Former Senior LA Prosecutor
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Top Rated Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer

Former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney
Now providing an aggressive defense for you.

As a criminal attorney in Los Angeles area, Michael Kraut handles all misdemeanor and felony charges. Mr. Kraut has been a top rated defense attorney in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers are well known for the aggressive representation of clients for DUI cases. Mr. Kraut handles white collar crimes, theft related crimes, California expungements, drug offenses, domestic violence, lewd conduct, and all other criminal defense cases throughout Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and Orange County. Let Michael Kraut and the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers use their knowledge and skill to fight for you and your rights.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael Kraut

As a premier Los Angeles criminal lawyer, Michael Kraut was trained and attended Harvard Law School and then spent 14 years as a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. He worked in the prestigious Hardcore Gang Homicide Division and the Major Frauds Division. Attorney Kraut tried in excess of 86 jury trials to verdict and has won an unheard of 99% of his felony jury trials.

Drawing on his experiences, contacts and relationships with prosecutors, law enforcement and judges within the criminal justice system, Mr. Kraut opened the premier Los Angeles criminal defense firm, the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. He knows the inner workings of investigations conducted by law enforcement and how prosecutors assemble their cases against a suspect. Mr. Kraut defends clients accused of criminal charges in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Mr. Kraut is known for "working up" his cases by conducting a thorough and independent investigation separate and apart from law enforcement. He leaves no stone unturned when defending his clients whether they are fighting a misdemeanor DUI, complex white collar fraud case, or a high profile murder case. Attorney Kraut understands that his client's interests and he will work hard to keep them out of jail and free of a criminal record.

Mr. Kraut has lectured to law enforcement on investigative techniques and taught prosecutors on courtroom trial tactics. He has been featured on CNN, Fox News and throughout print media.

Call Us for Help

If you or a loved one faces misdemeanor or felony charges, contact Los Angeles criminal attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for help. The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers have offices throughout the Los Angeles area, and are also available to travel to your home to discuss your personal situation. Mr. Kraut primarily practices in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties.

Los Angeles Domestic Violence Lawyer

Prosecutors and police in the Los Angeles region take allegations of domestic violence very seriously. When they find evidence of domestic violence upon arriving at a scene, the police are required to take into custody the person whom they believe is responsible. However, police officers can make mistakes when they are responding to a situation, and they often overreact to the circumstances or identify the wrong person as the perpetrator. Once a person has been taken into custody, they have a high risk of facing charges because prosecutors pursue domestic violence cases aggressively. Even if the accuser does not want to press charges, the prosecutor still can proceed. Anyone who has been charged under California Penal Code Section 273.5 thus should promptly contact a domestic violence lawyer who knows how to build defenses in these cases.

A common defense in domestic violence cases is self-defense. If you were not the initial aggressor, you may be able to show that your use of force was justified to protect yourself under the circumstances. In other situations, you may be able to argue that the other person consented to the conduct. Moreover, while domestic violence allegations deserve to be taken seriously, not all of them are legitimate. An accuser may be trying to get revenge on the defendant or gain an advantage in a family law matter, such as a child custody dispute. If your attorney can show that the accuser is not credible or may have improper motives, you may be able to defeat the charge.

Our domestic violence attorneys understand the importance of thoroughly exploring each possible defense to a charge, since domestic violence convictions can have very serious consequences. These can include jail time, fines, restitution, and a restraining order that may significantly restrict your contact with family members. If the incident resulted in moderate or severe injuries, domestic violence probably will be charged as a felony.

In cases involving a great bodily injury, a conviction will become a strike on the defendant’s record under the Three Strikes Law, which can have grave consequences for sentencing after any future convictions. Even if you cannot get the charge dismissed, getting a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor or an infraction can make a huge difference to your future.

Call Us for Help

If you or a loved one faces domestic violence charges, contact Los Angeles criminal attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for help. The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers have offices throughout the Los Angeles area, and are also available to travel to your home to discuss your personal situation. Mr. Kraut primarily practices in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties.

Los Angeles DUI Lawyer Michael Kraut

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs under California Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC and California Vehicle Code Section 23152(b) VC is one of the most widely charged criminal offenses in the LA area. Each day and night, law enforcement officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and other agencies patrol the streets and freeways of Los Angeles looking for impaired drivers. Under the law it is a crime to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or above.

Unless the suspected drunk driver is stopped as part of a DUI checkpoint operation, a law enforcement officer must have probable cause that a driver is violating the law before the officer can legally justify stopping the vehicle. This is usually a violation of a vehicle code provision, such as speeding, improperly changing lanes or an equipment violation. Once a driver has been stopped, the officer must then be able to objectively form the opinion the driver is intoxicated. This is typically based on symptoms of intoxication, such as an odor of alcohol, bloodshot or watery eyes or slurred speech. At that point, the officer will usually ask the driver to submit to a series of field sobriety tests designed to determine if the driver is impaired. The officer may also request the driver to breath into a Preliminary Alcohol Screening ("PAS") device to see if the driver has a high blood alcohol content.

Once the officer concludes the driver is impaired, he or she will arrest the driver for DUI and will take the driver to the police station or hospital for further, more accurate chemical testing. The driver will be given the option of providing a breath or blood sample at the station (or hospital for blood). If the driver refuses testing, he or she can still be charged with a DUI offense and can lose their license for a full year.

During the Los Angeles DUI arrest process, the arresting officer will provide a notice of impending license suspension from the DMV. At that point, the driver will spend the night in jail. They may be released and provided a future court date or may have to appear in court for their arraignment the following day.

The case will be sent to a prosecutor to review for criminal filing. For first time DUI offenses in Los Angeles, that will be a prosecutor from either the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office or the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, depending on the location of the incident. The driver is usually charged with one count of driving under the influence in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) VC and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23152(b) VC. In addition, the driver would have to deal with a potential driver's license suspension from the DMV. If the driver requests a hearing within ten days of the arrest, they would have the chance to contest the suspension before a hearing officer from the Department of Motor Vehicles. An effective Los Angeles DUI attorney may be able to challenge the stop of the vehicle, the basis for arrest, and the results of the chemical test, both in court and before the DMV. For those convicted of DUI, penalties can include jail time, mandatory alcohol counseling classes, community service/labor, loss of license and substantial fines.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, it is imperative that you contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI Attorney immediately. For more information about DUI in Los Angeles, and to schedule your 1/2 hour free consultation, contact Los Angeles DUI Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 323-464-6453.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is outstanding! He genuinely cared about my case and instructed my mom and I throughout the entire process. He was very clear on what he needed in order to receive the best results. He kept us updated until the end. I thank him so much for getting my charges rejected. I highly recommend him to anyone with legal needs! Shaquan
★★★★★
I contacted Michael with concern for my personal and business reputation. He was very reassuring and confident the entire time. After about 3 weeks it was determined that no charges were being filed by any agency and I was in the clear of any investigation. One thing that is amazing is just how FAST Michael is at replying to phone calls, texts, and even emails! We are talking under 30 minutes in most cases. That is unheard of for most attorneys! Michael is incredible and not your typical run of the mill attorney. For best results hire him if you feel like you might be under investigation or could face charges. Even if you know you are innocent it is best to take care of the smoke before it becomes a fire. Brad
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is-hands down-the best criminal defense attorney and I can't begin to thank him for all that he did for me and my family. I reached out to him in the middle of the night and less than a couple hours later, he had gotten back to me and scheduled a meeting. He's a no-nonsense attorney who knows how to get the job done! From the second we retained him, I had peace of mind in knowing that we were in the best hands possible. If Michael Kraut couldn't get it done, I knew that it couldn't be done at all. You can't put a price tag on your freedom. He was worth every single penny. Lida
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is an outstanding attorney. He was extremely professional, and straightforward, yet sensitive with my case. I am confident I made the right choice by hiring Michael. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a truly experienced lawyer. Daniel
★★★★★
Michael Kraut - I cannot thank you enough for all that you did for ​my son. When I came to you I read that you used to be a district attorney but I never knew how much that meant until I watch you in court. I knew it took 3 months but the final day when I heard the judge say that all charges were dismissed it was all worth it! I will always be grateful for all that you did for us. A.N.
  • Client charged with hit and run----no longer satisfied previous law firm, client hired Attorney Michael Kraut. Result--Prosecution dismissed all charges.
  • Client charged with DUI with a blood alcohol content of .12 and dangerous driving. Result--after investigation and case preparation, all DUI charges dismissed and client pled to a non-DUI offense of simple reckless driving.
  • Client arrested for felony theft, Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers hired pre-filing. Result--case investigated by firm and client cleared of all charges. All records of arrest on rap sheet removed.
  • Client arrested for lewd conduct. Result--placed in diversion program and case dismissed with no criminal record.
  • Client investigated and wanted by the police for hit and run. Result-- Attorney Michael Kraut handles investigation with police, no charges filed and client remained in his employment.
  • Client arrested for felony narcotics with threat of imprisonment. Result--after Attorney Michael Kraut filed motion to prove police misconduct, District Attorney dismissed all charges.
  • Client arrested for robbery in a park while a police officer watched. He had several other serious priors and faced 25 years to life in prison. Client retained Michael Kraut to handle case pre-filing. Result--after negotiations with police and prosecutors, the case rejected by the District Attorney, bail exonerated and client is home with his family.
  • Client arrested for felony theft offense, Attorney Michael Kraut hired before case filed and firm intervenes with the police and prosecution. Result--one misdemeanor charge filed and client placed in a theft diversion program on first court date. Upon completion, case dismissed and client will not have a criminal record. Client retains job.
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