Accused of a Violent Crime?

A Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer Can Help

A conviction of a violent crime charge in California will result in up to life in prison and, in limited circumstances, the death penalty. Your life, as you know it now, will never be the same again. Bail costs are extremely high, and in some cases, there is no bail at all. The Los Angeles criminal lawyers of Gardner + Associates understand the seriousness of the charges you are facing and will work to do everything possible to help you avoid conviction.

Types of Violent Crimes

Violent crimes are those acts which are considered to threaten, attempt to, or actually cause physical harm.

• Aggravated Assault is the crime of physically attacking another person with a deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily harm. The charges are either a misdemeanor or a felony and count as a “strike”. An assault on a police officer, fire fighter, emergency medical personnel, or paramedic, is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. A conviction of a strike felony often carries mandatory time jail time.
• Assault & Battery is a combination of two crimes: threat (assault) and physical attack (battery). The victim is able to file a civil suit for additional damages. If convicted, simple assault is a punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
• Domestic Violence is any threat, abuse, or violence – physical, verbal, or psychological - against a spouse, significant other, past or current romantic partner, child/children, or a family member (or person) who lives with you. Domestic violence punishments range from misdemeanor charges for first time offenders resulting in probation, community service, and mandatory counseling, to felony charges for assault, battery, rape, and murder with significant prison time if convicted.
• Homicide is the killing of a human being by another human being, and includes first-degree murder (premeditated killing), second-degree murder (unintentional), and manslaughter (unintentional). California sometimes treats a killing that was not intentional as first-degree murder if the act occurred during a felony such as rape, carjacking, robbery, arson, kidnapping, burglary, or mayhem. The use of a firearm automatically increases your sentence by anywhere from 5 years to an additional life term.
• Manslaughter, killing without malicious forethought, ranges in degrees, and carries different levels of punishments.
  • Involuntary Manslaughter (Unintentional killing) is the result of carelessness while committing a misdemeanor. A conviction carries a sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison.
  • Vehicular Manslaughter (Unintentional killing) is the result of an unlawful act committed while driving a motor vehicle. Whether the charge is a felony or a misdemeanor will determine the sentence if convicted.
  • Voluntary Manslaughter (Intentional killing) is the result of an unreasonable attempt at self-defense or because of “adequate provocation” while committing a felony. For example, if the accused broke into a warehouse intent on committing a theft, came upon a security guard, and in the ensuing struggle inadvertently killed the guard, such a crime could result in 3 to 11 years in prison.
• Terrorist Threats are harmful acts of violence committed against a person’s certain political, national, or religious beliefs. Terrorist threats carry either a misdemeanor or a felony classification depending on the seriousness of the situation and are punishable by large monetary fines, prison, or any of the above.

Any violent crime is extremely serious and defending against them can be very complicated. Jennifer Gardner and Mark McBride are aggressive Los Angeles criminal attorneys who pursue every option possible to secure the best outcome for you. With more than 30 years of experience, they have achieved dismissals, acquittals, probation, and reduced penalties for their clients.

Contact the Los Angeles criminal attorneys at Gardner + Associates for a free consultation today. Doing so can mean the difference between your current life as you know it and the rest of your life, or at least a significant part of it, in prison.