Criminal Defense Attorney Contra Costa County

Sound & Comprehensive Criminal Defense Strategies

In the United States, any person who is charged with a crime by the government is granted specific protected rights during the investigation of that crime, from the bringing of the charges all the way to sentencing, appeals, and beyond. The fact that you are arrested does not mean that you are guilty of any crime.

In many cases, a person is arrested for a crime that has not yet been reviewed by the judge or the prosecutor in their potential case. At The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson, our criminal defense lawyers will work immediately for you in order to try to prevent charges from ever being filed against you by a prosecuting agency. If you suspect that you are being investigated in a criminal case in Contra Costa County, hiring a criminal defense attorney as early as possible in the process is imperative for your attorney to strategize your defense.

Contact our office today at (925) 900-5330 or complete our online contact form for your confidential consultation.

Felony Charges in Contra Costa County

A felony is a crime that is considered by the court, law enforcement agencies, and society at large to be of a more serious nature than a misdemeanor crime. Felony crimes can be violent, but they can be nonviolent as well. A felony is punishable by time spent incarcerated in a federal prison for a period of at least one year. Felonies are very serious crimes, and a felony charge requires immediate engagement with an experienced Contra Costa County criminal defense attorney. Some of the crimes that are classified as felonies include most serious offenses imaginable such as homicide, attempted murder, rape, arson, and human trafficking.

Since felonies are categorized as such very serious criminal violations, the possible punishments and the legal procedure for deciding on the penalties for these crimes are taken very seriously as well. Some of the factors that a judge will consider when he or she is sentencing someone for a felony charge include the severity of the harm that came to the victim of the crime, any mitigating factors that may be presented by your criminal defense attorney, and also any aggravating factors such as the victimization of minor children or elderly individuals, the general consensus of the community towards the type of crime committed, prior criminal convictions, and whether or not a deadly weapon was used when committing the crime.

A particularly serious and difficult to defend form of felony is a sex crime. Being convicted of a sex crime felony can mean that you will be required to register as a sex offender everywhere you live for the rest of your life. If you have been accused of a sex crime or you suspect that you are being investigated for one, you need the highest quality criminal defense attorney that you can afford. Your future absolutely depends on it.

Misdemeanor Crimes in Contra Costa County

A misdemeanor crime, as opposed to a felony, is a less serious criminal offense. As less serious offenses, they are usually associated with less serious penalties. The biggest difference between a felony and a misdemeanor lies in the penalties. A misdemeanor is punishable by one year or more in a county jail, and a felony can mean incarceration in a federal prison for at least one year. Misdemeanor offenses can include traffic offenses such as driving while intoxicated, assault and battery and other non-felony charges causing bodily harm, theft, larceny and similar non-felony crimes involving the misuse of property, petty drug offenses, perjury, obscenity, and illegal gun possession.

The penalties for conviction of a misdemeanor crime can involve any combination of jail time, fines, and probation that the judge sees fit. The sentences for misdemeanor crimes also tend to be much more tailored to the exact crime that you committed. If you were convicted of vandalism, for example, you might be required to clean up the damage you caused to a local business and to perform cleaning and repairs to surrounding businesses. The penalties for a DUI might include signing up for mandatory DUI classes or completing an outpatient substance abuse treatment program.

The fact that a misdemeanor is considered less serious than a felony crime should in no way be interpreted as meaning that you don’t still need legal representation. Any kind of conviction on your criminal record is going to have a very negative impact on the rest of your life. Your rights should always be protected by a criminal defense attorney serving Contra Costa County.

The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson serve all cities located in Contra Costa County including:

• Antioch
• Brentwood
• Clayton
• Concord
• El Cerrito
• Hercules
• Lafayette
• Oakley
• Orinda
• Pinole
• Pittsburg
• Pleasant Hill
• Richmond
• San Pablo
• San Ramon
• Walnut Creek

Trusted Criminal Defense Attorneys in Contra Costa County

At The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson, our attorneys have over 25 years of experience passionately defending people who have been charged with crimes of all types. Call today at (925) 900-5330 for one of our experienced attorneys to fight for you.