Lancaster Criminal Defense Attorneys

When a California patrolman is handcuffing you for a bogus crime, it's easy to feel daunted and want to give up. But our Lancaster criminal defense attorneys won't back down until we do everything to convince the prosecutor to dismiss or reduce your charges, and if you wish, we're always ready to go to trial for you. And if you or someone you know is still being detained at the Lancaster Jail, we're also here to direct you through the confusing California Bail process.

If you've been arrested for a criminal offense in or around Lancaster, Palmdale or Antelope Valley, please phone our Los Angeles County criminal defense attorneys right away at (888) 327-4652 for a free meeting about your case.

Lancaster Criminal and DUI Lawyer John Murray

Lancaster criminal defense attorney John Murray has thousands of criminal cases under his belt, ranging from DUI and drug offenses to simple misdemeanors and violent felonies. There's a good chance you've already seen his legal expertise at play on TV when he appears on FOX News.

Lancaster criminal defense lawyer John Murray thoroughly scours the facts of your case in order to find all the weaknesses in the state's evidence, which he then uses to try to persuade the District Attorney's Office to throw out your case or at least lessen the charges and penalties. He always aims to avoid trial, but if you want to have a judge hear your case, he's a first-rate trial advocate with extensive experience arguing in front of juries.

Los Angeles County criminal defense attorney John Murray graduated with his Juris Doctor from Ventura College of Law and his Bachelors from California State University, Northridge. His practice extends all throughout Lancaster, including Palmdale and Antelope Valley.

What Criminal Cases We Handle . . .

ALL OF THEM. No matter what you're charged with, feel free to call our Lancaster criminal defense lawyers at (888) 327-4652 for a free consultation. Afterwards, we're very happy to design a payment plan suited to your needs. Below is a short list of some of the more common cases our firm handles:

Lancaster DUI attorneys

It's not unusual for DUI cases to be dismissed completely based on mistakes the police make at the scene, such as using a faulty Breathalyzer or giving you bad instructions for the field sobriety tests. Our Lancaster DUI attorneys search for these and other holes in the state's case and use them as "bargaining chips" to try to get the charges thrown out or significantly reduced.

Lancaster domestic violence lawyers

You'd be surprised how many domestic violence cases can be resolved in the defendants' favor. Considering that family members are involved, courts realize that these cases frequently arise from pure accidents or complete fabrications, and that sometimes you simply acted in California self-defense. ¹ Consequently, it's very usual for a DV case, especially a first-time offense with little physical evidence, to be dismissed or pled down.

Lancaster drug crimes lawyers

Drug crimes can be very serious, such as selling or trafficking, or relatively trivial, such as marijuana possession for personal use (California Health & Safety Code 11357²). Either way, police often behave unconstitutionally when performing their searches and seizures of the drugs, and we've enjoyed great success in resolving drug crimes cases merely by laying blame on the misconduct of law enforcement. But know that if you are fighting an addiction, you can turn to us for help in guiding you to a rehab program.

Lancaster shoplifting lawyers

One crime you never want to have on your criminal record is shoplifting because it dissuades most future employers from even considering hiring you. So in addition to jail time and hefty fines, offenses like petty larceny, grand theft and burglary also carry the long-term potential of gravely limiting your future job choices. Therefore, our mission is to try to get your charges thrown out or changed so that your criminal record will remain free of theft offenses.

Lancaster assault & battery lawyers

Assault and battery charges are usually hard for prosecutors to prove, especially if there is little physical evidence to back up their story. Often it comes down to a matter of "he said, she said" and conflicting witness testimony. Or, like with domestic violence, the scuffle was an innocent mishap or sheer self-defense. Whatever the situation is, we'll champion your side of the story and do everything to try to have the case resolved in your favor.

Lancaster juvenile criminal lawyers

Young people who are arrested in Lancaster are typically detained not at Lancaster Jail but instead the Eastlake Juvenile Hall before having their charges heard at Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center. Our Lancaster Juvenile defense lawyers work tirelessly to resolve these matters so that your child can leave Eastlake Juvenile Hall and return home and to school as soon as possible with minimum long-term consequences.

Lancaster "Three Strikes" lawyers

Even if your third offense was for something minor like petty theft or trespass, it can still land you in jail for an unfairly lengthy amount of time under California law. Therefore, it's vital you call our Lancaster three strikes lawyers as soon as possible after your arrest to help you try to outsmart the system and avoid a three-strikes conviction.

Arrested in Lancaster, Palmdale or elsewhere in the Antelope Valley?

Then pick up the phone and call our Lancaster criminal defense & DUI lawyers at (888) 327-4652 to set up a FREE consultation. Our work is to try to keep you out of jail and resolve your case so you can get on with your life as quickly as possible.

Lancaster Criminal Defense Legal Resources on the Internet

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Lancaster Branch - The L.A. D.A. prosecutes felony and many misdemeanor matters in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lancaster Station - The Lancaster Sheriff's Station provides local crime statistics and contact information for local police, who can also give you details about the California bail process.

Los Angeles County Probation Department - The Probation Department oversees the probation of defendants who have pled to or have been convicted of felonies.

Michael D. Antonovich Lancaster Courthouse - The Lancaster Courthouse hears criminal matters related to incidents allegedly occurring within the city limits, including Palmdale and Antelope Valley.

Los Angeles County Bar Association - The L.A. Bar supplies general information on local attorneys, judges, courts as well as several different pro bono legal services.

Legal References

¹A legal use of California self-defense is when you reasonably believe that you're in immediate danger of being injured, that immediate force is necessary to avoid the danger, and you use no more force than necessary to defend yourself against the danger.

²To be convicted of California Health & Safety Code 11357, the prosecution has to prove not only that you had marijuana in your possession but also that you knew about it.