Downtown Oakland Criminal Defense Attorney

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"If you are ever in trouble with the law or facing scary criminal charges, they should be your first call. Givelle has built a practice around compassion and empathy and you would be SO well served to have them on your side!" Paige M.

Lamano Law Office

505 14th Street Suite 901

Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: (510) 842-0750

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Have you been arrested in the East Bay? If so, you don’t have to face your criminal charges alone. The Downtown Oakland criminal defense lawyers of Lamano Law Office can help you to explore your legal options and build a strong defense on your behalf. The team at our woman-owned firm will treat you with compassion, understanding, and respect as we pursue a favorable outcome to your legal situation.

We believe in making sure that our clients’ stories are told so that those who are helping to decide their future perceive them as whole people, not just as alleged offenses. When our lawyers need to be, we defend our clients’ rights aggressively and relentlessly. However, it is important to understand that strong legal advocacy skills and a reputation for getting results doesn’t mean that we approach our clients’ cases impersonally. We are known for submitting extensive mitigation packets on our client’s behalf. This is paperwork we put together to present to the court to counter the police report in your case with information about who you are as a person outside of your criminal case.

Call our firm for a confidential consultation to learn more about our approach to representation and to begin building a solid criminal defense strategy on your behalf.

Benefit from Our Woman-Owned Criminal Defense Firm’s Approach to Representation

When your freedom is at risk because you are facing criminal charges, you need a capable, dedicated law firm to handle your defense. At Lamano Law Offices, our criminal defense team combines a compassionate approach with vigorous legal advocacy. This combination helps our clients to achieve a well-grounded peace of mind during an otherwise difficult time. When you work with our team, you’ll benefit from our:

#1 rating on Yelp for criminal defense firms in the Oakland area
100 percent five-star reviews from clients on Google
Our success rate is 98% with only 2% of clients facing jail time.
Combined 30-plus years of legal experience
Respect for our clients, regardless of the circumstances of their case

Common Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

At Lamano Law Office, our downtown Oakland criminal defense lawyers can provide you the knowledgeable, capable, and dedicated legal representation you deserve when you are facing criminal charges. Some of the most common charges that our team defends against include:

Assault and battery – Assault and battery concern the infliction of injury on someone through force or putting someone in fear of injury through the threat of force. Offenses include simple assault, aggravated assault, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Child abuse – These charges concern the infliction of physical or mental harm on a minor through physical or sexual assault, neglect of a child under one’s care, or putting a child at substantial risk of physical or mental injury.
Domestic violence – Domestic violence involves any force, threat of force, or harassment against someone with whom the alleged perpetrator has a romantic or otherwise intimate relationship, such as a current/former spouse or fiancé(e), current/former romantic/sexual partner, current/former cohabitant, or someone with whom the alleged perpetrator has had a child.
Drug offenses – We represent clients charged with all varieties of drug offenses, including simple possession of narcotics, possession with intent to distribute, manufacture of drugs, and trafficking of drugs.
DUI defense – Our firm stands up for clients who are facing intoxicated driving charges, including driving with a BAC of .08 percent or more, driving under the influence of drugs, or underage DUI.
Felony charges – Felony crimes are the more serious criminal offenses under federal or California law, resulting in potential sentences of a year or more in prison in the event of a conviction.
Gun charges – We can help if you are facing gun-related criminal charges, such as unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon or person not authorized to possess a firearm, or unlawful use of a firearm in a crime.
Disorderly/lewd conduct – Disorderly or lewd conduct involves any activity that is widely considered disruptive or offensive and interferes with others’ ability to enjoy public spaces. Lewd conduct often involves engaging in sexual behavior in public or in view of the public.
Military diversion – California’s military diversion program allows veterans and active service members charged with certain misdemeanor offenses to avoid conviction and criminal punishment if they, instead, seek treatment for a mental health or substance abuse issue that was caused by their military service.
Misdemeanor charges – Misdemeanor offenses include the less-severe crimes prosecuted under California or federal law, and are generally punishable by fines of several hundred dollars and/or up to 364 days in jail.
Probation violations – If sentenced to probation, you’ll be required to comply with conditions and requirements set by the court. Failing to do so can lead to the revocation of your probation and sentencing on the original crime for which you received probation.
Property crimes – Common property crimes in California include trespassing, vandalism, and arson of an unoccupied structure.
Restraining orders – Restraining orders and orders of protection preclude contact with someone accused of engaging in violent, threatening, or harassing behavior.
Sex offenses – Common examples of sex offenses include rape, sexual battery, statutory rape, and possession/distribution of child pornography.
Theft – Theft crimes include petty theft, shoplifting, vehicular theft, receiving stolen property, and larceny.
Violent crimes – In addition to assault and battery, other violent crimes include arson of an occupied structure, burglary, kidnapping, criminal restraint, and homicide.
White collar crimes – White collar crimes are generally financial and non-violent in nature, such as embezzlement, bribery, bank fraud, identity theft, insurance fraud, and securities fraud.

Our legal team also handles expungement matters. Under California law, you may be entitled to obtain an expungement under certain circumstances. Expungement will legally entitle you to answer “no” when asked by prospective employers, landlords, etc. if you were ever convicted on the charges in question.

How Our Downtown Oakland Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Work for You

An experienced criminal defense attorney with our firm can help protect your freedom and reputation by contesting the charges that have been filed against you and working to mitigate the potential penalties you could be facing. At Lamano Law Office, our downtown Oakland criminal defense lawyers are prepared to work tirelessly on your case by:

Thoroughly investigating the charges and reviewing all the evidence in your case to identify where we can challenge the prosecution’s position
Developing effective factual and legal defenses aimed at resolving your charges as efficiently and expeditiously as possible so that the charges aren’t hanging over your head any longer than necessary
Ensuring that you fully understand your legal options as well as the best-case, worst-case, and likely outcomes of your charges so that you can make decisions based on an informed understanding of your legal situation
Approaching the prosecution’s case in a head-on manner by filing motions to exclude any evidence that was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights and moving to reduce or dismiss your charges where the prosecution lacks sufficient evidence to take your case to trial
Negotiating with the prosecution to achieve a favorable plea deal that minimizes penalties you might face, if appropriate for your circumstances
Representing you at all court hearings and presenting a vigorous defense on your behalf at trial if you decide to fight your charges

We know from experience that navigating criminal charges can be a fear- and anxiety-inducing experience for our clients. But, we also know that the right criminal defense team can bring you valuable peace of mind when you need it most.

Penalties for a Criminal Conviction in Oakland

The penalties that you might receive for a criminal conviction in Oakland depend on the grading of your offense. Criminal offenses are graded into one of two general categories: misdemeanors and felonies.

Misdemeanors prosecuted under state law are further broken down as:

Standard misdemeanor: Penalized by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000
Aggravated misdemeanor: Penalized by up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000

Felonies prosecuted under California law are generally subject to three sentencing tiers, based on the specific facts of the case and the circumstances of the offender. A sentencing court may choose between the low-tier, mid-tier, and upper-tier sentencing options as the base sentence, depending on what aggravating and mitigating factors the sentencing court finds and how the court balances those factors. However, certain serious felony offenses, such as murder, receive a range of prison time, such as 25 years to life.

This is one of the many reasons why our firm works diligently to ensure that prosecutors, juries, and judges view our clients as people, not simply as “alleged perpetrators.” Our legal strategy often involves preparing a mitigation packet that allows our clients to have their stories told and to have their alleged crimes placed into a much wider context. These efforts often help to ensure that our clients are not penalized to the fullest possible extent allowable by law.

In addition to prison time and fines, courts can also impose other sentencing requirements, which may include a term of probation, a requirement to complete community service, educational classes or behavioral/substance abuse treatment, and restitution.

Finally, a criminal conviction can have long-term consequences on your life even after you have served your sentence. These consequences can include:

If you were convicted of a sex offense, the requirement to register as a sex offender
Loss of the right to own firearms or serve on juries if you were convicted of a felony
Disqualification from employment in a law enforcement position

A criminal record can also cause difficulties when applying for employment, housing, educational opportunities, or professional licenses. Unfortunately, the social stigma that comes with a criminal conviction leads some employers, landlords, and education programs to deny worthy applicants simply because they have criminal records.

The downtown Oakland criminal defense attorneys of Lamano Law Offices will do what we have done historically to defend your legal rights – explore every avenue of a defense using our 150-point inspection list and present the court with a mitigation packet of who you are as a person so you are not seen as just another case number in a large pile of files on a judge’s desk. In the event that your case ultimately results in a conviction, we can help to ensure that you’re placed in a position to pursue a fresh start after completing your sentence.

Connect With Our Downtown Oakland Criminal Defense Attorneys to Learn More

If you have been charged with a crime, you deserve experienced legal representation dedicated to protecting your rights. Don’t face the stress and anxiety of criminal prosecution alone. Contact Lamano Law Office today for a confidential consultation with a downtown Oakland criminal defense attorney. We look forward to meeting you, learning your concerns, and constructing a strong legal defense on your behalf.

Our Practice Areas

DUI

A DUI conviction can cost you more than fines and potential jail time. It could affect your job and your ability to drive. Luckily, there are many ways to fight a DUI charge.

More about DUI

Domestic Violence

What starts as a personal matter can end in disaster if law enforcement is called. Our attorneys can help you tell your side of the story and fight the charges against you.

More about Domestic Violence

Expungements

The silver lining of every criminal case is the opportunity to wipe your record clean. We can help you start fresh by cleaning up your criminal record.

More about Expungements

Felony Charges

A felony conviction can result in jail or prison time. With so much on the line, you need a qualified defense attorney who has handled cases like yours before.

More about Felony Charges

Misdemeanors

There no such thing as a minor criminal record. If your reputation is on the line because of a misdemeanor charge, our team can help.

More about Misdemeanors

DUI

A DUI conviction can cost you more than fines and potential jail time. It could affect your job and your ability to drive. Luckily, there are many ways to fight a DUI charge.

Domestic Violence

What starts as a personal matter can end in disaster if law enforcement is called. Our attorneys can help you tell your side of the story and fight the charges against you.

Expungements

The silver lining of every criminal case is the opportunity to wipe your record clean. We can help you start fresh by cleaning up your criminal record.

Felony Charges

A felony conviction can result in jail or prison time. With so much on the line, you need a qualified defense attorney who has handled cases like yours before.

Misdemeanors

There no such thing as a minor criminal record. If your reputation is on the line because of a misdemeanor charge, our team can help.

See All Legal Services

Our Community

A Commitment to Our Community

Prior to dedicating her career to Lamano Law Office, Givelle founded her own non-profit organization, the Three Strikes Justice Center, dedicated to alleviating the overcrowding of prisons via social justice efforts. The entire Lamano Law Office team believes in giving back to the communities we serve. Our Oakland criminal defense law firm supports a wide range of charitable and civic organizations throughout the Bay area.

Some of our recent efforts include work with: