San Gabriel Criminal Defense Lawyer

SAN GABRIEL CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
San Gabriel, CA is located about 10 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles and just southeast of Pasadena, in the western part of LA County's San Gabriel Valley.  Over the years, San Gabriel has been home to various immigrant populations, beginning with Spanish missions in the 1700s, then Italian Immigrants in the 1950s, followed by large scale migration by Mexican Immigrants in the 1960s, and Chinese Immigrants in the 1980s.  Eastern European immigrants also occupied the region for many years, and Nearby Alhambra is currently home to a large Serbian Church (St. Steven's) and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America, with San Gabriel being home to another Serbian Church (St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Church).  Today, San Gabriel has nearly 40,000 residents, nearly 60% of whom are of Chinese or other Asian descent.  Like much of LA, this diverse community is rich in foreign and California culture, with significant California and Los Angeles history.

San Gabriel's local economy is comprised largely of car dealerships, a plethora of dining and food shopping options, with heavy influence from its Chinese population, and even some LA landmark restaurants and shops that have been around since the 40s and 50s.  The I-10, I-710 and I-210 freeways connect San Gabriel to Los Angeles, Pasadena, the eastern San Gabriel Valley and San Bernardino.  San Gabriel is nearby Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Temple City, El Monte, Northeast Los Angeles, Montecito Heights, East LA.  

The San Gabriel Police Department provides law enforcement services, with criminal matters being heard at the Alhambra Courthouse.  San Gabriel is a safe, quiet community, but crime certainly does exist.  Due to low volume of the urban crime and gangs that plague much of LA, San Gabriel law enforcement devotes much of its resources to enforcing driving offenses.  With much of San Gabriel's population made up of immigrants (many undocumented), unlicensed driving is one of the most common offenses.  First timers are typically charged with a violation of VC 12500 (driving without a license), but those with priors, or whose driving privilege has been suspended with the DMV or court are charged with the more serious VC 14601.1 (driving while driving privilege suspended).  DUI enforcement is also heavy, and San Gabriel Police receive extensive training in DUI investigations.  DUI checkpoints and saturation points are common as well.  Much like in the rest of LA County, domestic violence cases are prosecuted very aggressively.  Drug crimes are also prevalent in San Gabriel, with prescription pills, methamphetamine and marijuana crimes (including marijuana concentrates like hash, hash oil, wax and some edibles) being the most common.  Theft offenses are less common in San Gabriel than in most of LA County, but the District Attorney's office is tough on retail theft and tougher on theft from individuals.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in San Gabriel, Rosemead, Alhambra, or anywhere else in the San Gabriel Valley, you are up against a tough branch of the LA County District Attorney's office, and have likely been investigated by a well-trained police force.  Whether the offense seems minor (driving without a license) or is more severe (DUI causing injury or death), you need a skilled, knowledgeable and passionate Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney to fight for you and assert your rights.  Your best chance to avoid jail time, loss of your driver's license, immigration consequences or a misdemeanor or felony conviction is to entrust your case to the competent hands of a criminal defense lawyer.  Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer or DUI Attorney.  We will help you understand the court process, the possible and likely outcomes and evaluate the defenses that can help you get the right outcome in your criminal case.

EXAMPLE of a San Gabriel Criminal Case:
Eric, a resident of San Gabriel, was convicted of DUI a year ago.  Because his arrest took place in LA County, he was ordered to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on his vehicle, and his license was suspended for 4 months.  Eric did not install the IID, and also failed to show the court proof of enrollment.  Although Eric believed that his 4 month suspension was up, his failure to comply with the DMV and court's conditions led to a longer suspension of his driver's license.  Without his driving privilege reinstated, Eric is in violation of the law every time he drives a car, even if he has not been drinking.

One day, Eric is driving home from work, when he is pulled over in San Gabriel, on Las Tunas.  The officer runs Eric's information, and finds that his license is still suspended for his prior DUI.  The officer asks Eric to step out of the vehicle and has him perform a Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) device test.  The PAS is a primitive, handheld breathalyzer used by law enforcement officers at the scene.  While most drivers may refuse to submit to the PAS test, Eric must perform the test because it is a condition of his DUI probation.  He blows and records a PAS reading of .00, because he had not been drinking.

Still, the officer takes Eric to jail and impounds his car for 30 days.  Eric is released from jail and hires a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer to help with his case.  His lawyer helps him get his driver's license reinstated and his car back, before the 30 days.  Later, he is charged in Alhambra Court with 14601.2 (driving while license suspended for DUI) and for a probation violation (on the prior DUI, for which Eric was on 3 years summary probation).  Again, due to Eric's ability to get a driver's license and become compliant with the law, his attorney is able to negotiate for a dismissal of the VC 14601.2 count and a reinstatement of his probation on the old DUI.  After paying a reduced fine, Eric will not do any jail time, and may still expunge his prior DUI conviction upon completion of probation.

Speak to a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney now.  If you have been arrested in Alhambra, Rosemead, South Pasadena, San Gabriel, Monterey Park, or anywhere else in LA, we can help. 

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq.
LOS ANGELES CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
t: 213-375-3775 | f: 213-375-3099
Mobile: 323-803-4352
WWW.IDEFENDLOSANGELES.COM
NL@iDefendLosAngeles.com
1200 Wilshire Blvd | Suite 406
Los Angeles, CA | 90017

Published By: Nicholas Loncar | Written by Nicholas Loncar

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