HOLLYWOOD CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
In many ways, Hollywood is heart of Los Angeles and it is certainly central to much of LA's club and bar scene.  By day, tourists walk (slowly) up and down the walk of fame, taking pictures with three different guys dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow and looking for their favorite stars on the Walk of Fame.  By night, people from across Los Angeles, Southern California and even the world come out to have a great time.  Hollywood has more than its share of clubs, bars, strip clubs, prostitution, fighting, DUI and drugs.  And the LAPD actively patrols the area, making lots of arrests in Hollywood, particularly on weekends and holidays like Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day.  Criminal cases proceed to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, with traffic matters (including traffic-related misdemeanors like DUI and driving on a suspended license) going to the Metropolitan Courthouse.  Both courts are branches of the LA County Superior Court.

With such large crowds and the prevalence of drugs like cocaine, ecstacy, molly, methamphetamine and others at nightlife spots in Hollywood, law enforcement presence in Hollywood is significant.  It is important to know your rights and assert them with the assistance of a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.  Hollywood is just a short ride from out Ventura Boulevard Office in Studio City. 

What are the Police Doing?
The main way that the LAPD patrols Hollywood is with uniform officers parked in high-profile locations, who can respond quickly to nearby bars and clubs.  Officers work closely and frequently with local bar owners, bouncers, etc. to enforce drug crimes and arrest those involved in fights. 

There are also more covert tactics like prostitution stings, DUI checkpoints and undercover buy operations to try to apprehend drug dealers in Hollywood.

More information about drug crimes
More information about DUI
More information about prostitution
More information about violent crimes

What Happens When I'm Arrested?
The LAPD will either (1) issue a citation on your written promise to appear (signing the ticket) or (2) bring you to the station for booking.  The police will make a brief report about what they observed, what they found, and any statements you made.  They will forward that report to the LA County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

At your first court date (called an "arraignment"), you will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges and your attorney can receive and review the government's evidence against you, and asses any possible defenses or motions on your behalf.

How Having a Hollywood Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
Having an attorney represent you gives you the best chance of avoiding a conviction and other negative consequences like jail time or loss of your driving privilege.  Many Hollywood drug charges are eligible for a diversion program, where participation in a drug treatment can help you avoid a conviction.  Additionally, defenses like entrapment might protect you from prostitution or serious sales or possession for sale charges.

Additionally, if your charge was a misdemeanor, an attorney can appear on your behalf.  Depending on whether you are local or were just visiting, getting to court downtown or in East LA could be difficult.  Having a Hollywood Criminal Defense Attorney appear to court for you protects you and makes your life easier. 

The sooner you get a criminal defense attorney on your side the better.  Opportunities to collect and preserve evidence, question witnesses and influence the charging decision (through discussions with the police and prosecutors) get smaller by the day.  Have a passionate, aggressive and affordable attorney defend you against the charges.

EXAMPLE:
Jeff is celebrating a new promotion at work with some friends at a bar in Hollywood.  Jeff and his friends are drinking, and so are the other patrons of the bar.  At some point during the evening, Jeff meets a girl who seems interested in Jeff and is flirtatious with him.  He momentarily leaves his friends and is talking to the girl.  Unknown to Jeff, the girl has a boyfriend, who was up at the bar getting more drinks for them.  Upon returning to his girlfriend, he angrily confronts Jeff and shoves him away.  Jeff, unaware of why he was attacked, yells an obscenity at his attacker, who then comes after Jeff, throwing a punch at his face.  In self-defense, Jeff punches the guy two to three times, breaking his nose and knocking out two teeth.  The bar's bouncers jump in to break up the fight and signal to LAPD officers across the street.  The officers, seeing the injury to Jeff's attacker, place Jeff in handcuffs and arrest him for Battery (PC 243) and Disturbing the Peace (PC 415).  Jeff is transported to Hollywood station, booked into LA County Jail and bails out the next morning.  The District Attorney files criminal charges and Jeff must now appear at LA Superior Court, at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center

Although Jeff was not the aggressor, and was merely defending himself from a physical attack, the injuries are serious and the LA County District Attorney files the case as a felony, also alleging a five year Great Bodily Injury enhancement.  Jeff is now facing 9 years in California State Prison and needs the help of a good Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer.  Jeff's attorney gets started right away, having a private investigator gather evidence (surveillance camera's in the bar, witness statements, etc.).  At Arraignment (the first court date), the defense attorney gets the discovery (police reports and other evidence that the prosecution intends to use), and requests additional discovery that may be accessible to the District Attorney's office or the LAPD.  A smart, passionate Los Angeles criminal defense attorney knows that relying on the police reports is not enough and digs for any piece of evidence that can help the client.

Luckily, video captures everything in Jeff's case.  At preliminary hearing, the defense lawyer attacks the government witnesses, the "victim" and shows the video footage showing the "victim" as the aggressor.  The video shows Jeff throw the two punches as his attacker is grabbing his throat.  The DA sees the video, and the defense attorney convinces her and the judge to dismiss the case.

If you have been arrested in Hollywood, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation.  We can discuss the facts of your case, what defenses you might have available and how to best proceed with your LA county criminal case.

Best,

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq. 
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
t: 213-375-3775 | f: 213-375-3099
Mobile: 323-803-4352 
NL@iDefendLosAngeles.com
1200 Wilshire Blvd | Suite 406
Los Angeles, CA | 90017
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com

Published By Nicholas Loncar | Written By Nicholas Loncar