LONG BEACH CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

If you are facing criminal charges, or an investigation that may lead to criminal charges being filed against you, in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, or anywhere in Southern California, the Law Office of Richard L. Poland understands your situation and stands ready to rush to your aid.

Richard Poland has over four decades of experience in handling a wide variety of criminal cases and is fully familiar with the details of the California criminal code. Over the years, he has earned the respect of his clients and of his peers and built a proven track record of success.

At the Law Office of Richard L. Poland, we work hard to defend the rights of each and every client the way we ourselves would want to be defended were our positions reversed. We put ourselves in our clients' shoes and fight tenaciously and skillfully for their future and are not satisfied with anything less than the best possible outcome to every case we take up.

The Value of Experience in Criminal Defense

Long Beach and L.A. County have no shortage of criminal defense attorneys for defendants to choose from—there are literally thousands of such law firms operating in the area. The fact is, however, that many defense attorneys are novices and many others have a dismally poor record of success in the courtroom.

Richard Poland, however, is a criminal defense attorney who has been in the business for over 40 years. His long experience has taught him how to win cases by following such practices as these:

• Giving his personal attention to his clients, never passing them off to an associate after the initial interview to be all but forgotten.
• Preparing early and thoroughly for every case. This includes assembling evidence and witnesses in your favor, finding ways to challenge police reports and other evidence being used against you, forming a solid legal defense, and anticipating and countering the likely strategy of the prosecutor.
• Keeping up to date on all recent changes in California or federal law and on all pertinent court decisions that could serve as precedents.
• Leaning on his deep, first-hand knowledge of the court process and the tendencies of particular judges and prosecutors.

The Importance of Negotiation Skills and Multiple Options

Attorney Richard Poland will not only explain to you the details of your case from a legal perspective, naming to you the probable punishments that would come with a conviction and offering you his advice on the best defense options available, but he will go further. He will use his seasoned negotiation skills to open up new options that other attorneys never think of or don't take the time to pursue. He will do more than just lay down an either/or "plead guilty or go to trial" choice into your lap.

At the Law Office of Richard L. Poland, we believe in always fighting for the best possible outcome for every client. This principle can work itself out in a variety of ways, including:

• Uncovering police violations of a defendant's rights during the arrest or investigation or exposing weak cases for what they are to get a quick dismissal before ever going to trial.
• Negotiating for a favorable plea agreement with the prosecutor and presiding judge. This may get your sentence reduced or result in a lighter sentence where a trial could easily have ended much worse.
• Obtaining creative alternatives to a traditional plea or court contest, such as community service, deferred entry of judgment, or drug/mental treatment options.
• Simply taking your case to the judge and jury and winning an acquittal with a well thought out defense strategy.

Early Intervention is Critical

When you contact our office immediately after being arrested or when you are being investigated for a suspected crime, it’s possible for us to intervene and stop criminal charges from ever being filed. Soon after your arrest, the law enforcement officers will present the gathered evidence to the D.A. What follows is an evaluation by the D.A who then decides if there are criminal charges that should be filed against you. In most cases, the prosecutor’s decision is founded on the information presented by the police but there can be much more to the story.

If you contact us well in time, we will also have a session with the D.A. during this time and request to present our information, evidence, and witness statements. Giving your side of the story may affect the D.A.’s calculations and the final decision. Early intervention also means that the prosecutor gets to see the whole picture and not just what the alleged victim or the cops have to say. With this, they may decide to file a lesser charge, for instance, a misdemeanor instead of a felony or not to file the criminal charges at all.

Where experience Meets Hard Work

At The Law Office of Richard L. Poland, we have built our reputation out of our unique ability to combine skills, experience, and hard work in representing the best interests of our clients. We specialize in criminal defense and experience is wide and deep as to the practice areas. Our attorneys are fully familiar with all the local court processes and know the tendencies of specific prosecuting attorneys, judges, and expert witnesses in the local Long Beach courts. We do not take our case based on the charges that you are facing. No case is too easy, too hard, too small, or too big for us to invest our time. We take time to comprehensively investigate the details of our clients’ cases and this means that we don’t rely on the prosecution’s version of events or the police reports. We evaluate the evidence brought against while identifying weaknesses and mitigating factors in your favor. 

We’ve invested substantial energy and time in developing a team of experienced, skilled, and trustworthy attorneys to handle our caseload, and you can rest assured that all the cases brought to us are handled personally and internally.

We Are Available 24/7/365

We don’t just claim to claim to care about your rights and freedom, you’ll see that through our actions. We don’t offer services to our clients on a 9 to 5 basis. You can get in touch with any of our criminal defense attorneys anytime 24/7/365. You will be given the personal cell phone number and private email address of the attorney assigned to your cases as well as his/her assistant. Our main objective of being available 24/7 is to ensure that our clients get help and legal representation whenever they run into issues outside of the typical 9 to 5 timeframe.

Assault and battery

Even a minor altercation or fight can attract severe legal consequences when you face assault and battery charges. This means that no type of assault and battery charges should be taken lightly. The best course of action that you can take is to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away. Assault and battery offenses are usually charged together but they are separate offenses and each can be charged differently depending on the circumstances surrounding the specific case. The offenses can either be charged as simple battery, aggravated battery, simple assault, aggravated assault, and battery on a peace officer. In many cases, misleading circumstances and unfair accusations give rise to assault and battery charges.

Our assault and battery can help you tell your side of the story and will explore all the possible options to ensure that you receive fair treatment from the prosecutor and the police. We will be committed to gathering evidence and facts support that you were wrongfully accused, you lacked willful intent to do the harm, or you acted in self-defense. With strong defense strategies, we may be able to get the charges dropped. Conversely, if the evidence presented against you is strong, we do not give up. We can still help you by negotiating the best possible plea. We will leave no legal stone unturned in keeping you out of jail and minimizing the impact that comes with a conviction.

Theft Crimes

Theft crimes are severely charged and prosecuted and a conviction can have a tremendous long-term impact on your life, especially when it concerns the ability to obtain gainful employment. Employers will do a background check and you can be sure that no one will want to hire a thief. The penalties range from big fines to years of incarceration. A theft conviction will remain on your personal records and it’s extremely imperative to act quickly and aggressively in opposing theft allegation and clearing your name. This will help protect yourself from any underserved punishments.

At the Law Office of Richard L. Poland, we ample experience in defending against different types of theft cases, including robbery, identity theft, burglary, petty theft, grand theft, trade secret theft, and being in possession of a stolen property. We know all the different law sections that apply to theft cases and also how to prevent a conviction for any of them. Our team will evaluate the evidence put against you and explore all the possible legal means to have it thrown out. If any evidence was obtained through illegal search and seizure, we will have it dropped out of the case. We also are experienced in challenging forensic and eyewitness evidence and have remained committed to our clients’ safety and freedom.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

You are considered to be too impaired to drive whenever your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is found to be at or above .08. When it comes to DUI charges, traffic law enforcement officers will not consider whether it was your first-time drunk-driving and the prosecution will not be required to prove that your judgment was actually impaired. Every DUI conviction in a 10-year period results in increasingly severe penalties. As such, it’s imperative to retain aggressive legal representation for each and every DUI charge. If, while driving under the influence, your negligent and reckless behavior resulted in another persona being injured, then you can be charged with DUI with Injury. Conversely, if the accident results in another person’s death, you’ll be charged with Vehicular Manslaughter. You can be subjected to severe fines, imprisonment, and driving license withdrawal/suspension depending on the specific circumstance of your case. After many years of experience in defending countless DUI cases, you can trust on our expertise to develop the most effective defense strategy for disproving your DUI charge, regardless of whether it’s the first or the fourth.

DMV - License Suspension

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles will swiftly initiate a license suspension process any time a driver is arrested for DUI. After your arrest, you have up to 10 days to request a DMV hearing, which gives you the opportunity to contest the suspension of your license with the assistance of your DUI defense attorney. Failure to attend this hearing will automatically result in the suspension of your license in 30 days. The suspension will last for a minimum of 4 months.

Holders of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) such as truckers who depend on their license for their livelihood may face even more seven penalties. If you have been charged with a DUI or any other traffic offense that can result in your license being suspended, the sooner you get to us the better. Our driving crimes defense attorneys will fight for you and work to prevent the suspense of your license during the proceedings. Remember, time is of the essence in this types of cases and the loss of your license can cause enormous strain on an already stressful situation.

Violent crimes

California and the entire United States have continued to tighten the war against the ever increasing violent crimes. Due to the widespread violent crimes being experienced in our state, individuals are continually being wrongfully accused of violent crimes in Long Beach. The penalties for a conviction have also been tightened. The Law Office of Richard L. Poland defends those accused of violent crimes in the greater Long Beach area.

A conviction for this crime will have a grave impact on you and your family and can affect the ability of ever obtaining gainful employment. This is why you need a criminal defense attorney with a proven track record of defending these types of cases. Due to the perception given to violent crimes and the need to punish those accused severely, the police are in most cases under pressure to solve the cases without completing the investigation. Other times they rely on false, misleading information to convict innocent individuals. Our attorneys have a deep understanding of California criminal laws and procedures and you can depend on this in ensuring that the unlawful evidence does not make it to the court.

Domestic Violence

The State’s domestic violence laws are broad and aim to prevent violent behavior both in family setup and other intimate relationships. Domestic violence can be made against a parent, cohabitant, dating partner, and spouse or any other close relation. Domestic violence covers a wide range of offenses, including rape, stalking, physical abuse, kidnapping or any other violation that can be committed toward an individual with whom you have or have had a close relationship with. Charges of this nature are treated with utmost seriousness and with little regard on the innocence of the accused person.

The complainant can fabricate or exaggerate the accusations and the judges are usually too quick to accept. But you can be able to get yourself out this situation buy retaining the services of a skilled violent crimes defense attorney. A conviction for this type of crime is severe and can result in the loss of child custody, employment, visitation rights, and a damaged reputation. This is even more severe to immigrants because they face probable deportation. Our attorneys are prepared to develop a strong legal defense strategy to fight against the charges and protect your future from any implications that may result from a conviction of this crime.

Drug Charges

Even with the legalization of recreational marijuana and the decriminalization of other low-level possession offenses, most law enforcement officers and prosecutors want to appear “tough on substance abuse.” This means that they still handle drug crimes and defendant on the receiving end up having their future ruined by minor offenses. A drug or controlled substance in California may include ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, heroin, as well as any medication that is not validly prescribed, for instance, Codeine and Vicodin. In California, it’s a violation of the law to possess, use, cultivate, sell, possess with intent to sell, transport, manufacture, drive under the influence, or possess drug paraphernalia.

If you are accused of any type of drug charge, you can rest assured that our attorneys will offer an aggressive and effective legal representation. We know how to scrutinize cases involving drug crimes to find police mistakes and misconduct. It could be that the drug was planted on your person or in an area that you exercise control over and we’ll be able to show wrongful accusation. More importantly, we know how to identify and exploit weaknesses in the prosecution’s case in your favor.

Sex Crimes

A sex crime conviction can be one of the most damaging allegation that you can be faced with as far as your future and reputation are concerned. Sex crime charges carry severe consequences, such as loss of important civil rights, state prison or county jail term, and lifetime registration as a sex offender. Types of sex crimes in California include rape, statutory rape, child pornography, sexual battery, indecent exposure, hiring minors for prostitution, and engaging in a lewd or lascivious conduct with a child. The law outlines various penalties for each of the listed crimes. The penalty depends on whether the abused was a vulnerable or dependent person, a minor, or elderly person. The penalties may also be enhanced if the alleged victim holds a public position.

At the Law Office of Richard L. Poland, we have dealt with many sex crime cases and we can tell from experience that in most cases, the police arrest people based on mistaken identity, false allegation, and even unintentional misunderstandings. This is why our attorneys fight so hard to protect the rights of our clients. Our sex crime defense attorney has dealt with various sex charges and is better placed to help you out. Richard Poland legal team has successfully handled cases where the defendant was either wrongly accused, misunderstood, or is of mistaken identity. We are also ready to analyze the facts of your case and customize a unique defense approach specific to your situation. We will carefully review the evidence presented against you to develop a strong, personalized defense strategy to address your specific circumstance and the need to resolve the case.

Fraud Crimes

You are found guilty of a fraud offense in California if you engage in an act that earns you unfair and undeserved benefits and at the same time causes harm or loss to another person. The most common motives behind fraudulent acts are financial gain and the need to avoid criminal liability. California fraud crimes can also be referred to as white collar crimes and can attract heavy penalties including significant jail or prison sentences and high fines. Many of California theft crimes are under California perjury law, California’s forgery law, and California’s theft laws.

Moreover, many fraud crimes are considered to be federal crimes and this means that it’s possible to be prosecuted in a state court and a federal court for the same offense. This automatically subjects you to increased penalties not mentioning the frustrations of having to appear in different courts. These are crimes of moral turpitude and a conviction can result in the deportation of legal immigrants. Fraud can also result in the suspension or revocation of a professional license. If you’ve been accused, arrested or are under investigation for a financial crime, it’s imperative to contact a criminal defense attorney right away and avoid communication with the police. Anything you say can be incriminating and can be used as evidence against you. Our fraud crimes defense attorneys will work tirelessly in fighting back and achieving the best possible outcome for your case.

Weapon Charges

There are many types of weapon charges that one can face in California. These include carrying a concealed weapon, brandishing a weapon, selling or delivering a weapon, using a weapon while under the influence, illegal manufacture of firearms and other weapons, illegal possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm in a public place, improper exhibition of a weapon, and juvenile weapon offenses. The penalties will depend on how you use the weapon.

The Benefit of a Criminal Attorney With Wide-Ranging Expertise

Richard L. Poland has handled not only a voluminous quantity but also a multifaceted variety of criminal defense cases during the span of his long career. This has allowed him to acquired expertise in a wide range of case-types, including the following:

• DUI, license suspension, and serious traffic violations
• Domestic violence and assault & battery
• Drug crimes, drug charges, including drug possession and medical marijuana
• Theft crimes, fraud, and white collar crimes
• Firearms violations, like illegal ownership, gun crimes and weapons charges
• Sex crimes, such as date rape and prostitution
• Homicide, attempted homicide, manslaughter and murder
• Juvenile crimes

We handle criminal cases across a wide swath of legal territory for both minors and adults and involving both state and federal charges. We walk our clients through every stage of the defense process and use our skills to protect the rights of people all over Southern California.

Finding The Right Criminal Defense Attorney

Choosing your criminal defense attorney is decision that can affect you for the rest of your life. Richard Poland is a Long Beach Criminal Defense Attorney with extensive experience, seasoned negotiation skills, and wide-ranging expertise. Contact him today by calling 562-437-6418 for a free consultation and immediate attention to your case.

The Long Beach criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Richard L. Poland defends people accused of committing crimes  throughout southern California and the South Bay area, including the cities of Long Beach, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Gardena, Hawthorne, San Pedro, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Palos Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Carson, Lawndale, Seal Beach, Signal Hill, Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Gardena, Lakewood, Compton, Buena Park, Fullerton, Norwalk, South Gate, Downey, Irvine, Inglewood, and Bellflower. Attorney Poland also represents clients throughout the communities in and around Los Angeles County and Orange County, and his law practice takes him from San Diego and San Francisco.

Testimonials From Criminal Defense Lawyers

As a criminal defense attorney in Downtown Los Angeles I recommend anyone in Long Beach to seriously considering Richard Poland. He is one of the best defense attorneys you could have in your corner.
Los Angeles Criminal Attorney

Experience and knowing the court system is what sets Richard Poland apart from other criminal defense attorneys in Long Beach.
San Diego Criminal Attorney