Fontana Criminal Defense Attorney

Any criminal charge can have a dramatic impact on your entire life. If you or a loved one face any kind of criminal charges in Fontana, CA, the Graham Donath Law Offices, APC can help. We have experience will all types of criminal cases, so contact our firm today and schedule a free case review to see if our firm can help you through your situation.

Why Hire Attorney Graham Donath?

Hiring the right criminal defense lawyer will have a significant impact on the outcome of any criminal case in Fontana. If you or a relative need a defense attorney, it is vital to find one with experience in your type of case.

• Graham Donath is a member of several legal boards and organizations in the California justice system, including the California Public Defender’s Association, California Attorneys For Criminal Justice, the Criminal Defense panel of Riverside County, and the Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside County Bar Associations.
• Our firm has knowledge in all types of criminal cases from petty theft to felony charges for violent crimes.
• Graham Donath focuses his practice solely on criminal defense.
• We offer free case evaluations to potential new clients so an individual charged with a crime can determine how an attorney might help before committing to representation.

How Our Fontana Attorney Can Help

With significant practice in the California criminal justice system, Graham Donath seeks to protect the rights of every client he represents using modern investigative techniques. He is also one of few attorneys to achieve the status of Certified Specialist in Criminal Law from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Our firm can help you determine your options for pleading down to lesser charges or gathering evidence to prove your innocence if you faced a wrongful arrest.

Cases Our Firm Handles

The Graham Donath Law Offices, APC has knowledge in all types of criminal cases in Fontana and we offer legal representation for any criminal case.

• In a DUI case, we can help a client pursue alternative sentencing or help him or her secure a diversionary program in lieu of jail time and heavy fines in some cases.
• Violent crimes. Some violent crime charges arise from misunderstandings, mistaken identity, or other complex situations and we can fully investigate your possible defenses.
• Drug crimes. We can provide legal representation to those accused of drug possession, drug trafficking, or dealing illegal drugs.
• Domestic violence. Many domestic violence issues are multifaceted and a conviction can have drastic implications on your entire life. Our firm can help ascertain the truth behind the domestic violence charges you face. Contact our Riverside domestic violence defense attorney for a free consultation.

Fontana Criminal Court Information

If you need to find out whether there is a warrant out for your arrest, you can check on the Fontana district court website or other third party public records sites, contact a local bail agency, or submit an inquiry to the local Sheriff’s department. Once you determine a warrant exists for your arrest your next move should be to hire a criminal defense attorney.

What Happens in a Misdemeanor Case?

Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies but they can still lead to significant penalties including jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges, or registration as a sex offender. After arrest, a suspect will remain in booking unless he or she posts bail or a judge allows him or her to leave on his or her own recognizance. Additionally, the judge will require the individual to return to court for arraignment. Some offenders may face very high bail amounts if they face charges of violent or otherwise serious crimes. During the arraignment, the suspect hears a formal reading of the charges in question and has the chance to enter a plea. Pleading guilty will lead to sentencing, and pleading not guilty will lead to a criminal trial.

Legal Resources in Fontana

If you or somebody you love has been arrested or charged with a crime in Fontana, California, we understand that this can be a challenging time. However, we do want to point you in the direction of some resources that may help you through this process. When you go to the Superior Court of California’s website and click on the San Bernardino County resources, you will see the following types of assistance available to Fontana residents:

• Information about paying traffic tickets or registering your citation
• Court appearance information
• The dress code for court appearances
• Directions to the court
• Drop box information
• …and more

Additionally, the website will show you the hours of operation for specific courts as well as how to make various appointments. You will also see contact information that directs you towards the individuals who will most likely be able to help you with your questions or concern.

One of the most common questions asked relates to court dates for traffic and non-traffic violations. The San Bernardino Superior Court now allows a person to reserve a court date in lieu of same-day walk-in hearings. The reserve a court date option is available online, in person, by telephone, or by kiosk.

Questions to ask a Fontana Criminal Lawyer Before Hiring

If you need to hire a criminal defense attorney in Fontana, there are various questions that you should ask before choosing a particular lawyer for help with your case. Please understand that there are many attorneys out there, but it is crucial that you have one by your side who can handle every aspect of the charges you are facing. Some of the most pertinent questions that you can ask include the following:

• What is your background and experience? When you talk to an attorney about their background and experience, this gives you a chance to ask a myriad of questions to gauge whether or not they are the right pick for you. This can include asking them about where they graduated from law school, what types of criminal cases they regularly handle, and in what courts they regularly appear. You want to gain a good understanding of the background and experience of any attorney you are considering working with.
• Do you focus solely on criminal law? Not all attorneys focus on criminal defense, so this should help narrow your options down. For example, you do not want a real estate attorney handling your DUI charge. There is nothing wrong with attorneys who focus on multiple areas of law, but you need to make sure that an attorney you choose to work with has the experience necessary to handle your particular charges.
• How much do you charge? You do need to know how much an attorney will charge for their services. In personal injury law cases, it is not uncommon for an attorney to work on a contingency fee, but that is not going to work for a criminal defense case. Make sure that you know upfront how much an attorney’s services will be.
• What do you think about the case? After an initial consultation with an attorney, you need to ask them how they feel about your situation. This is your chance to measure the attorney’s knowledge and learn about what kind of defenses they could offer in your situation. You should also speak to the attorney about whether or not they believe it is best to work out a plea deal or take the case to trial.

Facing any kind of criminal charges in Fontana, CA is a serious matter requiring experienced legal counsel. While you have the option to take advantage of a public defender at no cost, most public defenders juggle several cases at once and simply cannot provide the same personalized attention of a private firm.

If you or a loved one face misdemeanor or felony charges in Fontana, CA, contact the Graham Donath Law Offices, APC to schedule a free case review with one of our criminal defense attorneys. We will review the charges against you and let you know how our firm can help.