California Third Strike Defense Lawyers

California's three-strikes law sets very high mandatory minimum sentences for certain types of repeat felony offenses, called "strikes." People with a "strikeable" felony conviction -- anything violent, serious or involving a firearm -- on their records face increased penalties for any later convictions. For any subsequent felony, no matter whether it's a strike, the time in prison they face will double. And after two felony strikes, a third felony comes with a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison. It doesn't matter whether the third felony was a strikeable offense, whether it was serious or how many years passed between the convictions. Some prosecutors simply file a case as a third strike whenever they can, regardless of the circumstances, believing they're more likely to win a conviction or look "tough on crime" this way.

Avoiding A Three Strike Law Conviction

The experienced Southern California defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich know just how serious a "strike" conviction can be. Because we've worked in California criminal defense since well before the three-strikes law existed, we've seen that not all of these convictions serve justice. That's why we do everything we can to reduce "strike" charges to misdemeanors, or change them to a non-"strike" felony, from the very beginning of the case. Our first goal is to look closely at the facts of the new case, to find any reason why the charges should be reduced or dismissed. Drawing on more than three decades of criminal defense work -- and the expertise of the former prosecutors on our staff -- we will work to find usable holes in the cases against our clients.

If our client faces a third "strike" and the prosecutors won't negotiate, Wallin & Klarich may still be able to help clients avoid overly severe three-strikes penalties. In cases where following the three-strikes law would cause an injustice, we can move to strike a prior strike. That is, we can ask the judge to ignore prior strikes during sentencing, if the third crime was not in keeping with the spirit of the three-strikes law. This allows the judge to choose to impose a dramatically shorter sentence -- just a few years in prison instead of 25 to life. That's why it's so important to retain an aggressive, highly experienced three-strikes defense attorney like the California three-strikes felony attorneys at Wallin & Klarich.

As devastating as a prison sentence can be for defendants and their families, it's not the only potentially negative consequence of a three-strikes felony conviction. Criminal convictions are also very expensive, both during the case and for years afterward, because a felony can severely affect your job prospects. Parolees are frequently restricted from owning or using guns, limiting their job and recreational opportunities. And a felony strike conviction can hurt in any family court proceedings or other legal matters.

Our California Third Strike Defense Attorneys Can Help

Wallin & Klarich has more than 30 years of experience defending criminal cases in Southern California. We believe all defendants, no matter what the accusation, are entitled to a thorough and aggressive defense. We're proud of our track record of success in defending clients accused of serious three-strikes felonies, including assault and battery, sex crimes, burglary, handgun crimes, and murder. We've won significant victories for our clients, reducing or eliminating charges, winning acquittals or reducing penalties. And because we've got decades of experience in courts throughout Southern California -- some of us as former prosecutors -- we know the judges and prosecutors in our areas very well, giving your defense an added edge.

Paul Wallin defends client accused of murder on Bill O'Reilly and puts O'Reilly in his place

How You Can Help Us Win Your Case

A client who does his homework can drastically improve their chances of a positive outcome in their case. Wallin & Klarich has helped thousands of clients win their serious criminal cases for over thirty years. Our clients MUST prepare a Statement of Case as soon as possible after they are arrested or discover they are under investigation for a possible violation of law.

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The experienced three-strikes defense lawyers at Wallin & Klarich approach every case as if we're defending one of our own family members. That's one reason why we're committed to making sure we're always there to answer your questions -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. We believe our clients deserve respect, courtesy, straight answers and promptly returned phone calls. And we maintain offices throughout Southern California -- from San Diego County to Ventura to the Inland Empire -- so we can always meet with our clients and their loved ones, wherever they happen to be. Thanks to our outstanding track record, we've won the coveted AV rating from Martindate-Hubbell, the highest rating a law firm can get.

Experience You Can Trust

As a well-established firm, Wallin & Klarich has the resources to help all types of felony defendants defend their cases. If you need an expert, we have the experience and the connections to find the right one. We have staff members who speak Vietnamese, Spanish, Japanese and Farsi as well as English, so we can communicate with members of the many diverse communities of Southern California. And because we understand that many clients can't pay for all of their legal representation at once, we offer monthly payment plans.

If you or someone you care about has been accused of a strikeable felony, you need skilled, experienced legal representation -- fast. The stakes are just too high to delay. For a free consultation on your case, call the Southern California three-strikes experts at Wallin & Klarich at 1-888-287-3485, or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form. We promise we'll be there when you call.

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach every case with the belief that the person we're defending could easily be one of our own family members. We've seen firsthand how stressful legal matters can be for our clients and their loved ones. We are committed to being available to our clients at all times -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Southern California, you should call Wallin & Klarich today for a free evaluation of your case. Call 1-888-287-3485 or fill out our online consultation form to get in contact with a legal professional today. We will be there when you call.