Orange County Three-Strikes Defense Lawyers

Which Charges Are Strikes?

California law defines a strike as any serious or violent felony. For people facing serious criminal charges in our state, that definition may still seem frustratingly vague. Fortunately, the California Penal Code lists the felonies considered serious (at sec. 1192.7) or violent (at sec. 667.5) for the purposes of the three-strikes law. The following is a partial list of crimes which, after conviction, would count as a strike:

• Murder or voluntary manslaughter
• Mayhem (cutting off, disabling or disfiguring a body part)
• Rape (including oral copulation or sodomy by force and "gang rape")
• Assault.
• Selling, giving or attempting to sell certain "hard" drugs to a minor.
• Continuous sexual abuse of a child.
• Lewd acts on a child under 14.
• Kidnapping and taking hostages.
• Robbery, bank robbery, home-invasion burglary, grand theft involving a firearm or extortion.
• Threatening witnesses.
• Attempting or conspiring to commit any strike crime.
• Any crime punishable by the death penalty or life in prison.
• Any felony committed with a firearm.
• Any felony that resulted in great bodily injury to a victim.

You may also have a strike if you have a felony conviction from another state; a federal felony conviction; or a juvenile adjudication from age 16 or older. In all of these cases, it doesn't matter whether your sentence was suspended, stayed or served at an alternative facility -- they still count as strikes.

If you're facing charges for a strike crime, you aren't necessarily facing a strike. As with all criminal cases, the prosecution must still prove that you committed the new crime. In the case of a strike from another jurisdiction, they must also prove that the old crime would have been a strike in California. And even if you're sure you'll be convicted, a smart criminal defense lawyer can help you find ways to remove the three-strikes law from the equation. Experienced criminal defenders like the California criminal attorneys at Wallin & Klarich can look for mistakes by law enforcement that could get your new case dismissed; negotiate with prosecutors to drop or reduce charges to a misdemeanor; or ask your judge to ignore a prior strike for sentencing purposes. These measures can make a substantial difference, cutting a long prison sentence in half, reducing it to county jail or making clients eligible for parole, work-release and other alternative sentences.

Wallin & Klarich has more than 30 years of experience defending Southern California clients against serious criminal charges, including "strikeable" charges for assault, sex crimes, burglary and firearms offenses. Thanks to our long experience, we understand the laws, the judges, and the juries in all of the jurisdictions where we practice, from San Diego to Ventura. We believe that all of our clients, no matter what the charge they're facing, are entitled to a thorough and assertive defense. We're proud of our strong record of successfully defending thousands of Californians against serious criminal charges. And because we understand how stressful a felony charge can be for our clients and their families, we're committed to being available to our clients at all times -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year.

If you're facing three-strikes charges in California, you need good advice and smart legal representation -- fast. The stakes are simply too high to delay. For a free consultation with the experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyers at Wallin & Klarich, call us today at 1-888-287-3485.

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.