CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Representation for California Criminal Allegations
Based in San Francisco, RV Litigation Group PC represents people facing criminal allegations throughout California. We review the actual charge, court papers, release conditions, and evidence to identify the decisions ahead. Financial investigations and business-related criminal allegations are addressed through our White-Collar Defense practice.
PRACTICE AREAS
How We Can Help
DUI / DWI Defense
Review of driving, chemical testing, and the separate criminal and DMV proceedings.
Domestic Violence Defense
Defense of domestic battery and injury allegations, with separate attention to protective orders.
Drug Crimes Defense
Possession, sale-related allegations, searches, and eligibility for applicable alternatives.
Theft & Property Crimes
Review of the alleged taking, consent, intent, valuation, and the specific theft theory.
Assault & Battery Defense
Assault and battery charges carry serious penalties. We defend against simple assault, aggravated assault, and assault with a deadly weapon allegations.
White-Collar Crime Defense
Embezzlement, fraud, money laundering, and corporate crime charges require sophisticated defense strategies. We handle complex financial investigations.
Federal Crime Defense
Federal investigations and charges, with attention to the governing statute and procedural stage.
Vandalism Defense
Property damage allegations, the required mental state, ownership, and supported repair amounts.
Weapons Charges Defense
Possession, carrying, prohibited-status allegations, and the particular state or federal restriction.
Fraud Defense
Financial-fraud allegations involving transactions, documents, accounts, and the applicable state or federal theory.
Juvenile Crime Defense
The juvenile justice system focuses on rehabilitation, but the stakes remain high. We advocate for young people facing delinquency proceedings in California.
Sex Crime Defense
Charge-specific review of evidence, consent where relevant, and potential collateral consequences.
Hit and Run Defense
Knowledge of the accident and the distinct duties for property damage or injury.
Restraining Order Defense
Review of protective-order terms, requests, and allegations of violating an existing order.
Probation Violation Defense
The operative supervision conditions, alleged breach, compliance records, and available court options.
Expungement / Record Clearing
Eligibility and limits of dismissal, sealing, reduction, and other record-related relief.
Murder Defense
Causation, mental state, identification, and the prosecution’s specific homicide theory.
Manslaughter Defense
Voluntary, involuntary, and vehicular theories, with distinct mental-state and causation questions.
Robbery Defense
The alleged taking, possession, force or fear, identification, and timing of intent.
Carjacking Defense
Vehicle possession, force or fear, intent, and the sequence of the alleged taking.
Burglary Defense
The location, entry, and alleged intent to commit theft or another felony.
Kidnapping Defense
Movement, force or fear, consent, and any aggravated statutory theory.
Arson Defense
Fire origin and cause, identity, and the distinction between malicious and reckless burning.
Criminal Threats Defense
Words and context, required intent, seriousness, and reasonable sustained fear.
Stalking Defense
The alleged course of conduct, credible threat, account attribution, and any protective order.
Identity Theft Defense
The identifying information, alleged use, consent, and unlawful purpose.
Forgery Defense
Authority, authenticity, the alleged act, and intent to defraud.
Embezzlement Defense
PC 503 embezzlement and misappropriation of entrusted funds. We challenge trust relationships and intent.
Grand Theft Defense
The theft theory, property, valuation, and current classification rules.
Shoplifting Defense
Commercial entry, business hours, intent, value, and current theft provisions.
Conspiracy Defense
The alleged agreement, target offense, intent, and applicable overt-act requirement.
Resisting Arrest Defense
Alleged resistance, delay, or obstruction and the lawful performance of official duties.
Disorderly Conduct Defense
The specific offense, public location, observed conduct, and required safety or obstruction element.
Trespassing Defense
Access rights, permission, notice, conduct, and the requirements of the charged subsection.
DUI with Injury Defense
Impairment or alcohol-level allegations, additional driving conduct, injury, and causation.
Reckless Driving Defense
Driving conditions and evidence of the required disregard for safety.
Evading Police Defense
Pursuit signals, intent to evade, driving conduct, and any damage or injury allegation.
Driving on Suspended License
The DMV status on the driving date, reason for restriction, knowledge, and notice.
Drug Possession Defense
Knowledge, control, usable quantity, testing, and the basis for the search.
Drug Sales Defense
Alleged transactions, possession for sale, and transportation-for-sale requirements.
Methamphetamine Defense
Substance identification, possession, and the evidence supporting any sale allegation.
Child Abuse Defense
Injury, endangerment, or corporal-punishment allegations and their different mental-state requirements.
Perjury Defense
The exact statement, oath or declaration, knowledge, materiality, and context.
UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL DEFENSE
What Happens in a California Criminal Case?
In a California state criminal case, the prosecution must prove the charged offense. Potential consequences depend on the statute, facts, prior record, and disposition. Federal and juvenile proceedings use different frameworks and are addressed on their linked pages.
RV Litigation Group PC represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony allegations throughout California. Our approach begins with the actual charges, the evidence and the decisions ahead, including release conditions, hearings and potential resolution.
The outline below explains common stages. The actual charging route, custody status, waivers, court orders, and applicable rules determine the sequence and timing in a particular case.
THE CRIMINAL PROCESS
The Stages of a Criminal Case in California
Initial Contact and Release
A case may begin with an investigation, citation, arrest, or filed charge. Counsel reviews the available papers, custody or release status, and any restrictions requiring immediate attention.
Arraignment
The court addresses the charge, plea, representation, and applicable release issues. Dates and obligations must be checked against the actual case; arraignment is not the only event that can trigger a deadline.
Evidence and Pretrial Proceedings
Counsel reviews discovery and potential motions. A felony may involve a preliminary hearing or an indictment route, with possible waivers and other procedural differences. The relevant issue is what evidence supports each allegation and whether it was lawfully obtained.
Evaluating a Proposed Resolution
A proposed agreement should be compared with the evidence, available defenses, sentencing exposure, and collateral effects. Diversion or a reduced charge is not automatic. The decision requires the actual terms and the client’s informed consideration.
Trial
If the case proceeds to trial, the prosecution must prove the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Preparation includes admissible evidence, witnesses, motions, and the instructions applicable to the charged theory.
Sentencing and Further Review
After a conviction, sentencing and any available review depend on the offense, findings, record, and procedural history. Appeal or post-conviction options have their own requirements and deadlines.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Key Takeaways for California Criminal Cases
Dates Depend on the Proceeding
Court appearances, response obligations, speedy-trial rights, and filing limits arise under different rules. Custody, waivers, orders, and the charge can change the analysis; bring every notice for review.
Compare Options Before Deciding
A negotiated proposal may avoid disputed issues but can create lasting consequences. Evaluate what must be admitted, the expected obligations, and the alternatives before deciding.
Identify What Must Be Proved
At a criminal trial the prosecution bears the burden of proving the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Each element and any fact-supported defense should be assessed separately.
Preserve Evidence Early
Recordings, messages, location information, and physical evidence can be lost or overwritten. Identifying preservation needs early helps counsel evaluate the available proof.
WHY CHOOSE US
Our Approach to Criminal Defense
Evidence Review
We assess the evidence tied to the allegations and identify gaps, preservation needs, and whether witness or expert work would assist the defense.
Resolution Analysis
We review any proposal against the evidence, legal issues, potential consequences, and the client’s priorities.
Hearing and Trial Preparation
Preparation focuses on the issues the court must decide, the admissible evidence, and the requirements of the applicable charge.
Clear Communication
We explain the procedural stage, outstanding information, and decisions requiring the client’s attention.
CHARGE-SPECIFIC REVIEW
Different Allegations Require Different Questions
Conduct, intent and the surrounding circumstances
Criminal statutes identify particular acts and mental states. An assault or battery allegation requires a different analysis from robbery, even when both arise from one confrontation. A theft matter may turn on consent and intent, while forgery may require examining authority to sign and intent to defraud. The detailed pages explain the facts and evidence that distinguish these theories.
Evidence and lawful collection
Identification, witness accounts, original communications and technical records should be evaluated for what they actually establish. A separate question is whether a search, seizure or questioning complied with the applicable rules. Suppression may affect the available evidence; a factual defense addresses whether the remaining proof establishes the offense. Neither issue should be assumed from a short description of the arrest.
The criminal case and related obligations
A protective order, DMV proceeding, probation allegation or licensing issue can require attention alongside the criminal charge. Later record relief also has separate eligibility rules and limits. Identifying these matters early helps connect a proposed resolution with its practical consequences.
Prepare for the First Review
Bring the papers that identify the actual charge and every upcoming date. The name of an allegation in a report or conversation may be different from the filed count. Existing court orders and release conditions deserve review even while the facts are disputed.
California Examples
Marin County — Hypothetical
After a San Rafael confrontation, a person receives a criminal citation and a separate protective order. The review would distinguish the offense elements from the order’s immediate restrictions and preserve complete recordings.
Orange County — Hypothetical
An Orange County driver receives both criminal papers and a DMV notice after a stop. Counsel would identify the evidence and separately review the two proceedings and their notices.
These fictional examples illustrate review questions, not firm cases or predicted results. County names identify settings; the firm’s office is in San Francisco.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring for a criminal case review?
Bring the citation or complaint, court notices, release conditions, protective orders, and a short chronology. Identify available recordings, messages, witnesses, and any related DMV or other proceeding.
Do I need a referral?
You may contact RV Litigation Group PC directly to request a review of a California criminal matter. Acceptance depends on the matter, conflicts, scope, and a written engagement.
Are all consequences listed in the criminal statute?
No. Immigration, licensing, registration, firearm, and other effects can involve separate rules and must be reviewed before a proposed disposition.
Does the county determine the elements of the offense?
California state-law elements do not change merely because an allegation arises in a different county. Local scheduling and procedures can differ; federal and juvenile matters use different frameworks.
Legal Resources
General information, not advice for a particular case. Specific charges, current law, and the actual court record govern the analysis.
California Courts — Criminal court · United States Courts — Federal criminal cases
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Contact RV Litigation Group PC to discuss the charge, court papers, and decisions ahead.
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