Los Angeles
Criminal Lawyer

A criminal conviction could completely turn your world upside-down. Some criminal cases in California entail life-long imprisonment, a maximum of $10,000 penalty fines, and other case-specific restrictions. Luckily, you can do something to prevent this from happening. Our highly experienced Los Angeles criminal lawyer has a solid track record of helping defendants get the justice they deserve. Schedule your initial consultation with us and get practical legal advice.

One of the first things you need to understand when facing criminal cases is how the criminal justice system works. Generally, all criminal cases in California are divided into three categories, depending on the severity of the crime committed. This includes the following:

Infractions. An infraction is the least serious type of crime you can commit in California. These are typically non-dangerous offenses that only result in fines, such as minor traffic violations. Because an infraction is not considered a crime, you cannot be sentenced to jail time if convicted. The maximum penalty for a California infraction is a $250 penalty fine.

Some widely known examples of an infraction in California are illegal U-turns, driving without a valid license, disobeying a stop sign, and rolling through a stop sign.

Misdemeanors. Just a step above infractions and below felonies sits misdemeanors. A misdemeanor offense is considered a less serious crime and is punishable by up to one year in county jail and a maximum of $1,000 in penalty fines. In California, misdemeanors are further classified into two, namely standard misdemeanors and aggravated misdemeanors.

A standard misdemeanor is a less severe offense that typically only results in 6 months of jail time in Los Angeles county jail and a thousand-dollar penalty fine. In contrast, an aggravated misdemeanor means you caused an injury which could result in a year of jail sentence and a $1,000 penalty fine.

Some well-known types of California misdemeanors are first to third driving under the influence (DUI), petty theft, public intoxication, and battery.

Felonies. Felony offenses sit at the top of the criminal offense tier as the most serious type of crime you can commit in California. A felony is punishable by 16 months, 2 or 3 years, or even life-long imprisonment in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Committing a felony offense also has other long-term effects on your life, such as being barred from owning a firearm, losing your voting rights, and being ineligible for certain types of employment.

Some examples of felony offenses in California are arson, burglary, grand theft auto, rape, sexual assault involving a minor, and murder.

Wobblers. Wobbler offenses are indeterminable, meaning they can either be charged as a felony offense or a misdemeanor, depending on the prosecutor's discretion and the severity of the crime. The courts will also consider your criminal record when deciding how to charge you for a wobbler offense.

Some examples of wobbler offenses in California are first-degree burglary, child abuse, most white-collar crimes, and most types of forgery.

Following California Penal Code 667, the state has a "three strikes" law that imposes harsher punishments for offenders with prior convictions, mainly if those convictions are considered serious or violent felonies. A "strike" is also given for nonviolent felonies, such as residential burglary, drug possession for sale, and grand theft. Under this law, a defendant convicted of a felony with two previous serious strikes or violent felony convictions will be given a life sentence in state prison.

The consequences of a third strike are severe, but you can still have a fighting chance if you hire an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. Your attorney can request to dismiss your previous strikes or reduce your current conviction to a misdemeanor.

If you're dealing with a criminal case, you might feel like everything around you is falling apart. The longer you try to understand what's going on in your case, the more confused you get; that's okay.

Criminal defense is a highly technical and intricate aspect of the law. If you don't know anything about criminal law, everything might sound like a riddle to your ear, and trying to handle your criminal case by yourself might cause more damage than good.

Because of this, it's best to leave your criminal defense cases to the capable hands of our knowledgeable and reliable criminal defense attorney at Shah Criminal Lawyers.

With over decades of experience in criminal defense, our legal team has handled everything, from theft crimes to drug crimes and even sex crimes. Whatever your case may be, you are sure to find the best resolution with our help. Start protecting your freedom today and schedule a consultation with our legal team.

Our law firm has a remarkable 98% success rate in securing positive verdicts. We handle every case with care and skill, ensuring the best possible outcome for our clients.

Attorney Seena Shah

Attorney Seena Shah has spent years working in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange County courts. He is well versed with the various District Attorney offices and courtrooms. He puts this experience to work in fighting your case.

Attorney Shah handles all your cases personally. He is easily accessible to all his clients and unlike other law firms, he will not hand off your case to a less experienced junior attorney.

Each courtroom operates a bit different from the next. Seena applies this knowledge in tailoring your defense. Moreover, advocating in court everyday has allowed for Seena to build strong relationships with the judges and prosecutors in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Seena's aggressive representation and willingness to meet your needs (answering phone calls, texting, and even meeting with clients at night and weekends) and strength to fight for his clients can achieve the recent results.

Experienced representation matters, especially in criminal defense cases. You can't afford to have an inexperienced lawyer handling your case.

At Shah Criminal Lawyers, we have a team of highly experienced criminal defense lawyers who are well-versed in California law and know how to navigate the complex legal system.

Our criminal defense attorneys have a near-perfect success rate in court and have helped hundreds of clients get the best possible outcome for their cases. We know what it takes to win and will fight tirelessly to give you the best possible results.

When you partner with our criminal defense team, you can expect the highest quality legal representation and personalized attention to your case. We will work closely with you to understand the facts of your case and build a strong defense strategy.

Nobody should have to go through a criminal case alone. At Shah Criminal Lawyers, we will be with you every step of the way, providing the experienced legal guidance and support you need to get through this difficult time.

Contact our Los Angeles criminal attorneys today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been accused of a crime. We will review your case and help you understand your legal options. Call us at 909-549-2280 or contact us online to get started.