a violent offense, you should contact our experienced Long Beach criminal defense attorneys immediately. We have extensive experience on both sides of the aisle.

Our firm partner, Dmitry Gorin, worked in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, which gave him a unique perspective on how police detectives investigate violent crimes and how the prosecutor attempts to build their case against you.

If you have been denied a right to a speedy trial, we could file a motion requesting the dismissal of your charges. This is commonly known as a “Serna motion,” a motion to dismiss a misdemeanor or felony case due to a speedy trial violation.

Our decades of combined experience in criminal law make us well-equipped to handle any violent crime case. We have successfully represented clients who have been accused of a wide variety of violent offenses, including:

Penal Code 245(a)(1) PC - assault with a deadly weapon
Penal Code 245(a)(2) PC - assault with a firearm
Penal Code 243(d) - aggravated battery
Penal Code 187 PC - murder
Penal Code 664/187 PC - attempted murder
Penal Code 207 PC - kidnapping
Penal Code 203 PC - mayhem

California Penal Code 245(a)(1) PC defines the crime of assault with a deadly weapon as when somebody attacks, or attempts to attack, another person with a deadly weapon or by a means that is likely to cause great bodily injury.

Assault with a deadly weapon is known as “ADW” and is usually charged when there is an unlawful attempt to injure another individual by using a deadly weapon. A “deadly weapon” is just about anything that could be used as a weapon that can cause serious injuries, such as knives, bats, bricks, razor blades, and others.

California Penal Code 664 PC defines inchoate as incomplete, a crime of attempt. Penal Code 187 PC defines the crime of murder, either in the first or second degree.

Thus, an attempted murder under California law is known as a 664/187, a combination of the crime of attempt and murder. As the name implies, nobody has to be killed for the defendant to be charged and convicted of attempted murder.

What is the Criminal Court Process?

Typically, anyone arrested in Long Beach has the option to bail out or get an OR release. If the DA files charges, the defendant must show up to court at the arraignment, but judges will waive the defendant's appearance as long as they have private counsel appearing on their behalf.

Defendants must appear at all required court appearances, or the judge will issue a bench warrant for their arrest. Still, judges are usually agreeable to recalling the warrant if they file a “motion to quash the warrant” and appear at a court hearing.

After the arraignment ends, the case enters the pretrial stage, where the defense attorney investigates the case for any weak links in the evidence. The defense attorney also tries to negotiate a resolution with the prosecutors in an attempt to avoid trial. Sometimes, the defense attorney can persuade the DA to reduce or dismiss the charges (DA reject).

Suppose the defendant decides to enter a plea or is convicted at a trial. In that case, the judge will impose a criminal sentence. In some cases, defendants with a conviction can avoid jail time by agreeing to go on probation and follow all the probationary terms, such as:

Paying a fine,
Avoiding alcohol and drugs, and
Not getting any more arrests.

If you are facing any criminal case in Long Beach, California, contact our law firm to review the specific details and legal options moving forward. Early intervention is critical, and we have a track record of success in pre-filing intervention. In addition, we may be able to negotiate early with the prosecutor for a case dismissal successfully.

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