In California, if you have two prior convictions for a serious or violent felony, you face the possibility of serving 25-years-to-life in prison upon conviction of any new felony.  The third conviction does not have to be classified as a serious or violent felony.  In many cases, individuals facing 25-to-life were previously convicted of (or pled guilty to) two serious or violent felonies from a single incident in the past.  Therefore, it is not uncommon for an individual charged with a relatively minor new felony offense to face a sentence of 25-to-life!

At California Criminal Defense Center, we’ve had tremendous success arguing Romero Motions, asking the court to not consider one or more of the prior strikes.  In doing so, the minimum sentence is drastically reduced and, in many cases, we are able to secure a non-prison sentence.  Depending on the case, we may be able to negotiate a treatment program in lieu of jail!

We have represented many 3-strikes clients who were previously unaware that they would face 25-life on any new felony.  Unfortunately, many self-proclaimed criminal defense lawyers fail to advise their client of the future consequences of pleading guilty to prior strike charges. Many unqualified lawyers who attempt to handle criminal matters simply do not understand felony sentencing.  Even more disturbing are the cases where the lawyer deliberately fails to advise the client about these consequences in order to convince the client to plead guilty and resolve the case quickly.

In either situation, it is extremely difficult to later argue that the defendant did not really understand the future consequences of his/her prior guilty plea because of the prior lawyer’s inadequate representation. 

The stakes are very high in 3-strikes cases.  It is crucial that you consult with a lawyer with the experience and qualifications to properly represent you.  At California Criminal Defense Center, we have gained a wealth of experience in successfully handling 3-strikes cases, earning us a reputation as “masters in strategy!”

Please call us or complete the evaluation form on this page to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a felony attorney.