MALIBU CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
Malibu, CA is world famous for its beaches, famous residents and beautiful seaside homes.  With rolling hills, cliffs, beaches and caves, Malibu has a lot of natural beauty.  Located in the northwestern part of Los Angeles County, Malibu is nearby Ventura County, Calabasas, Topanga Canyon, Aguora Hills, and Woodland Hills.  Malibu's beaches include Zuma Beach, Surfrider Beach, Malibu Beach, Point Dume Beach, Dan Blocker Beach and Topanga Beach.  Malibu also has great hiking trails, camp grounds, parks and seafood restaurants.  With most of the action around PCH, Malibu has restaurants, wineries, bars and other attractions for residents and visitors alike.  Surfers, nature-lovers, food & wine enthusiasts and more can all find something to love about Malibu.

Like many other affluent communities in LA County, Malibu has relatively low crime rates.  It's certainly not gang territory.  Only about 12,000 people live in Malibu, though many more visit, particularly in the summer, from other parts of Los Angeles, California, the country and the world.  The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services in Malibu, with the LA County District Attorney's office handling misdemeanor and felony prosecutions stemming from Malibu arrests and citations.  Criminal matters (felony and misdemeanor) are heard at the Van Nuys Courthouse.  Due to otherwise low crime, law enforcement in Malibu can devote significant time and resources towards enforcing DUI laws in their area.  DUI and Domestic Violence cases are a top priority for law enforcement.  DUI checkpoints and saturation points are common, and police officers receive extra training in conducting DUI investigations and domestic violence interviews.  Drug crimes, theft crimes, violent crimes, vandalism and juvenile criminal offenses also do occur in Malibu.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Malibu, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, Calabasas, Aguora Hills or anywhere else in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.  Being arrested and charged with a crime is scary and you need a skilled, passionate, aggressive Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer on your side to fight for you.  Having the right lawyer on your side can mean a big difference for the outcome of your case.  Powerful negotiation, careful investigation and persuasive argument are all necessary to effectively represent your interests in criminal court in LA.

EXAMPLE OF A MALIBU CRIMINAL DEFENSE CASE:
Bob is a Los Angeles resident and a medical marijuana patient.  Bob is driving home from a day at the beach in Malibu (and had also visited a local medical marijuana dispensary day) when he is pulled over for going through a red light a little late.  Upon approaching Bob's vehicle, the officer notices the smell of marijuana, likely from the medical marijuana Bob had purchased that day.  Bob had not yet smoked marijuana that day, but smokes marijuana in his home every night.  There might also be an odor of burnt marijuana on some of his clothing and other belongings as he did not shower before heading to the beach for the day

The officer asks Bob if he knows why he is being pulled over.  Bob admits to running through the light a little late, but seems alert and answers the question succinctly.  Bob hands over his documents and the officer asks him to step out of the car.  Bob is asked to perform some field sobriety tests and does fine, losing his balance once when his leg was raised, but otherwise followed all directions well and performed the tasks asked of him.

Despite Bob's decent performance of the FSTs, the officer places his under arrest for DUI.  At the station, Bob refuses to submit to a blood or urine test, now facing a potential 1 year license suspension as well as DUI charges in court.  At the DMV hearing, the issue will be whether Bob actually refused, including whether the arrest was a lawful DUI arrest.  The criminal (court) DUI case against Bob consists of the smell of marijuana and one minor mistake on the FSTs.  Here, the DMV hearing is much tougher.  

Bob hires a Los Angels Drug DUI Lawyer who gets started right away on Bob's defense.  The attorney schedules a DMV hearing, and subpoenas the arresting officer to testify at the hearing.  With a strong cross examination and skilled argument, the lawyer is able to convince the hearing officer that there was not enough evidence to make a DUI arrest, negating the refusal.  Bob wins the DMV hearing and will not face the 1 year suspension.  In court, Bob has a right to take his case to trial and to make the government prove that he is guilty of a crime.  Bob's lawyer is able to persuade the prosecutor to offer Bob a reckless driving instead ("dry" reckless).  Bob does not wish to endure the stress, time and cost of trial, opting instead to plead guilty to reckless driving.  The DUI is dismissed and Bob's reckless driving conviction cannot be used against him as a prior DUI should a future DUI arrest occur.

An arrest or criminal charges does not have to mean a conviction.  Whether DUI, drugs, theft, domestic violence or any other criminal offense, you need a lawyer who will fight for you and assert your rights and defenses.  You do not have to simply walk in to court and plead guilty.  You have rights and defenses, and deserve a full opportunity to defend yourself against the charges, no matter how serious.  If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation.  818.646.8788.

Nicholas Loncar, Esq.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com