Violent Crimes
Our experienced criminal defense attorneys have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to violent crime cases in California.
How We Defend Violent Crimes Cases
Assault, battery, robbery, and aggravated charges often arise from chaotic situations with conflicting accounts. The State will pick the version that puts you in prison.
We rebuild the moment from the ground up — surveillance, 911 timing, witness bias, and use-of-force analysis — to present the version that tells the truth.
Many violent-crime cases qualify as strike offenses under California's Three Strikes Law. A single conviction can double future sentences for life. We fight every strike allegation as if it were the entire case — because, long term, it usually is.
We also retain use-of-force experts to evaluate whether the alleged response was reasonable under the totality of circumstances. Jurors respond to a credible reconstruction of what actually happened far better than to abstract argument.
What's at Stake
- ▸PC 245(a)(1) (assault with a deadly weapon): up to 4 years in state prison
- ▸PC 211 (robbery): 2, 3, or 5 years (first degree up to 9)
- ▸PC 422 (criminal threats): up to 3 years; strike offense
- ▸PC 245(a)(4) (assault by means likely to cause GBI): up to 4 years; strike
- ▸Great Bodily Injury enhancement (PC 12022.7): +3 to 6 years
How We Fight Back
- Self-defense and defense of others
- Lack of specific intent
- Mutual combat with no aggressor
- Mistaken identification — especially in crowd or low-light incidents
- False accusation tied to ongoing dispute or motive to fabricate
- Provocation reducing the offense to a lesser-included charge
How Your Case Will Be Handled
We meet — in person, by phone, or by video — to hear your side, review every document, and identify the prosecution's theory before it solidifies.
We send our own investigators after the witnesses, the surveillance, the bodycam, and the records the State would rather you never see.
Motions to suppress, Pitchess motions, expert retention, and negotiation — every lever pulled before a jury is ever empaneled.
Dismissal, reduction, diversion, or a trial verdict — we prepare every case as if it will be tried, because the State takes notice when a defense lawyer means it.
Violent Crimes FAQs
Every Hour Matters in a Violent Crimes Case.
Speak directly with Andrei Lapine. Free, confidential, and available 24/7 for urgent matters.
Related Defense Areas
Charges often overlap. If your case involves more than violent crimes, we defend these related matters across California.
