San Fernando Criminal Defense Lawyer
This is the question you should be contemplating if you have a criminal case pending in the San Fernando Courthouse. There are several considerations you should consider when hiring the best attorney.
The primary question is whether the subject attorney is a well-respected “local” insider. Suppose your attorney appears in court regularly where your case is pending. In that case, they will be in the best position to know the tendencies of the judge and prosecutor and how best to advise you about the resolution of your issue.
In criminal defense, understanding the political landscape and knowing whom to deal with and whom not to deal with is crucial. The other essential piece of the equation is an attorney who can negotiate and fight a case if necessary. Suppose the prosecutors know that your attorney is a formidable advocate for their clients and will file all the required motions, conduct a vigorous investigation, and tear the proper case apart piece by piece. In that case, they will think twice before unreasonably dealing with you.
San Fernando Courthouse
900 Third Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(818) 256-1800
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What Can We Do To Help You?
With a local criminal defense law firm that appears in the San Fernando Courthouse on a daily basis, you can rest assured that we are well-known to the prosecutors, judges, and court staff. Our experience, dating back to 1994, and the connections we've developed over the years are invaluable in helping clients who need our assistance.
I encourage you to contact our firm and schedule a free, confidential, face-to-face consultation with one of our attorneys who has experience in the court where your case is pending. This will provide you with valuable insight into how the San Fernando Court system works. Once we are familiar with your case and specific set of circumstances, we can design a plan to resolve your matter in the best possible manner.
Our experience is unparalleled – you can view our credentials on the home page of this website. The key to our success in the San Fernando Court is our in-depth understanding of the local legal landscape, which we have gained through years of experience. The Hedding Law Firm, a family business, is equipped with a team of attorneys ready to represent your interests and vigorously fight for your rights, reputation, and freedom.
Being charged with a crime, especially if you are unaware of your rights and legal options, can be devastating. People charged with serious theft crimes, sex crimes, drug crimes, and violent crimes face life-changing legal consequences if they are convicted.
With the severe legal penalties, it is in the best interest of individuals to consult with a reputable San Fernando criminal defense attorney when charged with a crime. A criminal defense lawyer can review the person's case, protect their rights, and provide valuable insight throughout the legal process.
When you evaluate a courthouse in a criminal defense setting, you have to look at the temperament of both the judges in the courthouse and the District Attorney's Office. This attitude towards crime can make or break your client's case. There have been some very harsh judges in the San Fernando court. There have also been some tough head prosecutors. If the Head DA is challenging in a courthouse, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Deputy District Attorneys will be challenging.
These regimes control how justice is dispensed in the criminal court and can affect how people are treated and what happens to them regarding jail time and their criminal record. In my experience, producing over 300 court appearances last year alone, the San Fernando Courthouse today has a very even temperament across the board.
In my experience, producing over 300 court appearances last year alone, the San Fernando Courthouse today has a very even temperament across the board. The judges are fair but firm, and the District Attorney's Office is also fair, in my opinion, and will listen to the defense's arguments when resolving a case.
However, make no mistake: If you are charged with a serious crime and your conduct is viewed as egregious, you had better find an attorney quickly who knows how to maneuver around this courthouse. A seasoned, savvy attorney who knows how to maneuver around the San Fernando Courthouse can employ many practical strategies and get you the result you need.
Process for a Felony Case
Sometimes, it helps to know what you face when charged with a felony crime in the San Fernando Court system. This section is designed to give you a sense of what you are up against, so you are not caught off guard when you enter the court system. It does not cover every situation, but it serves as a good starting point in your mission to break free from the criminal system. I suggest supplementing your education on the criminal legal system by meeting with a criminal defense attorney who has had success in court in cases similar to yours.
Once a person is arrested, they either post bail, in which case they are given a future court date approximately 30 days in the future, or they remain in custody and appear in court within a couple of days. This could be longer than the weekend, or a holiday is involved.
The first appearance in a criminal case is referred to as an arraignment. In San Fernando, you will appear in Department “S” on the first floor, and the judge will set your bail. Sometimes, it will be what you've already posted, while at other times, the judge can either raise or lower it, depending on what the prosecutors file against you. Your attorney will be given the complaint with the charges against you, along with the police report that supports those charges.
Once the judge calls the case, the new court date is set. Your attorney usually orders a probation report to assist in the negotiation/resolution process. There are several different strategy options depending on the charges and your case matrixed. This means the trial court will ultimately end if it is not resolved. If the case is not resolved through a plea bargain, it will be set for a preliminary hearing. This proceeding involves the prosecutors calling witnesses (like a mini-trial), and your attorney can cross-examine each witness. The judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to bind you to the trial court.
If the prosecutors can bring sufficient evidence for each charge against you, they must show there is a reasonable suspicion that you committed each direction. The prosecutors will have the right to have a trial for each count. At any point along the way, both sides can agree to a disposition. If the case is not dismissed and no resolution is agreed upon, the patient will proceed to trial, and a jury or judge will determine whether the person is innocent or guilty of each charge.
Along the way toward trial, your attorney can investigate any allegations against you, obtain any special reports by experts if appropriate, and file any motions relevant to your case. Each criminal case spins on its facts, and your attorney is the one who must make the proper decisions on how your case should be prosecuted.
District Attorney Dictates Policy
I've been practicing in the San Fernando Valley for almost 30 years. In 1992, I worked as a research attorney for one of the judges at the Burbank courthouse. So, I've got a good background as far as knowing how judges will view cases, what they're going to do, what their tendencies might be, and that's important if you've got a criminal case in the San Fernando Valley that you need help with.
Also, in 1993, I worked for the District Attorney's office in East Los Angeles, which gave me some good perspective on:
- how the District Attorney's office prepares cases,
- what they do,
- what type of an angle do they take when they're trying to negotiate a case?
- what type of angle do they take when trying to get a conviction in a case?
As far as the San Fernando Valley Courts go, I would consider the Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena parts of the Valley. Additionally, the Van Nuys and San Fernando courts are located within the San Fernando Valley.
Malibu used to have a court, but it has since been closed, so those cases have been divided between the Van Nuys courthouse and the Airport courthouse. The Valley courts, I would say, are pretty much the middle of the road, and sometimes they get a little bit harsher. Sometimes, they become more accessible, depending on who the District Attorney's office decides to staff each court with.
In other words, when you're talking about severe cases and how harsh a particular courthouse is in the Valley, you're going to look at the top of the DA's office. The head DA is typically going to dictate policy.
New DA More Lenient on Crime
We have now covered the entire Valley and the rest of Los Angeles County; a new District Attorney has taken over. He has stated that he will be much more lenient on crime. So, that person has enrolled and been admitted to the Valley courts. Of course, it depends on:
- the type of crime,
- who the victim is,
- whether it's a sex crime,
- whether it's a murder, or
- whether it's a theft crime or some other less serious crime from the District Attorney's viewpoint. He has put out a number of different policies. Some deputies are following the guidelines outlined in the letter.
When it comes to assessing whether the Valley court that your case is pending in is a harsh one or not, you first have to look at how your case is going to be dealt with. In other words, are you going to go to a jury trial? Then you're going to need to look at the jury pool and see if they're conservative and tough on crime, and that will give you an idea of how harsh that jury pool is.
For example, Van Nuys is likely a more manageable jury pool to deal with than San Fernando. San Fernando draws its jurors from Canyon County, Valencia, and that area, while Van Nuys is more closely linked.
Jury Trial vs. Plea Bargain
Long story short, when it comes to assessing whether or not a courthouse is harsh, first look at how you're going to fight the case. Are you going to fight it by trying to do a jury trial, or are you going to fight it through a negotiated plea?
If it's through a negotiated plea, probably 95% of the cases filed in San Fernando at the criminal level are handled by those courts in the Valley.
This includes Van Nuys, San Fernando, Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena—the courts are pretty reasonable.
There are some harsher courts in Los Angeles County. There are approximately 30 courts in LA County, so you can guess, depending on where the court is, the type of jurors there are, which will give you an idea of how harsh they are.
So, if you need a criminal defense lawyer who knows the Valley well — I've been practicing there for over 30 years. I have an office in Encino, located on Ventura Boulevard. Pick up the phone. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. I stand at the ready to help you.
Hedding Law Firm is located in Los Angeles County, and we offer a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0940, or you can fill out our contact form.
Great Case Results in the San Fernando Courthouse
Over the past 25 years, I have been involved in some unforgettable courtroom battles at the San Fernando Courthouse. It is my favorite courthouse because of the powerful, successful memories and results I have achieved. Achieving results in any courthouse requires thorough investigation, diligent work, and strategic planning. There is no easy road to success. To win a case in the San Fernando Courthouse, you need experience and the ability to present your client's story in the best light possible.
Some cases should be tried before a jury, while others should be negotiated to achieve the best possible deal. It takes years of experience dealing with criminal defense cases from the perspective of defending a client. I am not very impressed when a former prosecutor tries to claim they are a good choice as an attorney. I will take a seasoned criminal defense attorney over someone who has been putting people away for years.
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT SAVED MY CLIENT A DECADE IN PRISON
Some years ago, I had a client charged with kidnapping and facing life in prison. Our position was that the main witness against my client was a drug dealer who had double-crossed my client during a drug deal and then used the police against him when my client asked for his money back and claimed he had been kidnapped when things did not go his way.
Unfortunately, the prosecutors had the evidence against my client, so he had to take a ten-year deal. They forced my client to stay in the trial of his co-defendant and had agreed that right before the jury decided on the case, my client could plead to ten years. I had been trying to prove that the alleged victim was a drug dealer for many months before the trial. However, the alleged victim refused to give my investigator a statement, lied to the police about his involvement with my client, and claimed he was an innocent victim.
Once I got to cross-examine him at trial, I was able to get him to admit that he had admitted to the prosecutor that he was a drug dealer and that my client was angry with him because he had cheated him in the drug deal. This was the information I had been trying to get for almost a year! I approached the judge and told her that the prosecutor had violated his duty to turn over that statement before the trial.
The jury was dismissed, a mistrial was declared, and the judge ordered the head prosecutor to her chambers. My client was given probation and released in the end.
MAJOR EMBEZZLEMENT CASE DISMISSED!
In 1997, I had a client charged with embezzlement from a central college campus. The story was in the press, and she and Fernando's courthouse had jurisdiction over the case. After a hard-fought two-day preliminary hearing, the case was ultimately dismissed by a 995 motion in the trial court.
This case was an example of a sloppy investigation exposed under blistering cross-examination. The police had not taken the time to review all the allegations and verify the key witnesses' involvement in the case. Some of the witnesses had committed worse offenses than the client was charged with.
This is an example of a citizen being put through the scrutiny of the press and the stress of being charged with a significant felony, facing multiple years in prison, and having no actual evidence in hand. The defendant's crucial piece is always having an attorney who knows the court system and can effectively take the police and prosecutors to task when the time is right.
HIGH-PROFILE MURDER CASE – CLIENT FOUND NOT GUILTY BY A JURY
Approximately ten years ago, a horrible crash in the San Fernando Valley led to a death and a murder charge against my client. There was a chase on city streets where speeds reached more than 100 miles an hour, culminating in a red light being run and a very unfortunate incident. After a week-long trial, the jury returned a not guilty verdict. The key argument that I made the difference between murder and vehicular manslaughter and save my client from a life sentence was that she did not know the full gravity of the actions she set in motion.
To imply malice for purposes of a murder charge in a scenario like this, the prosecutors must prove that this particular defendant knew and weighed the consequences of such dangerous activities. Even though the result was horrible, the prosecution could not present sufficient evidence to prove that this young woman truly appreciated the risks of her actions.
CLIENT CHARGED WITH A THREE-STRIKES CASE FACING 25 TO LIFE GETS PROBATION
This particular client submitted a review on AVVO related to his unbelievable result. He was a person with an extensive criminal record, and the prosecutors were fed up with him and wanted him to serve many years in prison. I convinced the judge to take a chance on him, and she gave him a probationary deal and a drug program. She did warn him that if he ever came before her again, she would max him out.
Not too long ago, we appeared in court for a progress report, and the judge praised my client for his great work of staying on the right path. This is a challenging outcome all around. It is extremely difficult for someone hooked on drugs with a criminal record to turn things around so drastically. This is an example of a person who finally said, 'Enough is enough,' and believed they could turn the corner. A judge gave them a chance to change and become better people.
NOT GUILTY BECAUSE OF INSANITY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER
This case involved my client's severe mental issues, which led to him hallucinating and firing a weapon at his neighbor's home and striking someone in the leg with a bullet. Usually, if convicted, he would be looking at life in prison. However, we were able to get expert doctor reports that established he did not have the mental capacity from the specific intent to kill for purposes of attempted murder.
This saved the client a sure life sentence and gave him a chance to deal with his mental condition, and if he can overcome it, he will one day be released from a mental hospital. It is not uncommon for police and prosecutors to proceed on a short course of action against a person without doing the necessary investigation to ensure that the charges are appropriate under the circumstances of a particular case.
Believe it or not, some prosecutors secretly believe that there should be no defense attorneys and that the judge should decide what happens to people charged with crimes. This emphasizes the importance of having a seasoned criminal defense attorney who will fight for you in San Fernando or any court in Los Angeles County.
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON CASE – CLIENT RECEIVES PROBATION AND DRUG TREATMENT
My client mixed multiple drugs and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, he woke up hallucinating and believing someone had broken into his home and was going to kill him. He retrieved his shotgun and fired multiple rounds at the phantom assailant. His neighbors called 911, and when the police arrived, they arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon because he shared several common walls with neighbors who lived near him in his condo complex.
The case was eventually set for trial in the San Fernando Superior Court, as prosecutors sought to send him to prison for his conduct. Once the judge realized that the defense had a solid mental reason, he offered to resolve the case and gave the defendant a drug treatment program, no jail time, and probation. In my opinion, the preparation swayed the judge to resolve the matter favorably for my client.
MAJOR THEFT FROM A LOCAL SAN FERNANDO MORTUARY
In a high-profile case, my client was charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a local mortuary and faced multiple years in prison and a destroyed record. We ultimately reduced her case to a misdemeanor and dismissed it. The client had a family and a bright future that was saved because we knew how to put together a mitigation package and convince the judge and prosecutor to give her the break of a lifetime.
CSUN BASKETBALL PLAYER CHARGED WITH SERIOUS THEFT – NO JAIL TIME, MISDEMEANOR, AND ULTIMATE DISMISSAL!
My client was a student at California State University and a basketball player who was charged in a theft case along with other students and basketball players. He had no record, and I convinced the Head District Attorney in the San Fernando Courthouse to give him a break. She set it up so that the case could ultimately be dismissed, leaving my client with a clean record.
Even though things started off looking bleak and the case was highly publicized, through hard work, strategy, and knowing who to talk to at the right time, the client ultimately achieved an unbelievable result that eventually enabled him to complete college and move on to a successful life.
DUI CASE DISMISSED AFTER POLICE DECIDE TO CREATE THEIR OWN RULES FOR PULLING PEOPLE
I recently had a case dismissed in the San Fernando Courthouse after filing a motion based on an illegal stop of my client's vehicle. The police in the San Fernando area decided to start pulling over cars with paper dealer plates, under the theory that car thieves were stealing cars, removing the license plates, and placing paper plates on them to evade police detection.
Once the judge realized what they were doing, he also realized that this gave the police the green light to pull over anyone who had purchased a new car. This type of behavior violates the United States Constitution and can not be tolerated. The search was ruled illegal, and all the evidence was thrown out; the case was subsequently dismissed. Even though the client was guilty of DUI, the police found out by violating his constitutional rights.
The History of the San Fernando Court
The San Fernando Courthouse has been around for many years and has undergone numerous renovations and additions to its infrastructure. In 1994, the Northridge earthquake severely damaged the courthouse, causing it to remain closed for several months. At that time, many of the buildings surrounding the courthouse were used to continue the courthouse's business.
I recall practicing criminal defense at that time, as the court personnel were frequently reassigned to accommodate the numerous criminal cases. Today, I continue to appear in the San Fernando Courthouse on a weekly and even daily basis, and I can tell you that the courthouse remains very busy, handling hundreds of cases per month. It is staffed by the District Attorney's Office, which prosecutes felonies, and the City Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanors.
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