Beverly Hills Criminal Defense Attorney

Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney

Facing a criminal charge and conviction can be devastating, and knowing what to do to protect your rights and your future is imperative. You will need someone in your corner who understands California criminal law and has the experience and skills to provide you with the legal advice and aggressive representation crucial to your case.

The stakes have never been higher than when charged with a serious crime. Hurwitz Law Group understands how important your next steps will be and is ready to defend your rights and increase the chance of a favorable outcome.

Secure Legal Representation From a Beverly Hills Criminal Defense Attorney

Secure legal repesentation

Seeking a Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney to represent you can initially seem overwhelming, especially if this is your first offense. Here is how we can help your criminal case.

Legal Consultation and Case Evaluation

The Hurwitz Law Group offers a free consultation and case evaluation, where you can get to know our law firm and what we can do for you. We value the attorney-client relationship and will always respect and protect your privacy. During the legal consultation and evaluation, we will review your case, ask questions, listen to you, and explain what legal options are available to fight the charges.

Investigation and Evidence Gathering

Our criminal defense lawyer will take the initiative to conduct a thorough investigation, which may involve interviewing witnesses, gathering mitigating evidence, and utilizing the court's subpoena power to obtain relevant records or information. By carefully examining all the evidence, our attorney will provide informed advice and recommend our client's most suitable course of action.

Plea Negotiations

Once you are formally charged, we will enter negotiations with the District Attorney and seek to reach a plea bargain, with the goal of either dropping or reducing the charges. We will aggressively seek a minimum sentence in your criminal case if the case cannot be dropped and will work tirelessly to produce the best possible outcome.

Court Representation and Defense Strategies

Your criminal attorney will make all court appearances as required in your case. If an amicable plea bargain cannot be reached, we will confidently proceed to court, where we will relentlessly hold the prosecution to its burden of proof. We will use proven defense strategies for the type of crime you are being charged with and utilize our knowledge of California law to the fullest.

The criminal defense attorney with Hurwitz Law Group in Beverly Hills is already familiar with the legal process and has experience working with judges and prosecutors in the Beverly Hills area.

Bail and Pretrial Release Assistance

Following your arrest, we will attend bond proceedings and request that you be released. This pretrial release assistance is an important part of the legal process, ensuring you are not required to stay in jail until the time of a trial, which can be months away.

California Criminal Law Facts

If charged with a crime in California, it is important to know certain criminal law facts to help you avoid feeling intimidated by the process and to protect your rights. These facts include the following:

  • Arresting police officers only conduct investigations into crimes and gather evidence. They are not responsible for choosing who will be charged or what offense(s) an individual will be charged with.
  • The prosecuting attorney will determine whether or not an individual will be charged and prosecuted.
  • If prosecuted, individuals can choose between jury trials or bench trials where a judge determines innocence or guilt.
  • The burden of proof will fall entirely on the prosecution, and it must be proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the individual accused committed the crime.

The Criminal Justice System and Defense Process

The criminal justice system and defense process

Waiting is often the hardest part when it comes to learning whether you are being charged and what your ultimate fate will be. The criminal justice system can seem intimidating if you are unaware of how the legal process works. To help, we provide the information below so you can better prepare for the months ahead.

  • Arrest and Release: Upon arrest, you enter the criminal justice system and will proceed through an established chain of procedures. After being booked, arrestees often are released after posting bail or on their own recognizance. No bail is granted for those that are deeded flight risks or are suspected of violent crimes, and they will remain in custody.
  • Arraignment: The first court date is called arraignment, and this is where you are formally charged with a crime. Either you or your private attorney must be present. If neither are present at this arraignment or any court hearing, a bench warrant for your arrest will be issued. Your attorney, however, can submit a motion to recall the warrant and attend a court hearing before the judge.
  • Negotiations: Before your case proceeds to trial, your criminal defense attorneys and the prosecuting attorneys for your case will often enter negotiations in an attempt to reach a resolution, which may be to dismiss or reduce the charges against you. These negotiations can continue for weeks or months or may be resolved in a few days, all depending on the type of criminal charges and the circumstances surrounding your case.
  • Plea Bargains: In many criminal cases, if the case has not been dismissed, a plea bargain may be on the table. If so, it will require that you, as the defendant, plead no contest or guilty to a certain criminal charge(s).
  • Sentencing: Once you agree to a plea bargain, sentencing will commence by the judge assigned to your case. The judge may agree with the recommended sentence in the plea bargain or reject the terms altogether. Sentencing can include jail time and fines, or you may be placed on probation. If you get probation, you will need to meet all the terms of that probation in order to avoid doing any time. Once your probation term is completed, your criminal case ends.

Your legal representation and criminal defense can begin immediately following your arrest or wherever you may be in the criminal justice process.

Common Beverly Hills Criminal Cases We Handle

The legal team with Hurwitz Law Group handles the following types of criminal offenses.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Driving under the influence

Driving with a BAC (blood alcohol level) measuring .08% or higher in California is a chargeable offense. Whether it is your first DUI or you have several already on your record, our law firm knows the steps to take to protect your rights. When a DUI is combined with a traffic accident with personal injury, additional steps will need to be taken, including establishing liability. We represent both misdemeanor and felony DUI clients.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence cases often involve the arrest of one or both parties and can potentially be filed as a felony in Beverly Hills. The prosecuting attorney can proceed with your case even if the other party chooses not to press criminal charges. A skilled defense attorney with Hurwitz Law Group will always seek to challenge these criminal charges, which can lead to them potentially being rejected or reduced.

Seek a free consultation for domestic battery, spousal abuse, intimidation, stalking, restraining orders, child endangerment, or child abuse.

Drug Crimes

Drug crimes

Arrests for using, possessing, or selling illegal narcotics or legally controlled substances without a prescription are classified as drug crimes in California. Law enforcement officers won't hesitate to arrest anyone suspected of these crimes, and you need to know your legal options as early on as possible.

Prosecutors will often seek felony charges for drug crimes in which they claim to have evidence for the selling or transporting of drugs, and when this happens, you can face severe criminal penalties. The law firm of Hurwitz Law Group is knowledgeable and experienced in California drug law and will examine all evidence, investigate on your behalf, and build a defense strategy based on your specific circumstances.

Restraining Orders

Seeking protection from the Beverly Hills court often comes in the form of restraining orders. These restraining orders are filed when an individual feels harassed or fearful due to abuse, sexual assault, violence, stalking, or unwanted communication.

A Domestic Violence Restraining Order may be obtained against a current/former spouse, partner, or close relative. Civil Harassment Restraining Orders may be filed against a roommate, neighbor, friend, distant family member, or other individual.

To obtain a restraining order, Hurwitz Law Group will help to prove that the person has already harmed you or has threatened to do so or has harassed you to the point that you now feel annoyed or scared in their presence.

Sex Crimes

Sex crimes

Charges for sex crimes can bring serious penalties and also have wide-ranging consequences, such as damaging your personal and professional reputation. Our Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney will seek to have these charges reduced or dropped and build a defense strategy to meet the specific circumstances of your case.

Sex crimes include aggravated sexual assault, rape, child molestation or pornography, human trafficking, indecent exposure, and more. Penalties can be severe, whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony, and you need a defense strategy built specifically for your case.

Expungement

Your criminal record stays with you long past the arrest data and can affect numerous areas of your life. You can, however, often expunge older criminal convictions with the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer knowledgeable in statutory law.

Hurwitz Law Group will file for an expungement with the court and represent you in any required court hearing before a judge.

What To Do If You Are Charged With A Crime in Beverly Hills, CA

What to do if you are charged with a crime

If you are charged with a crime in Beverly Hills, do your best to stay calm and remain silent. Avoid commenting or making any statements to law enforcement officers or the criminal prosecution, as you may potentially incriminate yourself. As soon as possible, contact a criminal defense law firm in Beverly Hills and request a consultation and case evaluation.

Once you learn your legal options, work closely with your attorney to gather evidence and build a defense strategy that will give you the best chance of a more favorable outcome.

Penalties for Criminal Conviction

Penalties for criminal convictions will vary depending on the crime you are being convicted for and whether or not it is a misdemeanor or felony. Misdemeanor penalties usually include a jail sentence of one year or less and a fine. For felonies, there is the potential sentencing to state prison, which can be for three, four, or five years.

However, California has a Three Strikes Law with a progression of penalties to include the following:

  • Strike 1: Normal statutory penalties for a first serious or violent felony conviction.
  • Strike 2: Mandatory doubling of the normal statutory penalty for a second serious or violent felony conviction.
  • Strike 3: Mandatory sentencing of 25 years to life for a third serious or violent felony.

Criminal defense lawyers can inform you of the penalties you may face and your legal options.

Our Beverly Hills Criminal Defense Attorney at Hurwitz Law Group Can Help You | Call Us Today!

Our Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney

If you are facing criminal charges in the Beverly Hills area, your entire life can change in an instant. Seeking legal advice and aggressive representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney is the most important action to ensure your rights and future are protected.

Call Hurwitz Law Group today and schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.

What Makes Us a Trusted Choice?

Brian Hurwitz Has 10+ Years of Criminal Defense Experience

Our Firm Is Top-Rated & Award-Winning

Affordable Fees and Payment Plans

We Are Available 24/7 for All Clients
Thousands of Cases Handled

We Offer No-Cost, Confidential Phone Consultations

Contact Us
If you or a loved one needs the assistance of our criminal law attorneys, please feel free to contact in the way that is most convenient to you, whether that is calling us at (323) 310-9677 or completing the contact form below. All fields are required.


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