Our Barstow criminal defense lawyers are devoted to getting our clients’ felony, misdemeanor, and infraction charges lessened or dismissed. We serve clients all throughout California’s San Bernardino County, including Adelanto, Apple Valley, Big Bear Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley.
Experienced criminal defense representation
Our Barstow criminal defense and DUI lawyers defend against all kinds of charges in San Bernardino County. Common cases we handle are:
- Bail reduction hearings
- Criminal record expungements
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes, such as drug possession (HS 11350)
- DUI, including the DMV license revocation hearing
- Fraud, such as credit card fraud
- Hit and run (VC 20002)
- Lewd conduct
- Probation-violation hearings
- Sex crimes
- Shoplifting and other theft crimes
- Traffic violations, such as speeding tickets
- Violent crimes, such as assault and battery (PC 242)
- White collar crimes
Barstow Jail
People arrested in Barstow will be booked at the Barstow Police Department, located at:
220 E. Mountain View
Barstow, CA 92311
(760) 255-5111
Search for inmate information here.
Barstow Court
Traffic matters are handled at the Barstow Courthouse, located at
235 East Mountain View St.
Barstow, CA 92311
(760) 718-3700
Criminal cases are typically handled about a half-hour away at the Victorville Courthouse, located at:
14455 Civil Dr.
Victorville, CA 92392
(760) 245-6215
Search for case information here.
Criminal court process
When suspects get placed under arrest in Barstow, they will most likely be allowed to bail out or be released on their own recognizance. Should the District Attorney’s Office pursue criminal charges, the court will schedule an arraignment to formally charge the defendant. If the defendant hires a private attorney, the defendant can usually miss arraignments. But if the defendant has no attorney, he/she must appear in person.
Missing any required court hearing will result in the judge issuing a bench warrant for the person’s arrest. This warrant remains outstanding until the defendant files a motion to quash the warrant and appears in court. Though in some cases, the defendant’s private attorney can appear at the court hearing on his/her behalf.
Once the arraignment is over, the case enters the pretrial phase. This is when the prosecutor and defense attorney go back-and-forth, negotiating a possible resolution. If the defense attorney can show prosecutors that their evidence is too weak to sustain a guilty verdict, the prosecutor may be willing to drop the charges. Even if the D.A. has a strong case against the defendant, prosecutors may be willing to reduce the charges as part of a plea bargain just to avoid going to trial.
Judges appoint public defenders to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford private counsel.
Defendants charged with a felony are entitled to a preliminary hearing. (The only exception is if the defendant was indicted by a grand jury.) “Prelims” are like miniature trials where the judge determines if the prosecutors have sufficient probable cause to keep pressing charges. If the defendant prevails, the court will dismiss the charge. If not, plea bargain negotiations continue. The case will go to trial if the two sides cannot agree on a resolution.
If a defendant gets convicted of a crime – whether at trial or through a plea – the judge will hold a sentencing hearing. In many cases, the defendant may be able to avoid doing any time behind bars by going on probation. Probation is common in many misdemeanor cases, including DUI.
Typical probationary terms are paying court fines, paying victim restitution, completing counseling, completing an education class, and staying out of trouble by avoiding further run-ins with law enforcement. But if the defendant violates any of these terms, the judge has the discretion to remand the defendant to jail.
Call our criminal defense law firm for legal advice. Our law office offers free consultations on your legal matters.
Our Barstow criminal defense attorneys and Barstow DUI attorneys have years of experience providing legal help to people facing criminal charges, from traffic tickets to homicide. We create attorney-client relationships throughout California, including Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Indio, Fullerton, Van Nuys, Ventura, Torrance, Pasadena, Long Beach, Inland Empire, Pomona, Orange County, Temecula, and more. Our practice areas include personal injury, family law, and estate planning as well as criminal matters and DWI/DUI cases.