Domestic Violence in Los Angeles – California Penal Code Section 273.5 / California Penal Code Section 243(e)(1) Spousal Battery.In Los Angeles, a spousal Battery charge can be filed as a misdemeanor or, if there is significant bodily injury, then it would be filed as a felony charge. The charge is filed when force is used against a spouse or intimate partner. The misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to one year in prison.
A conviction for domestic violence can affect multiple areas of a person’s life, including professional licenses, their ability to work with children, firearms rights, and immigration status. Having a skilled criminal defense attorney working pre-filing to prevent a domestic violence case from proceeding can be critical. In many cases, these arrests may stem from a baseless accusation, and a criminal filing can have life-altering consequences for the entire family.
Theft CrimesTheft crimes in Los Angeles range from misdemeanor shoplifting and petty theft, as outlined in Penal Code Section 484(a), to complex, multi-million-dollar embezzlement schemes under Penal Code Section 503, and significant fraud offenses in violation of Penal Code Section 487. These types of crimes are often considered Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude “(“CIMT”) for immigration purposes, and having a skilled attorney on board to stop or fight charges is crucial. Kraut Law Group, Criminal & DUI Attorneys, also handles other types of theft crimes in and around Los Angeles and Southern California. Many of these cases are prosecuted in Los Angeles as White-Collar Crimes. This also includes crimes of Insurance Fraud under Penal Code Section 550, Medical Billing Fraud, Hospice Fraud, and Identity Theft prosecuted in Los Angeles under Penal Code Section 530.5(a).
Additional crimes that are considered theft crimes in Los Angeles include Robbery - Penal Code Section 211, Shoplifting - Penal Code Section 484(a), Receiving Stolen Property - Penal Code Section 496(a), Petty Theft with a Prior – Penal Code Section 666(a), Forgery – Penal Code Section 470(a), Extortion – Penal Code Section 518, Credit Card Fraud – Penal Code Section 484(e), Embezzlement – Penal Code Section 503, Vehicle Theft – Vehicle Code Section 10851and Burglary – Penal Code Section 459, and Welfare Fraud – Welfare and Institutions Code 10890(C)(2).
The majority of these types of cases are prosecuted in Los Angeles as felonies. The punishment for these crimes includes long prison sentences, loss of jobs, and in some cases, for people who are not United States citizens, immigration consequences for many people will be catastrophic.
Violent CrimesProsecutors in Los Angeles treat accusations of violent crimes very seriously, and those charged with acts of violence can face lengthy prison sentences as well as other consequences. California’s unique “Three Strikes” laws have extended prison sentences for defendants with prior “strike” offenses. In Los Angeles, violent crimes include assault with a deadly weapon under Penal Code Section 245(a)(1), assault with a firearm under Penal Code Section 245(a)(2), robbery under Penal Code Section 211, and even murder under Penal Code Section 187. Other offenses that are considered “violent crimes” include criminal threats in violation of Penal Code Section 422 and residential burglary under Penal Code Section 459, also called First Degree Residential Burglary. Personal use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime can add 10 or 20 years to a person’s sentence under the firearm sentencing enhancement under Penal Code Section 12022.53. A person who has been accused of a crime of violence in Los Angeles or whose family members have been arrested in connection with this type of offense should contact Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers immediately.
Sex CrimesIn the Los Angeles area, sex crimes can include misdemeanor offenses such as lewd conduct under Penal Code section 647(a) as well as significant felonies such as rape under Penal Code section 261 and possession of child pornography pursuant to Penal Code section 311.11. A sex crime conviction in Los Angeles can be life-altering. It can lead to severe penalties, including prison time and lifetime registration as a sex offender per California Penal Code section 290. Indecent Exposure and Lewd Conduct charges are crimes of moral turpitude and are prosecuted in Los Angeles under Penal Code Section 647(a). There may be many ways to fight your case, and having a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney on your side is crucial.