Facing Criminal Charges In LA? Contact Our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If you are facing felony or misdemeanor criminal charges, your freedoms and liberties hang in the balance. The punishments for a criminal conviction can have dire consequences and affect the rest of your life. Therefore, do not put your future in the hands of just any lawyer, and call the Los Angeles criminal defense experts at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP for a free case review at (866) 430-8383..
Regardless of whether you stand accused of a serious felony or a minor misdemeanor, our accomplished Los Angeles criminal lawyers have the reputations and expertise needed to aggressively advocate for you. Whether we are negotiating a favorable plea agreement with prosecutors or trying your case your case in front of a jury to acquittal, you can rest assured we will get you the best possible outcome. Our criminal defense law firm’s managing partners, Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff, are former senior deputy DAs with the LA County District Attorney’s Office with a combined 70 plus years of California criminal law practice experience.
What Sets Our Criminal Defense Team Apart?
Much like you would not trust a hand surgeon to perform brain surgery on you, expertise and experience is a critical component in raising a successful legal defense. If you are facing a potentially life-altering criminal charge or investigation, we are the experts to contact.
- Paul Takakjian has the distinction of being recognized as one of the less than 500 Criminal Law Specialists in the state of California certified by the CA Board of Legal Specialization.
- Stephen Sitkoff holds a Preeminent AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and is 2017 Super Lawyers honoree in the area of criminal law - a distinction limited to only the top 5% attorneys in California.
Since 1987, Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP has forged an unmatched track record of success defending thousands of clients, including numerous high-profile defendants, in criminal cases throughout Los Angeles. No case is too big or too small. Our Los Angeles criminal defense expertise includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Domestic Violence Charges
Our legal defense team is extremely well versed in the defense of domestic violence-related charges. From misdemeanors domestic violence crimes, such as domestic battery, vandalism, and child endangerment to felony domestic violence offenses, such as spousal abuse, criminal threats, marital rape, and attempted murder, we have seen it all. Our LA criminal lawyers will work tirelessly to protect your rights and interests by examining all aspects of the prosecution’s case against you.
Sex Crime Charges
Being accused of a sex crime is a terrifying experience which can cause permanent damage to your life and reputation. Our criminal defense team possesses a rare insight and expertise in the area of sex crime defense as Mr. Takakjian and Mr. Sitkoff were previously special prosecutors in the Los Angeles DA’s Office’s sex crimes special prosecution unit. Sex crimes encompass a broad range of illegal acts from felony crimes, such as lewd act with a minor or child molestation, rape, penetration with a foreign object, oral copulation, and distributing child pornography to misdemeanor sex crimes, such as indecent exposure, lewd act in public, sexual battery, and child annoyance. Furthermore, the majority of these offenses carry lifetime sex offender registration as a potential penalty.
Drug Crime Charges
From the decriminalization of controlled substances previously classified as felony substances to the legalization of marijuana, California drug crime laws have changed considerably over the past decade. However, even a misdemeanor drug conviction can have consequences. Whether you have been arrested for a misdemeanor drug possession or drug paraphernalia charge, or you have recently been targeted for investigation for felony possession of drugs for sale or transportation, our extensive experience in Los Angeles drug crimes defense assures our clients of a top-notch legal defense. Our dynamic defense strategies have resulted in thousands of reduced or dismissed drug possession and drug sales charges through diversionary sentences and motions to suppress evidence based on illegal search and seizure.
Theft Charges
Los Angeles theft crimes can be as minor as misdemeanor petty theft or shoplifting charges, or as serious as felony grand theft or embezzlement charges. In addition, theft crimes also include other serious criminal offenses, such as fraud, burglary, receiving stolen property, forgery, and identity theft. Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony theft crime, we encourage you to contact us right away as taking proactive measures early on in your case can either help you avoid arrest on unfounded charges or mitigate the penalties you face if prosecuted. The consequences of theft-related convictions are among the most damaging to one’s future and reputation. Even if a jail or state prison sentence is avoided, the negative impact on one’s employment and immigration prospects after a theft-related conviction can be felt for years to come.
Violent Crime Charges
Violent crimes are among the most highly targeted criminal charges in Los Angeles and the punishments can be severe, especially if a firearm or gun allegation is involved. Violent crimes encompass a number of specific crimes that range in seriousness from misdemeanor to felony offenses, and as “wobbler” offenses, most violent charges in Los Angeles can either be prosecuted as felonies or misdemeanors, depending on aggravating factors. Whether you are charged or investigated for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, murder, attempted murder, or mayhem, do not risk receiving a “strike” or long state prison sentence by speaking to police or pleading guilty in court without speaking to our LA criminal defense attorneys first.
What Do We Do
First, we should differentiate between criminal and civil law. Criminal violations are those that harm individuals, their belongings, or their welfare. Civil violations, on the other hand, adhere to institutional and individual rights outside of those outlines in criminal law. Common examples of criminal law-breaking include robbery, vandalism, and assault, which we’ll dive into shortly.
The primary responsibility of criminal defense lawyers is to represent accused criminals in a court of law. They collect information related to their client’s case to best defend their interests on trial. Criminal defense lawyers also regularly seek plea deals for their clients to receive shorter terms.
Why not represent yourself? While you might be able to do preliminary research on the basics of criminal law and court procedure, our team has years of experience in a diverse range of cases. Plus, you’ll likely be going up against a prosecutor that will already have the upper hand against you. So, don’t go it alone; a skilled defense attorney is well worth the investment.
Private Attorneys vs. Public Defenders?
In the United States, public defenders are appointed and paid for by the government to defend the accused. This is great for people who otherwise cannot afford a private attorney. In general, they work with the same judges and prosecutors on a daily basis, which could work out in the defendant’s favor, especially in terms of a plea deal. Unfortunately, because they lack a price tag, that means their caseload is much bigger than that of a private attorney, which in turn leaves them far less time to devote to your own case and as a result, a lower likelihood of winning.
Private attorneys, on the other hand, are paid for by the client, but what is paid in cash is returned tenfold in quality. Not only are they far more flexible in their availability, even when they cannot communicate with you directly, they also have a staff that can assist you at any time. Their caseloads are also much smaller since taking on too many cases would prove bad for business and bad for their staff. It is for these reasons that hiring a private attorney (like us) as your defense lawyer will result in the most positive outcome for your case.
Top-Rated Criminal Defense In Los Angeles
Attorneys Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff are among the most experienced and accomplished criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles. Whether you are under investigation or have been recently arrested, you can rest assured that our expert criminal defense team will apply our extensive legal expertise and resources to protect your rights and interests. Call our West Los Angeles office today for a free confidential consultation at (866) 430-8383.
This year, both Stephen Sitkoff and Paul Takakjian were nominated for Super Lawyer awards for the 2019 award season. Even further, Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP was recognized for its consistently high-quality outcomes in courts of law by the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.
Both Sitkoff and Takakjian have represented innocent, wrongly-accused criminals throughout southern California since 1987. Their nearly-unmatched performance over the years ultimately led to the aforementioned recognition.