Canoga Park Criminal Defense Attorney

CANOGA PARK CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
Canoga Park, CA is located in the Western San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.  Bordering Canoga Park are Woodland Hills, West Hills, Chatsworth and Winnetka.  Also nearby are Aguora Hills, Calabasas, Mission Hills, Reseda, and more.  Canoga Park has approximately 60,000 residents and a highly diverse population.  Canoga Park has average income and crime rates for Los Angeles, but has lower income and higher crime than other nearby neighborhoods.  Canoga Park is not far from our office, located on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) provides law enforcement services to Canoga Park, operating out of the Topanga Substation.  Criminal matters are heard at the Van Nuys Courthouse, with the LA City Attorney's Office prosecuting misdemeanors, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office prosecuting felonies.  Traffic matters in Canoga Park proceed to the Chatsworth courthouse.

With average crime rates for Los Angeles, Canoga Park sees a wide range of crime.  Much like the rest of LA, Canoga Park has strict enforcement and aggressive prosecution in DUI and Domestic Violence cases.  Also common in Canoga Park are arrests and criminal charges for: Drug Crimes (including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and prescription pills, varying from simple possession to sales and transportation), Theft Crimes (ranging from petty theft to serious felonies like burglary and robbery), up to more serious Violent Crimes, Gang Offenses, Homicide and more.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys, Winnetka, Northridge, the San Fernando Valley or anywhere else in Los Angeles, you need the advice of a skilled, passionate LA Criminal Defense Lawyer.  Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.  818-646-8788

EXAMPLE OF A CANOGA PARK ARREST AND CRIMINAL CASE:
John, a plumber, has had back pain for several years.  His job involves a lot of strain on his back and he had previously been prescribed Vicodin to help him manage the pain.  After about 10 months of taking the medication, John could no longer afford health coverage, and could not afford to pay for frequent doctor's visits.  John's father also was prescribed pain medications, and gave John 20 pills each month so that John could manage to get through his hard work day.

One day, while John is backing out of a driveway at one of his job sites, he hits another vehicle.  An LAPD officer comes out to write up a traffic collision investigation report.  While talking to both parties, the officer asks John if he takes any medications.  John admitted to the officer that he takes pain medication for his back.  The officer asked John to perform some field sobriety tests, and John agreed (note: he has a right to refuse to perform field sobriety tests and should refuse).  John lost his balance while trying to perform the one leg stand test.  John is arrested for DUI and taken to the station for a blood test.  He now must appear in Van Nuys Court to defend against charges that he violated VC 23152(a) and 23152(b).  Unlike alcohol-related DUIs, John will not need to schedule a DMV hearing.  His license will only be suspended if he is convicted of DUI.  Fortunately, John is not in possession of any of the pills his father had given him.  If he had been found with the pills, he would face a felony possession of a controlled substance charge per HS 11350.  It is also important to note that even if John has a valid prescription, he can still be prosecuted for DUI if the government shows that the medication has impaired his ability to drive.

John hires a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney to represent him in his DUI case.  John's lawyer has an accident reconstructionist interview John, the other driver and the police officers accident report, and has a toxicology expertreview the blood results and exploit other holes in the government's case.  The attorney also gets a statement from John's physician stating that his back problems would make it difficult for him to stand on one leg.  Relying on the government's evidence (the evidence in the officer's report) is not likely to get the best result.  But with independent, new evidence, John has a much better chance to get a dismissal, a reduced charge, or, if necessary, win his DUI case at a jury trial.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Northridge, Winnetka, Chatsworth, Reseda, Tarzana, Van Nuys, or anywhere else in the San Fernando Valley or Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.  818-646-8788

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq.
t: 818-646-8788 | f: 818-646-8772
MOBILE: 323-803-4352
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com
[email protected]

By Nicholas Loncar