Sexual assault is an umbrella term that includes a wide range of crimes that involve sexual conduct of a non-consensual nature. No matter what type of sexual assault you’re accused of, the effects can be life changing. It’s common for the accused to want to hide under a rock to avoid the allegations but the truth is that you need to fight for the best possible outcome. Working with an experienced sexual assault defense attorney is the first step to beginning that fight.

Potential consequences of a conviction

You already know that these charges are serious but at Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell, we can’t stress enough just how seriously you must take the allegations. While the punishment for any particular conviction of sexual assault will vary based on the specific crime committed, whether or not weapons were used, how violent the act was, and how much harm was inflicted, punishments range anywhere from a year in county jail to decades in state prison.

In the event that a gun was used during the commission of felony sexual assault, you could be facing sentencing enhancements for using a gun, which can add even more prison time. In some cases, a non-violent crime, such as statutory rape between a minor and an adult that’s no more than three years older than the minor, can be charged as misdemeanors. Registering as a sex offender is a requirement for some specific crimes, though a judge can mandate it for anyone they think needs to register.

It’s not all bad news: You have defense options

Of course it’s scary to learn about the potential consequences of these crimes but the good news is that when you work with an attorney like Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell, you will have options. The best way to defend you will vary based on the specific charge and the evidence against you. In some cases, we may work to prove that the sexual activity was consensual.

We may also work to prove that you weren’t the person who committed the crime. Perhaps the charges were made up because the alleged victim wanted something from you, or perhaps the alleged victim simply identified the wrong person and there’s someone out there who should be standing trial in your place.

When there’s a preponderance of evidence against you, we may work for a plea bargain. Our goal is always to find the best possible outcome for you, which may mean attempting to have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor or finding a creative sentencing option. The first step is to call us at 909-920-0908 for a free case evaluation. We can give you advice on your specific case – all you have to do is call.

There are many attorneys out there but you can count on Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell to thoroughly investigate all the evidence, to fight tirelessly for your rights, and to keep you in the loop at all times. These are serious crimes and you need a serious attorney. Contact us today for more information.

There’s no question that being convicted of fraud has the potential to be a life-changing experience. That’s why if you’ve been accused of fraud, your next phone call should be an experienced California fraud defense attorney. Read on to learn more about the potential consequences and defense options and then contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 for a free case evaluation.

The legal definition of fraud may surprise you

According to California law, fraud is any act that a person commits in which they intend to get a benefit that’s either unfair and / or undeserved, while also causing a loss to someone or harming someone. The California penal code actually has a long list of fraud types, from insurance fraud to credit card fraud, from mail fraud to internet fraud.

In most cases, the purpose of fraud is to profit, though in other cases the purpose may be to avoid being held criminally responsible for something else. No matter what type of fraud you’ve been accused of, or why you may or may not have committed it, Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell can help.

The potential consequences of a fraud conviction

Since there are so many types of fraud, it stands to reason that there would be a wide range of penalties as well. The consequence of a particular case will vary based on whether it’s charged as a felony or misdemeanor, as well as your criminal record (or lack thereof) and the magnitude of the fraud. Generally speaking, you should expect there to be jail time and steep fines if you’re convicted. In California, your property or assets that were obtained due to the fraud can also be confiscated.

There are a number of legal defenses

The first step when you’re charged with fraud is to contact a criminal defense attorney. When you contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell, we’ll assess your situation and come up with the best defense for your unique case. This may involving proving that you weren’t actually the person who committed the fraud. We may work to accomplish that by creating doubt about eyewitness testimony, or by pointing out that the evidence against you is circumstantial and could prove the guilt of someone else.

We may also work to show that entrapment was used to get you to commit the act that’s deemed fraudulent. Another option is to show that you didn’t act with the intent to commit fraud. For a fraud conviction, the prosecutor must prove not just that you took place in an illegal activity but that you did it with the intent to defraud someone to get benefits for you or someone else, and to deprive someone else of those benefits. If we can show that any of that isn’t true, then the charges may be dropped entirely.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation

You have options in California defense attorneys but Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell offers the unique background of an MBA and experience in criminal and business law. This means he understands even the most complicated cases involving fraud and is ready to take on your case. Call our offices today at 909-920-0908 for a free case evaluation.

California has a long list of laws that affect the legality of owning and using weapons. Many of these laws are very technical and can be confusing. Some laws are specific about what types of weapons it’s legal to own, others cover who can carry gums and where they can carry them, while others affect how guns must be carried. If you’ve been charged with a weapons-related offense, read on to learn about your options and then contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell for your free case evaluation.

The consequences of a weapons charge conviction can be significant

Due to the fact that there are so many different weapons related charges means that the potential consequences can vary significantly. For example, a charge of selling a gun with a license, carrying a firearm illegally, owning an illegal firearm, or firing a weapon from a moving vehicle are all very different crimes.

The consequences for any particular alleged crime will vary based not just on the crime itself but also on your previous convictions for weapons charges. When guns are used in conjunction with committing another felony, such as burglary, the sentence could be enhanced under California law that allows a judge to sentence a person to prison for a decade for using a gun, two decades if they fire that gun, and 25 years to life in prison if they seriously hurt someone with that gun.

There are defenses to weapons charges

The right way to defend you will depend on what you’re charged with. In some cases, it’s simple – for example, proving that you actually owned a gun you’re accused of not legally owning – while others can be complicated.

Some other defense options include proving that the weapon in question didn’t belong to you and that it was in your possession without you knowing it. We may also work to have the weapon thrown out if it wasn’t obtained illegally. Of course, depending on the evidence against you, the right way forward may involve finding the best plea deal possible. In some cases, we can have a felony reduced to a misdemeanor so that the consequences are significantly reduced.

Call today for your free case evaluation

When you’re working on a defense against a weapons charge, it’s important to have an attorney who understands and has experience with these technicalities. You’ll find just such an attorney in Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell. With years of experience, a commitment to your cause, and a fierce ability to find the right way forward, we look forward to learning more about your case and finding the best possible outcome. To get started with your free case evaluation, simply call Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 right away.

The state of California defines child abuse as willfully inflicting cruel and inhuman punishment or injury on a minor. However, it doesn’t not apply to actions that were part of what the courts deem a reasonable disciplinary action. For example, choking, burning, kicking, pushing, a child would be considered child abuse, while spanking would not typically be considered abuse. If you’ve been accused of child abuse for any reason, then you have a defender in Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell.

The ins and outs of child abuse are complicated

A child abuse case in California can have a lot of nuances. One thing to note that is that it’s not necessary that the person charged meant for the result of their action to happen. The only thing the courts care about is the fact that the accused meant to commit the action that eventually lead to an injury.

As an example, if a parent yanks their child’s shoulder and it ends up being dislocated accident, then it may still be charged as child abuse despite the fact that the parent didn’t have any intention of hurting their child. On the other hand, a person who elbowed their child in the face on accident wouldn’t be guilty of child abuse because they didn’t intend to do it.

The consequences of child abuse are significant

Depending on the accused’s criminal history and the evidence against them, they may be charged with felony or misdemeanor child abuse. In most cases, prosecutors want to be seen as acting aggressively on child abuse charges so they’re likely to charge it as a felony.

A person convicted of misdemeanor child abuse can spend up to a 364 in county jail. A person convicted of felony child abuse may spend as long as six years in prison. If they have a previous conviction of child abuse, then they could be looking at up to ten years. Both misdemeanor and felony charges can come with fines of as much as $6,000.

There are defense options

The unfortunate truth is that allegations of child abuse are often not true. The child may be making them up because they’re angry, jealous, or something else. A relative may encourage the claims due to their own ulterior motive. When a criminal defense attorney represents someone who’s been accused of child abuse, they are likely to first consider if someone is providing false information.

We will also work with experts to see if the injuries could have been the result of a simple, normal accident and not abuse. It’s also possible that we’ll argue that you were acting within your rights to discipline your own child. If there’s a lot of evidence against you, then we may work to find the best plea bargain possible. No matter what the situation is, you can call 909-920-0908 today to get a free case evaluation.

When the dangerous driving of a person leads to someone else’s death, vehicular manslaughter may be charged. In some cases the person was driving illegally, in other issues they were following laws but was doing so in a dangerous and / or negligent way. This can be an extremely serious charge – especially if you’re charged with other crimes along with it.

A common co-charge is a DUI. In the event that a person is drunk or under the influence of drugs, and they get into an accident in which another person dies, that charge can be gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. In the event that the defendant has already had one or more DUIs on their record, it may even be charged as second degree murder. No matter what the situation is, if you’ve been charged with vehicular manslaughter in California then you need to contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell as soon as possible.

Potential punishments for vehicular manslaughter

A conviction for vehicular manslaughter can range anywhere from one year in jail to ten years in prison. If a DUI was involved and the defendant has one or more DUIs in their past, then they could be looking at 15 years in prison or even a life sentence. Judges can add all sorts of additional requirements too, like restitution to the victims, license restrictions and / or suspensions, DUI probation, and community service. These restrictions can be added whether the defendant is being charged with a felony or a misdemeanor.

You do have defense options

It can feel as though this is a hopeless situation but if you’ve been charged with a California vehicular manslaughter charge then the first thing we’ll do is to investigate who was to blame for the accident. In many cases, Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell will hire experts who can reconstruct the accident and confirm or deny that you were responsible for the accident.

We may also look for new eye witnesses. If there was DUI involved in your case, then we may work to argue that you weren’t over the legal limit. If you were under the influence of drugs then we may work to prove that those drugs weren’t impairing your driving. If successful, these tactics could reduce your charges down from gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated to vehicular manslaughter. The result would be a much less severe punishment.

Call us today for your free case evaluation

There are many technical aspects to a successful defense against vehicular manslaughter. Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell has years of experience exploring every possible option for a case. Call us today at 909-920-0908 for your free case evaluation. Together you and Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell will decide if the best option is to fight the charges or seek an advantageous plea deal.