From a strike on your record to potential sentencing enhancements, a conviction for a violent crime can have a serious impact on your life.
Under California law, a violent crime can be any number of offenses, as defined by Penal Code 667.5(c). Some are unsurprising, such as murder, assault, sexual assault, and armed robbery. But you may be surprised to learn that other crimes are considered violent offenses under California law, such as other types of robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, extortion and mayhem.
A conviction for any type of violent crime in California can have serious, life-changing consequences for your life. That is why it is vitally important that you contact a criminal defense attorney in San Diego CA as soon as possible after you are charged with a violent crime. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the complicated legal process, and can protect your legal rights — and your freedom.
Punishments for Violent Crime
As discussed above, California law defines violent crime broadly. Each of the listed violent crime carries its own potential prison sentence and fines. However, on top of these punishments, you could be facing additional consequences if you are convicted.
The primary concern with violent crime cases is that the prosecutor will request a sentencing enhancement. Depending on the facts of the case, an enhancement could be added to make your prison sentence longer. This is usually done because of your prior criminal record or because of something about the present case. For example, if the victim suffered great bodily injury, then the sentence could be enhanced by anywhere from 3 to 6 years. If you used a gun during the commission of the crime, then the sentence could be increased by as much as 10 to 20 years. If there is any evidence of gang activity associated with the crime you were charged with, the prosecutor may seek a gang enhancement — which will result in an automatic sentence of 15 years to life.
California is also known for its “three strikes” law. Under this law, if you have three qualifying criminal convictions on your record, you will receive a sentence of no less than 25 years to life in prison. A conviction for a violent crime counts as a strike for purposes of this law. It will also likely lead to future sentencing enhancements, in the event that you are released and charged with a crime in another case.
Having a conviction for a violent crime can make it incredibly difficult to secure employment after release, as you will likely be required to disclose the fact of your conviction to employers. Potential employers may be reluctant to hire someone who has a criminal record that includes a violent crime. You will also likely be barred from owning a gun for life. Because the potential consequences for a violent crime conviction are so incredibly high, it is all the more important that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. In San Diego, CA, the Chambers Law Firm offers highly-skilled, aggressive legal representation. Our team will fully investigate your case to develop the best possible legal and factual defenses to the charged crime, and will work to have the charges reduced or dismissed prior to trial. With experience handling all types of criminal cases, including violent crime, the Chambers Law Firm is an excellent choice for anyone facing violent crime charges in San Diego or the surrounding areas. Contact our office today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
