Riverside Criminal Defense Lawyers

First And Second Strikes

California's three-strikes law doesn't add any special penalties for a first felony conviction, even if it counts as a strike. A first strike is charged and sentenced in the same way as any other felony conviction, without the sentence enhancements that second and third strikes bring. For that reason, people facing a first conviction for a strike crime may not believe there's any special urgency to their cases. Unfortunately, the consequences of even one strike conviction are so serious that this simply isn't true. Each time you face charges that could lead to a strike, you're facing charges that could eventually get you a life sentence.

The trouble is the way the three-strikes law works. If you've been convicted of just one strike, the sentence for any later felony is doubled. That's true even when the felony isn't serious or violent. That means that after just one strike conviction, the sentence for a home burglary could be as high as 12 years, even if no one was home at the time. Selling marijuana with one strike conviction on your record could land you in prison for up to eight years (more if some special circumstances apply). You must serve at least 80% of these sentences under the three-strikes law, regardless of your behavior in prison or other circumstances.

If you face charges that would be a second strike, the stakes are even higher. If you're convicted of the second strike, of course, the sentence doubles just as it would for a non-strike conviction. But even worse are the consequences for future legal trouble. If you have two strikes on your record, any future felony conviction could send you to prison for 25 years to life. For example, this means that a conviction for vandalism costing $400 or more worth of damage, which is normally a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, could land you in prison for life. Again, a third-strike defendant must serve at least four-fifths of the sentence before parole.

The best way to avoid the severe, life-changing consequences of a three-strikes conviction is to avoid having one. Wallin & Klarich can help. After more than 30 years defending Southern Californians from serious criminal charges, our Southern California strike crime defense lawyers understand how to work with prosecutors, judges and juries to reduce or change your charges. Our first priority is always to scrutinize the facts of your case, to see if there are law enforcement mistakes or omissions that could get it dismissed. We are proud of our strong record of success in defending against these types of serious criminal charges. And because we understand how stressful criminal charges can be for our clients and their families, we're committed to always being available to you: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

If you're facing three-strikes charges in California, your future and your freedom are at stake. With so much to lose, you need expert legal advice from the experienced three-strikes defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich. For a free case evaluation, 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.