What to Expect When You Are Charged with a Crime in California

What to Expect When You Are Charged with a Crime in California

Navigating the legal system can be overwhelming, especially when you are charged with a crime. In the video below, Sina Mohajer of Mohajer Law Firm provides a clear and concise overview of what to expect during each stage of a criminal case. From arrest to trial, learn about your rights, the legal process, and how having a skilled attorney can make all the difference in protecting your freedom and future.

If you have questions about criminal allegations or need immediate legal assistance, call Mohajer Law Firm today for a consultation. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Transcript:

Hey, welcome back to our channel. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Sina Mohajer with Mohajer Law Firm, located right here in Arcadia, California. We specialize in family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, and personal injury.

Now, you might have noticed quite a bit of a gap of time from our last video until today, and that’s for good reason. I’m proud to announce that our firm has been growing. We’ve moved into a bigger location to allow for more staff to take on more cases and to help out our community. And I’m even happier to announce that our success rate has only increased.

So for those of you who are new, welcome. And I introduce our new series called A Walk in the Park.

What to Expect When Facing Criminal Allegations

In this particular episode, I want to address the steps that you can expect if you are accused of committing a crime.

Arrest

Now, the first step is usually going to be an arrest. Not every crime warrants arrest, but for the most part, you’re going to be arrested. And at the time of the arrest, it’s important to know what to expect so that way you’re fully informed of your rights. During the time of arrest, you’re going to be read your Miranda rights, and that is the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney. So at any given point, if you do not want to answer any further questions, you have the right to request counsel to be present.

Bail Hearing

After the arrest, chances are there may be a bail hearing. And that’s not for every case. It depends on the severity of the allegations or the crime being committed. If there is a bail hearing, that gives us the opportunity to address the court to limit the amount of bail or to absolve it completely.

But at that point, we get to determine and find out how much it is going to cost and allow you to be released from jail, to be out in public, go back home, and to your loved ones while we try this case.

Arraignment

The next step in this phase is going to be the arraignment. This is the very first time you’re going to show up in court for the charges being alleged against you. During the arraignment, your job is very simple and straightforward. All you’re going to say is “not guilty.”

The court is going to read your rights. The court is going to read the allegations into the record, and they’re going to ask, “How do you plead?” You have two choices. You either plead guilty or plead not guilty. And we’re going to go with the latter.

Pre-Trial Conference

After the arraignment, every hearing after that until your trial is going to be called the pre-trial conference. At any time in a pre-trial conference, that gives us the opportunity to gather the discovery and the evidence that we need for your defense, as well as to discuss your case with the district attorney who’s running this case to see if we can negotiate any type of plea bargain.

Trial

After the pre-trial, if we cannot resolve your case at that point, that’s when we start preparing for trial. This is where the battle begins.

Jury Selection

At the time of trial, we’ve got to select our jury first. That means the 12 individuals who we want to sit there to listen to all the evidence and to judge whether you’ve committed that crime or not.

Opening Statements

After the jury selection is going to be the opening statements, which is so important because this is the very first time the jury is going to hear from us as to what actually occurred, what defenses we have, and whether you should be found guilty or not.

Present Evidence

After that is where we present evidence. The state has to present their evidence to show that you actually committed the crime that they’re alleging. This gives us the opportunity for your defense and poking holes wherever we can and presenting a more solid defense than they can in their case in chief.

Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in Arcadia

At the end of the day, if you have any questions about your case, if you have been experiencing any type of criminal prosecution, by all means, feel free to give our office a call. I offer initial consultations. I’ll be happy to sit down with you one-on-one.