Santa Ana Criminal Defense Attorney
Suppose you or a family member is under criminal investigation or charged with a crime. In that case, you need an experienced Santa Ana criminal defense attorney to have the best chance of a favorable outcome. The criminal justice system in Orange County, CA, is complex, and you will need legal guidance through the case process.
Our law firm has handled hundreds of cases, including DUIs, misdemeanors, felonies, and federal criminal charges. With decades of combined experience, we know how to defend you in every type of police investigation and criminal case.
At our law firm, we don't just represent you during the initial phases of criminal prosecution. We're with you every step of the way, from the first police investigation to the arrest and throughout the court process.
Our comprehensive services also extend to resolving bench warrants, handling failure to appear in court, and assisting with conviction expungement, ensuring you feel supported and guided throughout the entire legal process.
Clients often retain us to handle pre-filing defense, with the goal of preventing the filing of criminal charges or reducing charges before they are even filed.
Our criminal defense law firm handles cases throughout the city, including in Artesia Pilar, Eastside, Madison Park, Memorial Park, New Horizons, Pico-Lowell, Riverview West, Santa Anita, and South Coast Metro.
If convicted of certain crimes, noncitizen immigrants might face devastating immigration consequences. Criminal convictions, and sometimes even just an arrest and fingerprinting, can lead to an automatic visa revocation.
Criminal charges can lead to deportation, issues with entering the United States, and negative effects on citizenship and green card applications.
Central Justice Center and Jails
Central Justice Center, which is the Santa Ana Courthouse, is located at 700 W Civic Center Dr., Santa Ana, CA 92701. For more information, call (657) 622-8459.
Most Santa Ana criminal cases are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. However, infractions and misdemeanors are prosecuted by the Santa Ana City Attorney's office. If you are arrested in Santa Ana, you will be booked and processed in one of the following jails:
- Santa Ana Police Jail is located at 62 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701, and its phone number is (714) 245-8100.
- Central Men's Jail is located at 550 N Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92703, and its phone number is (714) 647-4666.
- The Central Women's Jail is located at 550 N Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92703, and its phone number is (714) 647-4666.
- The Theo Lacy Facility is located at 501 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868, and its phone number is (714) 935-6940.
You can use the online inmate search to find inmates in Orange County Sheriff's Department custody.
A conviction will lead to the standard sentencing laws in California. However, many factors will determine the penalties, but Infractions are punished with a fine. A misdemeanor conviction can lead to a sentence of up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Felonies are more serious, and you could face prison for over one year and a fine of up to $10,000, but the sentence will vary based on the crime and the judge's discretion. If you're facing a third serious or violent felony, your case might fall under California's Three Strikes sentencing law, which mandates a sentence of 25 years to life.
Misdemeanor and Felony Charges
If you violate the law in California, you may be charged with one of three offenses: infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. Within these categories, there are also “wobblers,” which may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, and a few “wobblettes, which may be charged as infractions or misdemeanors.
There are hundreds of crimes that qualify as wobblers, such as sex crimes, theft crimes, fraud crimes, and domestic violence. A “misdemeanor” is defined as a crime with a maximum sentence of no longer than one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Misdemeanors are more serious than infractions but less serious than felonies. Common examples of misdemeanors include, but are not limited to:
- Simple assault,
- First-time DUI,
- Shoplifting,
- Petty theft,
- Solicitation of prostitution,
- Domestic battery,
- Reckless driving,
- Indecent exposure,
- Public intoxication.
In California, any crime for which you can be sentenced for more than one year is considered a felony, which is the primary difference between misdemeanors. A felony offense is the most severe and carries the possibility of serving time in state prison, hefty fines, probation, parole, and harsh collateral consequences.
Some crimes are "straight" felonies, meaning they can only be charged and sentenced as felonies and can't be reduced to a misdemeanor. These offenses are the most serious and will be considered a “strike” on your record. Felonies represent the most serious category of crime and include the following:
- Murder,
- Rape,
- Arson,
- Kidnapping,
- Robbery,
- Lewd acts with a minor.
The standard sentencing for a felony conviction in California includes time in a state or county jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Still, the judge can impose formal felony probation rather than imprisonment. Contact us for more information. Eisner Gorin LLP is based in Los Angeles, CA.
Related Content:
If you have one phone call from jail, call us! If you are facing criminal charges,