(818) 995-9452
Have prosecutors in Santa Monica charged you with a gun crime? California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. An arrest for a weapons offense may put you at risk of life-altering consequences if convicted.
Don’t face this challenging time alone. Instead, get the legal help you need to protect your rights, freedom, and future by reaching out to the Law Offices of Justin E. Sterling today. Our firm has earned a reputation for vigorous legal representation for clients in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. Let us put this experience to work for you. Call or contact us now.
Why You Need a Defense Lawyer for Firearm Charges in Santa Monica
After getting arrested for a firearms offense, a California gun laws attorney can help you pursue a favorable resolution to your charges by:
- Thoroughly investigating your case to recover all evidence needed to build a compelling defense
- Evaluating your legal options for favorably resolving your charges
- Contesting the prosecution’s case at each step, including filing motions to exclude improperly obtained or inadmissible evidence or to dismiss your gun crime charges for lack of evidence
- Vigorously pursuing a positive outcome to your case, even if that means going to trial to fight your charges or maintain your innocence
Common Gun Crimes in California
Some of the most commonly charged gun crimes under California law include:
- Possession of a firearm by a felon or drug abuser
- Illegal concealed carry
- Carrying a loaded firearm in public
- Possession of a firearm in a prohibited place (e.g., schools, government buildings, public transportation facilities)
- Possession of prohibited weapons, such as armor-piercing ammunition, silenced firearms, stun guns, laser pointers, short barrel shotguns/rifles, machine guns, and assault rifles
- Brandishing a firearm
- Assault with a firearm
- Shooting at occupied buildings or vehicles
- Grossly negligent discharge of a firearm
What Are the Penalties for Weapons Offenses?
The penalties for a gun crime conviction vary based on the offense and facts of the case. Most criminal statutes will prescribe the sentencing range for the crime. Sentences for weapon offenses can include incarceration in county jail or state prison, fines, or both incarceration and fines. In some cases, courts may have the discretion to sentence a defendant convicted of a weapons offense to probation instead of imprisonment. However, a defendant convicted of a felony weapons offense who has a prior conviction for a serious or violent felony cannot receive probation.
California law also imposes sentencing enhancements for possession or use of weapons during the commission of other crimes, such as during theft or sex offenses.
Get a Santa Monica Gun Crime Lawyer in Your Corner
If you’ve been charged with a firearms offense in California, you need trusted legal advice and advocacy to protect your rights and interests. Contact the Law Offices of Justin E. Sterling today for a free consultation with an experienced gun crime lawyer in Santa Monica.
