Second Chances

LOS ANGELES CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
Yesterday, I wrote about what it means to me to protect the innocent.  The second major motivation for my passion for becoming a criminal defense attorney is that I believe people deserve second (and even subsequent) chances.  Our criminal justice system has succeeded in punishing many people, but has failed to rehabilitate in most of those cases.  I have previously written about the efficacy of incarceration here, but believe it alienates citizens and makes re-entry into society more difficult than it needs to be.

My first ever court appearance was a felony bail review hearing.  My client had been arrested for selling marijuana.  A felony, but not the crime of the century.  Unfortunately for my client, he had previously chosen to get a tattoo on his arm bearing the letters "M.O.B."  In Los Angeles, and across Southern California, tattoos are often assumed to represent gang affiliations, and my client's tattoo had gotten this young man with no record bail set at $300,000 (for selling marijuana in California). 

Of course "M.O.B." can stand fore many things.  But the government alleged that his tattoo meant "member of Bloods" and hence opposed a bail reduction for this now accused gang member.  After pouring through the police reports (and actually saying "money over bitches" in open court), I found the key piece of evidence to get my client out of custody: he was booked wearing a blue Angels hat.  With the Angels typically wearing red, it would be very strange for a member of the Bloods (affiliated with the color red) to wear a blue hat.  My client was released on his own recognizance and we had set any issues of gang affiliation aside.

A week later, he was arrested again for a robbery.  While his sentence for possession of marijuana for sales would likely have involved only probation, these new charges were much more serious.  And the first thing on my mind was that he wouldn't have been arrested again if it wasn't for me.  I didn't have any emotional reaction on behalf of the robbery victim, but instead felt guilty for the new situation my client found himself in.  Of course I knew that I wasn't completely responsible for my client's new charges, but also could not deny that had I not gotten him out of jail the week before, he wouldn't be facing a strike and possible prison time.

When I first met my client, I believed that he wasn't a gang member, and I believed that he deserved a second chance.  He didn't make the most of it, but he still had my full support even after the second arrest.  Most importantly, I did not let the situation affect my belief in second chances.  One person's failure to

I get clients, young and old.  Some without so much as a parking ticket on their records and others whose rap sheets require a good stapler.  Rarely is the best way to deal with a citizen to lock them up with all of the other people who have committed crimes and deny them opportunities in the future.  Expecting people to become model members of society after being treated like animals is not rational.  Some people need guidance; others, an awakening.  But I can't say there are a whole lot of people whose missing piece is time behind bars. 

I had the pleasure of representing a young man, recently who is not just a client, but a friend.  He has battled a drug addiction for a long time.  Among other punishment, he has been locked up.  During a probation violation hearing, we were able to convince the judge that his most recent arrest was a slip-up on his road to recovery, and that he was back on track.  His probation was reinstated and he has now been clean for over four months! 

His story and his struggle motivate me to fight for others to have that opportunity.  Knowing that along the way, I will encounter people who fail, I will continue to do what I can to help people move on from their contacts with the law. 

All I can ask or hope for is that I am able to continue protecting the innocent and of giving people second chances.  I am proud to be a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney and fight for even the guilty!  People deserve second chances, and I fight to get them those chances.

If you've been arrested or charged with a crime, however serious, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
LA Sheriff's Inmate Locator 
Los Angeles Superior Court  
Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Felony Bail Schedule
Los Angeles Misdemeanor Bail Schedule

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

By Nicholas Loncar

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