West Covina Criminal Defense Attorney
Our criminal defense lawyers defend against infractions, misdemeanors, and serious felony charges throughout Los Angeles County. We have a track record of success and specialize in prefiling intervention, which is negotiations with law enforcement and prosecutors to avoid formal criminal charges being filed, called a "DA reject."
The West Covina Courthouse is located at 1427 West Covina Parkway, West Covina, CA 91790, and its phone number is (626) 430-2600. This state trial court is an LA County Superior Court with jurisdiction over cases in West Covina, El Monte, La Puente, Rosemead, and South El Monte.
The Los Angeles District Attorney, who prosecutes criminal cases from the West Covina Area Office, is located at 1427 West Covina Parkway, Room 105, West Covina, CA 91790, and their phone number is (626) 813-3301.
The West Covina Police Department is located at 1444 West Garvey Avenue, West Covina, CA, 91790, and its phone number is (626) 939-8500. The West Covina Jail is located in the Civic Center at 1444 W Garvey Ave S, West Covina, CA 91790, and the phone number is (626) 939-8550.
All inmates booked in the West Covina Police Department Jail are eligible to be released on bail unless an arrest warrant specifies otherwise or the court orders them to remain in custody. Los Angeles County prosecutors will no longer seek cash bail for arrestees facing misdemeanors or non-violent and non-serious felonies. Thus, courts will typically release arrestees on OR (own recognizance).
Sometimes, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department makes arrests in the West Covina area, and California Highway Patrol (CHP) police officers issue traffic tickets and make DUI arrests on Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway).
What are Common Misdemeanors?
A misdemeanor crime is less serious than a felony crime and doesn't carry any potential to be sentenced to a California state prison. A misdemeanor is described as a crime where the maximum sentence is no longer than one year in a county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
An aggravated misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of $1,000 or more. Also, anyone who is convicted of a misdemeanor can be placed on probation for three to five years.
Depending on where the crime occurred, the Los Angeles City Attorney or the District Attorney's Office can file misdemeanor cases.
After you have been arrested for a misdemeanor, your case will proceed through the normal stages of the criminal process, including arraignment, bail hearing, pretrial, and jury or bench trial.
However, it should be noted that the vast majority of misdemeanor cases never make it to trial. Your defense lawyer could negotiate with the prosecutor to have the case dropped or reach a plea bargain. Some of the most common misdemeanors include the following:
- Penal Code 240 PC – Assault,
- Penal Code 242 PC – Battery,
- Penal Code 314 PC – Indecent Exposure,
- Penal Code 484(a) PC – Petty Theft,
- Penal Code 459.5 PC – Shoplifting,
- Penal Code 243(e)(1) PC – Domestic Battery,
- Penal Code 273.6 PC – Violation of Restraining Order,
- Penal Code 415PC – Disturbing the Peace,
- Penal Code 602 PC - Trespassing,
- Penal Code 647 PC – Disorderly Conduct,
- Penal Code 647(b) PC - Prostitution,
- Penal Code 647(f) PC – Public Intoxication.
What are Common Felonies?
In California, any crime for which you can be sentenced to more than one year is considered a felony. This fact is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony criminal offense.
Many people who are arrested for a felony have no prior experience in the California criminal justice system and don't understand how the criminal case process works.
Anyone who is charged with a felony crime will proceed to a preliminary hearing, where the prosecutor has to show the criminal charges are supported by probable cause. At the hearing, the prosecutor's evidence and witnesses can be challenged. Some of the most common felony charges include:
- Penal Code 211 PC– Robbery,
- Penal Code 187 PC – Murder,
- Penal Code 664/187 PC – Attempted Murder,
- Penal Code 207 PC – Kidnapping,
- Penal Code 261 PC – Rape,
- Penal Code 647.6 PC – Child Molestation,
- Penal Code 311 PC – Child Pornography,
- Penal Code 288 PC – Lewd Acts with a Minor,
- Penal Code 287 PC – Grand Theft,
- Penal Code 215 PC - Carjacking,
- Penal Code 192(c) PC – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter,
- Penal Code 245(a)(2) PC – Assault with a Firearm.
Finding a way to avoid a California felony conviction is crucial. If this is not possible, the focus must shift to finding a strategy to minimize the consequences of a conviction. Probation is an option for many types of felony crimes.
A defendant's chance of receiving probation is higher if they follow a certain strategy after being charged. This strategy could include drug or alcohol treatment, counseling, anger management counseling, and others. Contact our criminal defense law firm for more information. Eisner Gorin LLP is has offices in Los Angeles, CA.
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