Criminal Law

Los Angeles County and Orange County

Criminal Law Attorney

Legal Solutions for Southern California
Aggressive Representation

If you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of a crime in California, we urge you to exercise your right to remain silent and seek legal advice immediately.

Firm founder Laurence B. Donoghue of the Law Offices of Laurence B. Donoghue is a former state and federal court prosecutor who has over thirty years of experience as a lawyer, much of which was spent handling complex litigation in the United States Department of Justice and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

He is a Los Angeles criminal law attorney with actual experience in all areas of criminal law and California criminal procedure, including criminal investigations, representing clients at trial, handling sentencing hearings, and pursuing appeals. In addition, he has a great deal of experience in deportation defense.

Contact us now for a free half-hour consultation. Members of our staff speak Spanish, Tagalog, French, and English.

Important Note about Plea Bargaining:
Be very cautious about entering ANY agreement to plead guilty or no contest:

• The prosecutor has to prove each and every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Every conviction, whether from a jury, guilty plea, or no contest plea, is a life sentence in that it will have a lifetime effect on your employment, licenses, and credit.
• If you are not a United States citizen, make sure you know what the immigration consequence might be before deciding what to do with your case. Be sure to obtain the advice of an immigration attorney such as Laurence Donoghue. A slight change in your charged offense or sentence could make a huge difference in any deportation consequences.

Our criminal defense services include the following misdemeanor and felony criminal charges:

Arson - What the fire was set to and the intent of the offender are important factors in getting charges dropped or lowered. Aggravated arson is punishable by imprisonment from 10 years to life, and can count as a first-, second-, or third-strike conviction.

Assault and Battery - Who was assaulted, by what means, and what injury was inflicted are important factors getting charges dropped or lowered. Aggravated mayhem--intentionally causing permanent disability or disfigurement—is punishable by life imprisonment.

Burglary - Burglary of an inhabited dwelling is first-degree burglary, while vehicular and commercial burglary are second degree. The offender had to have the specific intent to take property or commit another felony at the time of entry.

Firearms and Weapons Charges - The use of any weapon in the commission of an offense will increase that offense’s severity and sentence. Merely having a firearm or weapon in your possession is almost always a criminal offense, no matter how innocent your reason was.

DUI Drunk Driving and Drug Offenses

Juvenile Offenses - Juvenile law has consistently become harsher in terms of philosophy and sentence severity. Parents are required to attend the proceedings and may also face fines, restitution, and court costs.

Murder and Manslaughter - Because of the severity of these charges and the potential sentences—including the death penalty—an aggressive defense, including vigorous use of pretrial motions, investigation, and discovery, is essential. Sometimes only a very slight reinterpretation of the circumstances can make the difference between the death penalty, 2nd degree murder, manslaughter, and acquittal.

Robbery - This offense is more complicated than usually thought. There are several nuances that an attorney needs to consider before deciding what to do with your case.

Sex Offenses

First, Second, and Third Strikes - A first and second strike occurs for each conviction of a ‘serious’ or ‘violent’ felony as defined in Penal Code Sections 1192.7 and 667.5. If a defendant has one prior strike, the sentence in the current case will double. If a defendant has two or more prior strikes, the sentence in the current case could be life imprisonment.

Theft Offenses – Since a wide variety of charges and sentences are available to the prosecution, it is critical that an accurate evaluation of what occurred and what consequences resulted are presented to the prosecutor. Theft convictions should never be taken lightly, considering lifetime consequences to employability, securing licenses, qualifying for security clearances, financial standing, and other opportunities.

Traffic Violations - The worst response to any traffic offense it to ignore it. Failing to appear in court can turn a no-jail infraction into a one-year misdemeanor, in addition to increasing the penalty and legal costs.

White Collar Crimes

If you have been accused of any crime, contact us now for a free half-hour consultation.