Criminal Defense Overview

Over 35 Years of Criminal Law Experience

Southern California Criminal Defense Lawyer

The consequences of an arrest on criminal charges depend on many variables: the nature of the offense, your criminal history, the jurisdiction, and the quality of your criminal defense attorney. Your lawyer should be familiar with the tendencies of local judges and prosecutors, adept at negotiations, and willing to take your case to a jury. Above all, your legal counsel should have extensive legal experience in challenging the specific charges you are facing.

Daniel L. Greenberg, P.L.C. extends over 35 years of criminal law practice in California. We stand by our clients from the initial arrest to the final disposition of their case. Contact us for a free consultation, by phone or at our Riverside, California office. We practice in all state and federal courts of Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Criminal Charges and Consequences of Conviction

• A misdemeanor is a "minor" crime with a maximum sentence of one year in county jail for the most serious offenses. Examples include DUI, shoplifting, traffic offenses, and disorderly conduct. Judges have significant leeway in sentencing for most misdemeanors. In many cases, a good attorney can help you avoid jail time by getting charges dismissed or negotiating with prosecutors for probation, restitution and/or chemical dependency treatment.
• A felony is a serious crime punishable by one or more years in state or federal prison. Examples include fraud, robbery, sex crimes and murder. Felonies are categorized by severity, with escalating sentences for each. Many felony crimes carry mandatory prison sentence.

Some crimes can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the severity of the crime. Burglary, assault, domestic violence, and drug crimes are examples. Possession of marijuana is typically a misdemeanor, while possession of marijuana with intent to sell (i.e., large quantity) or possession of any amount of cocaine is a felony.

• Jurisdiction refers to the court where charges are brought. Youths up to age 18 are charged in Juvenile Court (except for major felonies). Adults are charged in state court, unless it is a felony crime that falls under Federal Court jurisdiction. Court procedures, rights of defendants, and rules of evidence are different for each jurisdiction. (For example, juveniles are not entitled to a trial by jury.)

Proven Criminal Defense, Personalized Attention

Criminal defense attorney Daniel L. Greenberg provides very capable representation for all misdemeanor and felony charges. He challenges the evidence to get charges dismissed, work out a plea agreement to lesser charges, or argue before a jury to return a verdict of not guilty. As a former district attorney, he can probe the strength of the prosecution's case and counter with effective legal strategies to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.

Contact a proven criminal defense lawyer to discuss your situation in a free consultation.