Criminal Defense Attorneys Who WILL Fight for You
Facing criminal charges can be an overwhelming and daunting experience. A conviction can lead to severe consequences, which may impact your personal freedom, reputation, and future opportunities.
This is why our Santa Clarita Valley criminal defense lawyers are dedicated to providing robust and compassionate legal representation to people accused of criminal offenses. We aim to delivery personalized defense strategies, comprehensive legal knowledge, aggressive representation, and compassionate support.
At Barnholtz & Kugler, we believe in the fundamental principle that every person is innocent until proven guilty. Our attorneys are dedicated to upholding justice and ensuring that your rights are protected at every stage of the legal process.
Our Criminal Defense Services
Our proven defense lawyers have over 40 years of combined experience pursuing favorable outcomes for those charged with a crime. They can assist you with the following:
You should take the following actions if you’ve been arrested for a crime in California:
- Remain silent: You have the right to remain silent and shouldn’t answer any questions from the police or a prosecutor until you’ve talked with an attorney.
- Don’t make a false statement: Avoid making any statement that could be later used against you.
- Ask for a criminal defense attorney: You have the right to an attorney and you can request one at any time.
Immediately. If you’ve been arrested, or suspect you may be facing criminal charges, contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
It’s crucial to have legal representation before speaking to law enforcement, as anything you say can be used against you.
A criminal defense attorney will answer your questions, explain the legal process, and safeguard your rights.
With some crimes, a court may order you to pay fines as a penalty. You can typically pay fines in a lump sum, via installments, or through other payment plans.
Please note that failure to pay fines can result in additional penalties, such as jail time or community service.
Within California, infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies are the three main categories of crimes.
Infractions are the least serious offenses and usually involve minor violations, such as traffic tickets or littering. Infractions don’t lead to incarceration. However, an offender might be obligated to pay fines.
Misdemeanors hold greater severity than minor infractions and may lead to imprisonment, probation, monetary penalties, or community service. Examples include petty theft, DUI, and simple assault.
Felonies represent the gravest classification of criminal acts and can yield substantial repercussions, such as extended incarceration, hefty fines, or even capital punishment in certain instances.
Maybe. Returning stolen property may be taken into consideration by the court, but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll avoid charges.
It’s important to consult with an attorney to understand the potential consequences of your actions.
Possibly. In California, probation is a possible sentencing option instead of jail time, but the decision to grant probation is made by the judge on a case-by-case basis.
The court usually considers the following factors in determining if it will grant probation:
- The nature and severity of your Crime: More serious crimes are less likely to result in probation.
- Use of weapons: Using or possessing a weapon can make probation less likely.
- Vulnerability of the victim: If the victim was particularly vulnerable, probation may be less likely.
- Physical or emotional injury: The extent of physical or emotional harm caused to the victim is a factor.
- Amount of loss: The financial or other loss suffered by the victim is considered.
- Your criminal record: A prior criminal history can make probation less likely.
- Remorse: Showing remorse can positively influence the judge’s decision.
Note that California has both formal and informal probation.