Criminal Defense Lawyer in Irvine Providing Experienced Compassionate Legal Representation to Clients Throughout Southern California
If you have been arrested in California, a conviction can result in harsh criminal penalties, such as fines and even a jail or prison sentence. In addition, a permanent criminal record can negatively impact your life, making it difficult to find work, obtain housing, or enroll in college or university. In order to avoid conviction or in hopes of having your penalties reduced to avoid spending time behind bars, you need to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer to help you.
Attorney Diane C. Bass is ready to defend you against the charges you face and help you get the best possible result in your case. With thousands of cases handled in state and federal courts throughout Orange County and Southern California, she can listen to your story, determine your available legal options, and protect your rights and best interests throughout the legal process.
Attorney Bass handles the following types of criminal cases:
- Arson, including charges which result in personal injury, death, and destruction of property.
- Assault of a police officer or other law enforcement agent.
- Child Pornography, as well as other crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
- Conspiracy, in which two or more individuals took part in a criminal scheme.
- Drug Crimes, including drug possession, distribution, and manufacturing.
- Domestic Violence, including aggravated assault, rape, and abuse.
- Federal Cases, like tax evasion charges.
- Forgery and Counterfeiting.
- Fraud, including healthcare fraud, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud, bank fraud, credit card fraud, real estate fraud, mortgage fraud, investment fraud, and securities fraud.
- Identity Theft.
- Illegal Alien Smuggling.
- Sex Crimes, including sexual battery and sex offenses which require sex offender registration.
- Theft Crimes, including bank robbery, grand theft, and petty theft.
- Vehicular manslaughter.
- Violent Crimes, including murder, manslaughter, and assault with a deadly weapon.
- Weapons Offenses, including unlicensed firearm sales or the use of a deadly weapon.
- White-Collar Crimes, including money laundering, bribery, public corruption, and pyramid schemes.
Do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Diane C. Bass, A Professional Law Corporation, today at 949-577-8368 for your initial consultation.
What is the California Criminal Defense Law?
There are two main types of crimes in California: misdemeanors and felonies. While a misdemeanor offense is not as serious as a felony case, a conviction can still lead to serious penalties, including jail time and community service.
The following are the two classes of misdemeanors in California:
- Standard misdemeanor – Punishable by a maximum jail term of 6 months and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
- Aggravated or gross misdemeanor – Carries a jail sentence of up to 364 days and/or a maximum fine of $1,000. In January 2015, the maximum sentence was changed from 1 year to 364 days, which prevents a misdemeanor offense involving “moral turpitude” from resulting in deportation under U.S. law.
On the other hand, felony charges carry much more grave consequences, including potential prison sentences and possible fines up to $10,000. For most felonies in California, each offense has three determined or fixed sentences (e.g., a low term, a middle term, and a high term.)
Felony convictions can also result in the loss of valuable civil rights, including the right to possess a firearm, the right to vote, and the right to serve on a jury. Felony convictions can also lead to the loss of professional licenses and can make it much harder to maintain or obtain employment.
Lastly, there are “wobbler” offenses, which are crimes that can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. Prosecutors decide whether to charge wobblers as a misdemeanor or felony based on the facts and circumstances of each case. If you are charged with a felony that is a “wobbler” it is possible to have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor with the help of the right attorney.
Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney for Your Case?
Whether because of a defiant belief that they cannot be convicted, or because of a need to save money, or perhaps a desire to argue their case themselves, some defendants accused of criminal charges decide not to hire criminal defense lawyers.
This is not wise.
Unless you are a practicing defense attorney yourself or perhaps a former prosecutor, do not make representing yourself in your own criminal case your first or even second option. The attorney for the prosecution will fight hard for a conviction and a tough sentence. You want a criminal lawyer who understands the complexities and seriousness of your criminal charges to represent you in a court of law.
And while it is true that the courts will, in almost all criminal cases, provide an attorney to represent clients who do not have their own legal representation, it is important to hire a criminal defense team up to the task. Some criminal defense lawyers may be lacking in experience representing clients accused of a particular criminal charge. You want a law firm and criminal lawyer who has the ability to pick apart the prosecution’s case, fight for your rights, raise reasonable doubt, and do everything within their legal powers to protect you from a lengthy prison sentence.
It is important to note that aggravating circumstances can make a ‘typical’ criminal defense case incredibly more complicated for those sent before a judge. Violent crimes like domestic violence, which result in personal injury, and sex crimes like rape, when committed along with other types of felony charges, can result in enhanced sentencing.
Confidential or sensitive information is protected by the attorney-client relationship. If you have committed an additional violent crime in the process of the crimes you are being charged for, it is vital that you discuss this with your defense attorney at the earliest possible stage of your defense.
The legal team of the Law Office of Diane C. Bass is well-equipped to help you with your criminal defense. If you would like to schedule your case evaluation, please call the Irvine, CA, law office. Your consultation is confidential, and you are not obligated to take on the Law Office of Diane C. Bass as your legal representation if you do not feel the firm is a good fit for you and your needs.
When is the Right Time to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?
The best time to hire legal representation was yesterday before you needed it. The second-best time is today, right away, as soon as you finish reading these words. Law offices that represent those accused of criminal offenses are able to provide the most thorough, well-rounded defenses for their clients when they are given more time to examine the investigation, review evidence, speak with witnesses, and learn your side of the story.
Basically, the sooner you hire an attorney to defend you from your criminal charges, the better chance you have of constructing a winning criminal defense. Police officers and lawyers for the district attorney’s office will attempt to seek harsh sentencing in a court of law. You need a defense lawyer who will protect your rights and argue for your defense just as vigorously. But you need to give that criminal defense team the appropriate time to do their work. Waiting until the last second to hire an attorney would not be advisable.
The Law Office of Diane C. Bass is one of the most highly respected criminal defense firms across Southern California. If you would like to speak with the attorney and her legal team about your criminal charges, you may contact her Irvine, CA, office to schedule your confidential consultation. If you are using the attorney’s website, you can also submit your questions online. The website’s contact form sends information directly to the law offices of Ms. Bass and her team of legal professionals, where they will then get back to you and schedule your consultation.
The criminal justice system chews up and spits people out for even the smallest legal issues or charges. While there is a push for reform on various types of criminal cases, defendant after defendant has to go through those courtrooms, fearful for their futures. As your attorney, Diane C. Bass will provide an aggressive defense against your criminal charge, doing her best to keep you out of prison and let you get back to your life no worse for wear.
Can an Attorney Get My Conviction Expunged?
It is possible for those convicted of certain crimes in California to see their records cleared. Later penalties for a criminal conviction need not harm their future prospects any longer, as they will no longer need to disclose their guilty conviction to future employers in job applications.
It is possible to file for expungement at any time after certain conditions like after the completion of parole, have been met. However, experienced law offices may be able to help you speed up the process.
Those not eligible for expungement of criminal records include those convicted for crimes of child pornography, lewd acts with a minor, certain types of sexual assault, and failure to allow law enforcement to perform a legal search of a vehicle.
In Which California Localities Does the Law Office of Diane C. Bass Practice Law?
For years, the Law Office of Diane C. Bass has long been regarded as one of the finest criminal defense law offices in Southern California.
Based in Irvine, CA, Ms. Bass and her legal team also provide services to clients in:
- Los Angeles County.
- Orange County.
- Riverside County.
- San Diego County.
The California bar exam is considered one of the most difficult to pass in the entire United States of America. The lawyers of California are well-educated in the complexities and eccentricities of criminal law. Attorney Diane C. Bass has over 25 years of criminal defense legal experience and has won many awards during that time for her commitment to providing clients with knowledgeable, dedicated care.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
A criminal conviction can have significant long-term consequences, even after you have completed your sentence. Attorney Diane C. Bass can investigate your arrest, gather and analyze evidence, negotiate with the prosecution, and help you obtain a favorable outcome. Let her legal team defend you from start to finish.
The American criminal justice system can be ruthless. If found guilty of violating criminal law, the defendant could lose rights and freedoms, affecting not only their own future but that of their family. Law enforcement police officers and prosecutors are encouraged to pursue the maximum sentences and most damning criminal charges for those brought into state and federal courts. If you do not have an experienced criminal defense attorney in your corner, your criminal case could have the power and influence to forever alter the trajectory of your life.
As your criminal defense attorney, Diane C. Bass will provide your criminal case with the personal attention it deserves. Your legal issues are no small inconvenience for you, and they must be treated respectfully by your lawyer as well. Attorney Diane C. Bass represents clients with a knowledgeable ferocity for criminal law and fierce dedication to her clients. If you are facing serious charges on misdemeanor or felony cases, please contact the Law Office of Diane C. Bass to schedule your consultation. 949-577-8368.