When you have been arrested or are the subject of a criminal investigation it very important that you get immediate legal representation!
The reason: the police often arrest or investigate without knowing all of the facts that might be helpful to your case. The police will send their report to the district attorney with a recommendation as to the charges to be filed. It is the district attorney that decides what charges will be filed but the filing will be done based upon the facts solely contained in the police report.
It is my practice, for my clients, to relate favorable facts to the district attorney that are not contained in the police report before charges have been filed. Making the district attorney aware of favorable facts may result in the district attorney not filing charges or may result in the district attorney filing a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
Another reason: when my clients are under investigation, I contact the investigating officer and inform him of favorable information that has been related to me. I attempt to get the officer to agree not to arrest my client but let my client and I appear in Court after the district attorney has filed charges. The cost of bail is saved if the Judge agrees to a release without bail.
The point: You get your best defense if you retain your attorney once you are being investigated or upon being arrested.
If you have been convicted of a criminal offense in California, either a felony or misdemeanor, and were placed on formal or informal probation and completed the probationary period without a probation violation, you are eligible to have the conviction expunged from your record.
If you were convicted of a felony, the felony conviction may be one that can be reduced to a misdemeanor and then dismissed.
Sometimes the Court will agree to dismiss a conviction even if you had a probation violation.
If you are still on probation, the Court may reduce the probation period and allow your case to be dismissed.
This legal action will help when you apply for a job or a promotion and in many other ways.
Call and I will advise you if you qualify for this record clearing procedure.