Violent crime cases are tried more often than almost any other category of criminal charge. They involve the most serious sentencing exposure, the most committed prosecutorial resources, and juries who are inclined, before hearing any evidence, to treat the charge itself as significant. They also involve facts — eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, surveillance footage — that often tell a more complicated story on examination than the government’s initial narrative suggests.
Practice Areas Within Violent Crime Defense
Mark’s violent crime practice encompasses matters at the state and federal level, including:
- Homicide and attempted murder
- Assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault
- Robbery and carjacking
- Gang-related charges and gang enhancements
- Federal firearms offenses (18 U.S.C. §§ 922, 924)
- Kidnapping
- Three Strikes cases
These cases require a defense that starts at arraignment and builds toward trial as a primary assumption — not a last resort.
Where Violent Crime Defenses Are Won
Prosecution narratives in violent crime cases are built to persuade. Effective defense requires identifying precisely where they are vulnerable: eyewitness reliability, chain of custody for physical evidence, forensic methodology, the applicability of self-defense or other affirmative defenses, the element of intent, or identity. A case that appears strong at the preliminary hearing can look different by the time every piece of evidence has been examined under the right pressure.
Three Strikes Sentencing
California’s Three Strikes law imposes a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life for a third felony conviction when two prior serious or violent felonies are on the record, and a doubled sentence for a second strike. Understanding the prior conviction record and whether a Romero motion asking the court to strike a prior in the interest of justice is appropriate requires careful legal analysis before any plea or trial decision is made.
Trial Representation
Mark is a trial lawyer. He has cross-examined law enforcement witnesses, forensic experts, and eyewitnesses. He prepares every case with trial as the working assumption.
Call (310) 880-7120 for a direct consultation.