CRIMINAL DEFENSE

tThis covers a wide range of criminal matters, while we cover a vast majority of these issues, if we don't we have a wide network of attorneys that specialize in anything you need.

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Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney That Gets Positive Results.

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Steven Derelian, known around the office and court as "Mr. D", understands how prosecutors think and how to prepare a criminal case.

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This means you get legal representation that anticipates and is a move ahead of the prosecution's team.

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DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE -DUI

DUI - The Basics: there are multiple types of DUI ranging from Felony DUI, with death or injury to Misdemeanor DUI and Open container.

 

However, in general with a straight first time dui,  the following is what you Can Expect if You Are Charged in California:

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• A License Suspension. The DMV WILL automatically suspend your driver's License

  • We can help you determine how to fight this.

  • You have 30 days within the date of arrest to handle this, beyond that period your options may be limited.

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• THE Criminal Proceedings:  First, you'll face an arraignment during which you will plead guilty or not guilty. The case then either continues to trial, or your DUI attorney will negotiate a plea bargain.

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• If you plead Not Guilty there are a number of defense options  for your case. They range from:

  • finding holes in the evidence the prosecution has presented including an analysis to see if your rights were violated during the DUI stop and whether or not all the evidence afterwards should not be admissible.

  • Another common move is to undermine the testimony of the cop who arrested you. this can mean digging into their past and uncovering allegations of wrongdoing in other cases. It's more common than you think.

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• conviction of a dui or "Deuce," as they used to be called, can, if convicted, lead to financial penalties, including fines, court costs, treatment programs, suspended licenses, and the like. . But know that if it is your 1st DUI, you will likely receive lighter sentencing than if you have a prior DUI in the last decade.

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DRUG CRIMES:

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DRUG CHARGES: The basics - If you were caught with drugs on you or being under the influence of drugs,  it might seem impossible to defend yourself and there is pressure to just  "plead guilty"- This is not the best option. Your best option is to talk to an experienced drug crimes attorney who can hear your case and offer professional and experienced advice on how to proceed.

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drug crimes in federal court- For example: you were busted in a national Park, such as Joshua Tree National Park.

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• The Federal government classifies drugs into schedules. And the  schedule that a drug is classified in determines how serious the Feds (as well as the states) look at the charges. The likely Penalties you will face,

The schedules are as follow:

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• Schedule I. With no “legitimate medical use,” Schedule I drugs are considered highly addictive and are the most dangerous of all drugs, according to the federal government. Examples include heroin, LSD, mescaline, But yes, despite the fact that it is legal in California, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug at the federal level.

• Schedule II. ThE drugs the government considers might have a legitimate medical use, but are highly abused and very addictive. Examples include cocaine, opium, amphetamines, methadone, and methamphetamines.

• Schedule III. Drugs with a moderate risk of abuse/addiction and that are determined to be less dangerous, according to the federal government are classified as Schedule III. These include ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, and specific depressants.

• Schedule IV. These are drugs accepted for medical use, considered to be only mildly addictive, Schedule IV drugs include Tranquilizers, clonazepam and most RX sedatives.

• Schedule V. These drugs are considered neither highly addictive nor likely to be abused and include, Tylenol 3, and 4(aka Tylenol with codeine) and other similar prescription drugs.

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• Drug crimes charged are essentially broken into:

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1. Drug possession

2. Possession of drug paraphernalia

3. DUI of drugs

4. Sale/transportation of drugs

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Possession is usually charged as a misdemeanor while transporting and sales as felonies. This is where your choice of attorney will be highly beneficial.

 

The benefits of getting a good attorney can not be understated. One important move a good attorney makes is to develop the facts and use the law to show that, for example you, the defendant, were not selling the drugs you are alleged to have had on you at the time of the arrest, but that they were being stockpiled for use at a later date. This and similar arguments are why it is essential to get a good attorney to guide you through the process. It's never "all over."

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domestic violence

In the state of California, domestic violence laws make it a crime to “harm, or threaten to harm” an intimate partner or other protected person. There are several types of domestic violence crimes including:

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• Corporal injury to a spouse or inhabitant

• Domestic battery

• Child abuse

• Criminal threats

• Child endangerment

• Stalking

• Damaging a phone line

• Aggravated trespass

• Revenge porn

• Posting personal/harmful info on the internet

• Child neglect/failure to provide care

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Whether you are the accused or the aggrieved,

you deserve and need proper legal representation.

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