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Santee Criminal Defense Attorney

Have you or someone you know been arrested for a crime in Santee? If so, it is important to speak with an experienced Santee criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. While you are waiting to speak with your attorney do not engage in conversation with anyone. The prosecution will attempt to manipulate a stressful situation and get to you say something can be used against you in court. Hiring an attorney is the best way to level the playing field, ensure your rights are protected, and increase the chances of a positive outcome. Contact the San Diego office of Vikas Bajaj for immediate assistance with your criminal case.

The attorneys at the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC have nearly two decades of experience handling complex criminal cases. We have successfully handled thousands of cases, often negotiating the reduction or dismissal of charges for our clients. If you are facing criminal charges in Santee we are confident that we can help to minimize the negative consequences of your arrest. Do not hesitate to call us today to set up an initial consultation.

Crime in Santee

While Santee is generally safer than other communities in California, the San Diego neighborhood still has its fair share of reported criminal activity. The neighborhood has a crime index of 44, which means that it is safer than 44 percent of cities in the country. In 2015, there were 980 crimes reported in Santee. The vast majority of these offenses, nearly 91 percent, were property crimes, including burglary and theft. The remaining offenses were violent crimes, including murder, rape, and robbery.

What Happens if I am Convicted of a Crime in Santee?

Criminal Consequences

When you are convicted of a crime you will be required to complete a criminal sentence that is imposed by the court. This penalty will be specifically linked to your crime. A judge will weigh mitigating (helpful) and aggravating (harmful) factors to determine an appropriate punishment. Criminal sentences vary significantly, but may include:

  • Detention in a San Diego County jail;
  • Imprisonment in a California state penitentiary;
  • Tens of thousands of dollars in fines;
  • Victim restitution; and
  • Probation.

Collateral Consequences

Once you are convicted of a crime you will face a future burdened with a criminal record. This will cause you to suffer the collateral consequences of your conviction. Collateral consequences are not directly tied to your specific crime, but rather the fact that you have a criminal record. These consequences will make it difficult to do things you once took for granted. Collateral consequences of a criminal conviction in Santee could include:

  • Loss of child custody and/or visitation;
  • Loss of gun ownership rights;
  • Inability to secure employment;
  • Difficulty renting or buying a home;
  • Inability to participate in government welfare programs;
  • Loss of professional licenses, and more.

Why Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?

Santee Criminal Defense Attorney

You should hire an attorney to handle your criminal case because your future is on the line. The prosecutors who try your case will be experienced legal professionals who know how to get a conviction. They will take advantage of a stressful and overwhelming situation and make you believe that they have an airtight case against you.

In truth, the prosecution may have a tough time gathering all of the evidence and proof that they need to prove that you are guilty of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution’s job will become much more difficult when you hire an attorney to defend you. Contact our criminal defense team today to learn more.

What Will a Criminal Defense Attorney Do?

A criminal defense attorney wears many hats while defending a client against criminal charges. A Santee criminal defense attorney is an investigator, researcher, writer, negotiator, and litigator. When you hire the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC to defend you against criminal charges you can be confident in knowing that you have an experienced and knowledgeable attorney on your side. We will get to work on your case the moment you hire us.

Investigate Your Alleged Crime

We will ask you to recount the incident that led to your arrest, including any interaction you had with police. Using this information, we will conduct a more thorough investigation into your alleged crime. The information we uncover will help us to determine weaknesses in the state’s case and build our own persuasive legal defense. Steps in this investigation may include:

  • Reviewing police reports, photographs, and evidence gathered by the state;
  • Interviewing witnesses;
  • Confirming and establishing alibis;
  • Consulting with expert witnesses; and more.

Research the Law

Equally as important as an investigation is a thorough look into relevant case law and statutes. We will find cases that have similar fact patterns and see how they have been argued and decided in the past. This information will be instrumental in the creation of your custom legal defense.

Negotiate With the State

Most criminal cases will not get all the way to trial. Instead, most cases are resolved in pre-trial negotiations. We will use the customized legal strategy we devised for you to leverage the prosecution into reducing or dismissing the charges against you. We will highlight the weaknesses in their case and argue that they will not be able to prove their lofty burden of proof. You will be responsible for accepting or rejecting any offers for a reduction in charges that you receive.

Defend You in Court

If you are not satisfied with the plea offers you have received, or if we believe we can get you a better result, we will not hesitate to your case to court. Vikas Bajaj has successfully litigated more than 55 criminal jury trials. He understands how to connect with a jury by making passionate and logical arguments.

Criminal Defense Practice Areas

The Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC has the legal experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to handle the most complex criminal cases in Santee. Over the past 19 years, we have successfully defended clients against charges including:

No criminal matter is too small – even seemingly minor misdemeanor charges can have devastating consequences for you and your family. Contact the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC today to schedule your initial consultation. We will review your case, determine potential defenses, and explain your legal rights.

Defenses to Criminal Charges in Santee

Common Defenses

You have the Constitutional right to defend yourself against any criminal allegations. The defenses you offer will depend on the specific crime you have been accused of committing, but will generally all serve to explain or excuse your behavior. Defenses that are often argued in criminal cases include:

  • Self-defense or defense of another person;
  • Lack of required intent;
  • Lack of required knowledge;
  • Force;
  • Duress;
  • False accusation; and
  • Mistaken identity.

Constitutional Violations

When you meet with our San Diego legal team we will ask you to explain what happened when you were arrested in as much detail as possible. We will also ask you to describe any interactions with the police and state prosecutors. It is important to be very honest and forthcoming when answering these questions. We are searching for indications that your Constitutional rights have been violated. The more details we have to work with, the better we can assist you.

If we determine that your rights have been violated we will petition the court to exclude any evidence that is related to that violation. If the prosecution is unable to use its evidence they may be forced to drop the charges against you.

Experienced Santee Criminal Defense Attorney

Are you or someone you know facing criminal charges? Contact the Santee criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC to minimize the consequences of an arrest. The decisions you make immediately after your arrest will determine how your future unfolds. You have the power to decide that you want to fight the charges against you, and we can help. Do not hesitate to call us to set up an initial consultation.

Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC
2150 1st Avenue, Suite 200,
San Diego, CA 92101