Agoura Hills Criminal Defense Attorney

Any criminal conviction has the potential to change your life in many ways. It can be incredibly daunting for anyone to face an arrest in Agoura Hills, especially when they know they have done nothing wrong. Regardless of whether you committed any crime, it is very important to know your rights and what to do after an arrest. Failure to understand and exercise your rights can have severe consequences that impact your life for years to come.

Criminal Defense Counsel You Can Trust in Agoura Hills, CA

The Law Offices of James E. Silverstein is a full-service criminal defense firm representing clients in Agoura Hills, CA, and surrounding communities. Our team has helped many past clients overcome their criminal cases using client-focused defensive strategies and aggressive defense of our clients’ rights. We can help you determine the best options available to you when you or a loved one has been arrested in Agoura Hills, CA.

Benefits of Hiring an Agoura Hills Criminal Defense Attorney

Every American citizen has the constitutional right to legal counsel when they are accused of a crime. The Sixth Amendment upholds that if a defendant cannot pay for a private defense attorney or does not wish to pay for one, the court must appoint a public defender to represent the defendant at no cost. Defendants may also represent themselves, but this is never advised. Even if a public defender seems like a realistic option, it’s important to understand the difference in what an experienced private defense attorney can offer.

The right attorney can make a dramatic impact on the outcome of your impending case. They can help you identify any procedural missteps in the police department’s handling of your case or due process violations that qualify as grounds to seek case dismissal. It’s possible for your case to be over very quickly with an attorney’s assistance if they identify any such mishandling of your arrest and booking. For example, if the police arrested you for DWI but failed to establish probable cause to conduct the traffic stop in the first place, this would invalidate their case.

When a defendant is guilty, an experienced criminal defense attorney is likely to be a more effective negotiator on their behalf compared to a public defender. Your attorney can potentially secure a plea agreement with the prosecution that exchanges a guilty plea for a lighter sentence. This isn’t an option for every defendant, and no criminal defense attorney can ever promise their client a specific outcome to their case. However, when you choose the Law Offices of James E. Silverstein to handle your defense, you can rest assured that you will have full access to our skill and professional experience throughout all your proceedings, and we will do everything we can to help you reach the best possible results.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

Whenever you need an Agoura Hills criminal defense attorney, it’s essential to choose a legal representative who is familiar with cases like yours. The Law Offices of James E. Silverstein holds significant professional experience with a wide range of criminal cases, including:

• Drug-related offenses. Simple possession, possession of an illicit substance with intent to sell, and drug trafficking are a few of the most commonly prosecuted drug offenses in California. While the state’s penalties for drug-related criminal offenses are less severe than many other states, any defendant could face fines, jail time, loss of their rights, and a criminal record for any drug offense conviction. Your attorney could potentially help you avoid the harshest penalties you face if you can prove you struggle with a substance abuse disorder and agree to mandatory treatment and conditional probation, but this is never a guarantee.
• Violent crimes. Crimes like assault and battery and armed robbery often qualify for felony prosecution in California, meaning defendants could go to state prison if convicted. Violent crimes can also lead to civil liability for victims’ damages. Any violent crime that results in severe injury or death of the victim is very likely to mean homicide charges and long-term incarceration in state prison for the defendant.
• Driving under the influence (DUI). It is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The penalties for DUI in California increase with multiple offenses and/or when a defendant’s impaired driving results in injury or death. Driver’s license suspension, mandatory substance abuse treatment, fines, and jail time are just a few possible penalties a defendant can face if convicted of DUI in Agoura Hills, CA.
• Sex crimes. Any sex-related offense, such as sexual assault or sexual battery, is likely to qualify for a felony conviction. Penalties for sex-related criminal offenses typically depend on the nature and severity of the offense and the age of the victim. Penalties for sex crimes in California can include incarceration, restitution to the victim, and long-term or permanent sex offender registration in a publicly accessible database. Compulsory sex offender registration will severely limit your options for living arrangements and employment in the Agoura Hills, CA, community.

It’s possible for a defendant to face multiple charges in their criminal case, and if they already have a criminal record, there are various ways for their new offense to worsen their situation. For example, California enforces a Three Strikes Law that dictates an automatic sentence of 25 years to life in state prison after a conviction of three or more felonies.

Working with an experienced Agoura Hills, CA, criminal defense attorney is the best option for anyone recently arrested for any criminal offense. If you are arrested in Agoura Hills, it is crucial for you to exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent until you can exercise your Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel and speak to a defense attorney you can trust.

Potential Penalties for Conviction

Any criminal offense can lead to various penalties. In California, most crimes fall into misdemeanor or felony designations based on their severity, and it is possible for offenses to “wobble” between misdemeanor and felony status. The criminal justice system of the United States functions on the premise of the presumption of innocence. This means the court must presume a defendant to be innocent until they are proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt in a court of law by a jury of their peers.

The burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt rests on the prosecution. Prosecutors may call expert witnesses and eyewitnesses to the incident in question, and they will likely present material evidence against the defendant. It is your Agoura Hills defense attorney’s job to prevent the prosecution from meeting this burden of proof.

Resolving a Criminal Case in Agoura Hills, CA

The Law Offices of James E. Silverstein has years of experience representing clients in difficult criminal cases throughout the Agoura Hills, CA, area, and we know how local prosecutors handle their cases. If you have been wrongfully accused of a crime that you didn’t commit, we’ll do everything we can to secure evidence that counteracts the prosecution’s case or establishes a viable alibi. If you did make a mistake and break the law, we could potentially help you secure a more favorable sentence from the criminal court.

Plea bargains are sometimes offered to defendants when prosecutors have more than enough evidence to convict. A swift guilty plea conserves court resources and saves time for all parties involved. In exchange for an immediate guiltyplea from the defense, the prosecution typically offers reduced or dropped charges, lighter penalties, or a combination of incentives to the defendant. Your Agoura Hills criminal defense attorney will be crucial for determining whether such an arrangement would suit your best interests.

If your case proceeds to a trial, a jury of your peers will oversee your courtroom proceedings and deliver a verdict after considering all evidence and testimony. If found guilty, the defendant faces sentencing from the judge overseeing their case. If you are convicted for a nonviolent criminal offense for the first time, it’s possible to argue for leniency depending on the scope and severity of your actions. For example, a good defense attorney may help you secure conditional probation or other diversionary alternatives to incarceration to spare you from jail time after conviction.

Find Your Defense Counsel Now

Time is a critical factor in every criminal case. Depending on the nature of the charges filed against you, you could be remanded to police custody until your preliminary hearing. It’s also possible to qualify for bail, but your first concern after any arrest should be securing legal counsel you can trust to guide you through your case.

Ultimately, every criminal case is unique, and you need a defense attorney ready to meet the unique challenges your case presents. The team at the Law Offices of James E. Silverstein is ready to provide the aggressive defense counsel you need to reach the best possible outcome in your impending case. If you are ready to discuss your defense options with an Agoura Hills criminal defense attorney, contact the Law Offices of James E. Silverstein today and schedule a consultation with our team.