Best Criminal Defense Attorney in Encino, CA
Ronald D. Hedding has been practicing in Encino, California, for over 30 years. He started in early 1999 defending people for crimes across Los Angeles, and his office is based explicitly in Encino, California.
If you or a loved one is charged with a crime and you're looking for a lawyer who services the Encino area, you've come to the right place. Any crime that is committed in Encino is going to be prosecuted in the Van Nuys Superior Court. However, I have seen some cases end up in downtown Los Angeles at 210 West Temple, depending on the nature of the case.
Whether it is a celebrity case or a severe sex crime case, I've seen those cases dealt with out of the downtown branch office of the district attorney's office. The DAs are the ones who decide where felonies go, and the city attorneys are the ones who choose where misdemeanors go.
I started working for the District Attorney's office in East Los Angeles in 1992. Then, in 1993, I worked for a Superior Court Judge in Burbank as his right-hand man, researching cases and helping him draft opinions on cases he had on his docket. Then, in 1994, when I passed the bar and became a criminal defense attorney, I opened up my criminal defense practice in Encino, California. I have been doing it ever since, handling thousands of cases over many years.
I have you come in and meet with me face to face. Or, if you prefer, we can talk about your situation over the phone. Once I evaluate it, I will quote you a fee. We will talk about the strategy moving forward. Once you hire me, I will begin working on your case and achieve whatever goal or result you and I have agreed on. We will review everything related to your matter under the cloak of the attorney-client privilege.
That involves getting the discovery, investigating the case, filing applicable motions, negotiating with the prosecutors sometimes, and sometimes fighting the case at a preliminary hearing/ trial. It depends on your case type, whether the prosecutor has evidence against you, and what strategy we decide to employ.
Well Known By Judges and Prosecutors
Encino covers a good-sized part of the San Fernando Valley. Any criminal case in the Encino jurisdiction of Los Angeles County will be filed in the Van Nuys courthouse. My main office is at 16000 Ventura Boulevard in Encino. I've been there for almost 30 years, handling criminal cases. I'm very well-known in the Van Nuys courthouse.
I'm very well-known in the criminal defense community, which is one aspect you need in an attorney; if you want the best, they're known and respected in the community where the crime occurred.
When I say known, I mean prosecutors understand who I am. Judges know who I am. My father is also an attorney. He has the same name as me. We have different middle names. So, it's pretty unique that two Ronald Hedding's are practicing in the Encino area and going to Van Nuys for a long time, where we're well-known and well-respected. So, that's box number one that you need to be checked, that's somebody:
- who is well-respected,
- who is well-known,
- someone local, and
- knows the area and the courthouse where your case is pending.
That's critical when talking about the best criminal defense attorney in Encino.
Over 200 Jury Trials
I think the next thing you need to look at is the person's skill level:
- How many trials have they done?
- How much success have they had?
- How many cases have they negotiated in the courthouse?
I've handled thousands of cases in the Van Nuys court. I've done over 200 jury trials. I've done jury trials in every courtroom in the Van Nuys courthouse.
So, you have somebody who has success. I'm probably approaching 400 to 500 ratings in the various entities that rate people if you look at my ratings online.
Whether on Google, Avvo, or any other big rating companies, you want somebody known in the community. You also want somebody with the skill level and experience you'll need to have the best attorney for you and your case if that's what you're searching for.
Domestic Violence Case in Encino
Suppose you or a loved one was arrested in Encino, California, for a domestic violence charge. In that case, you want to make sure that you get a criminal defense attorney who is local to that area. I've had my office in Encino on Ventura Boulevard for decades. Your case will likely be sent to the Van Nuys courthouse. I've handled thousands of cases there.
So, if you've been arrested for domestic violence, you need the best, you've had to post bail, and you have a court date pending. Call me, and we will talk about whether or not they can prove that you committed a domestic violence case.
Whether there are any injuries in the matter, whether they can prove that you're the one that caused the injuries, and what we can do moving forward. How are we going to handle bail when you appear in court? How will we handle a potential protective order being placed against you related to the alleged victim in the case where you're not allowed to come within 100 yards of them?
We are going to handle the potentially dire consequences of having a conviction for a domestic violence matter on your record, facing jail time, facing probation, and several other consequences.
Strategy If You've Been Arrested for DUI
For those people who have been arrested for a DUI in the Encino area, your case will likely be headed to the Van Nuys courthouse. You will be prosecuted. The Judge can set bail at that time, and they can also order other things like AA meetings while the case is pending. Usually, that depends on your blood alcohol level – how high it was – and, of course, what type of attorney you hire to help you.
So, suppose you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI; it was in the Encino area. In that case, you need a lawyer that you can meet with and talk to and someone you can trust who knows what they're doing to help you start to take control back – when I say that, it was a horrible feeling, I'm sure, when you were arrested, thrown in the back of a police car – you lose control. You need an attorney to start to fight back for you.
We'll check every avenue available to defend your case successfully. If you can fight the case in a jury trial, we will set up your defense – investigate the case and be ready to go. If, on the other hand, the police have the evidence against you and you need to negotiate and mitigate the case, we will send out a mitigation package.
This will consider your driving record, reputation, and, of course, your freedom. Nobody wants to go to jail for a DUI. Some people don't even realize that a DUI is a misdemeanor crime that goes on your permanent record. I've had just about every DUI situation you can think of, handling thousands of cases over my career, ranging from death on the road to a hit-and-run circumstance to just the usual run of the mill where they're just looking at your blood alcohol level to assess how dangerous you were on the road and determining how to take care of your case.
Encino Murder Defense Lawyer
If you or a loved one is being charged with Penal Code 187 PC murder and you're based out of the Encino area, you've come to the right place. I've handled thousands of cases, along with many murder cases and jury trials and negotiations.
We will sit down and go over the case. If you're the loved one of the person charged with murder, or if you're the actual person charged, we will meet. The attorney-client privilege will protect you. If necessary, I can visit people in the county jail, whether in the county jail, Twin Towers, or Wayside.
All you have to do is pick up the phone and set up a meeting. Once I'm retained, I will get all of the paperwork on the matter and all evidence related to the matter and begin the process of the best defense possible.
Attorney Whom You are Comfortable With
The last thing, and probably the most important, believe it or not, is you want to feel comfortable with your attorney. Don't be tricked by these law firms where they put an attorney out there.
They put that attorney's credentials and how long that attorney's been practicing — but when you either call or go in there, you won't deal with that attorney. You're going to deal with some other attorney. That attorney doesn't even practice criminal defense. You might think that doesn't exist, but it does exist.
Several law firms are set up on the premise that the lead attorney doesn't go to court and practice criminal defense and instead uses inferior attorneys to do the job. You don't want that. You want the attorney you're hiring to be involved in your case.
High-Profile and Celebrity Cases
If you or a loved one needs a high-profile criminal defense attorney because you have a matter where you were arrested in Encino, California, you have come to the right place.
I've handled thousands of cases over the last 30 years, including many high-profile murder cases, sex crime cases, domestic violence cases, and any case you can think of.
You'll meet with me under the cloak of the attorney-client privilege in my Encino office in the Penthouse Suite #1208. We will review your case and design a plan to put you in the best possible position. We'll decide whether the case will be fought at a jury trial or whether it is a situation where we need to mitigate it with character letters and other things pertinent to your case, your situation, and your career.
My office has been a staple in the Encino community for decades. It is based on Ventura Boulevard between Haskell and Hayvenhurst. Part of that building was filmed during the movie “Scarface,” so it is a famous area. I know how to do things with discretion and effectiveness. We can develop a game plan to get you the best possible result.
The other thing we need to evaluate is whether or not it is a case that needs to be resolved through a negotiated plea. When you leave my office, you will begin taking control back of your life because when someone is arrested for a criminal offense, facing time in jail, facing career-altering consequences, they want to make sure they get the best possible criminal defense attorney to help them.
Criminal Attorney for California Crimes
You'll have that with the Hedding Law Firm. You'll have that in Ronald Hedding, and I think when you come in and sit down with me, and we meet face to face and talk about your case, you're going to feel comfortable with me.
You're going to feel that I know what I'm talking about. I know what I'm doing. I work hard, and I'm genuinely trying to help you. You now have the necessary components to make the right choice in hiring your Encino criminal defense attorney.
When you feel comfortable with the attorney, the judge will feel comfortable, the prosecutor will feel comfortable, and you will have the best result in your case.
So, if you're looking for the best in Encino, you've come to the right place. Pick up the phone. Make the call. Ask for a meeting with Ronald Hedding. I stand ready to help you.
Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436. Contact our office for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0940.
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