Earl Carter has been practicing criminal defense in Victorville since 1975, giving us a huge advantage.

Our attorneys are highly skilled at helping clients avoid jail by fighting for acquittals, reducing charges, minimizing penalties, or arranging jail alternatives such as house arrest or work release.

We may be able to appear in court for you. In most cases we can show up in your place, keeping you out of court, thereby reducing your stress, and allowing you to maintain your daily schedule.

We are most likely familiar with the District Attorney involved in your case because we have handled more cases in Victorville in the past decade than any other firm.

Our Local Experience is Unsurpassed. We are in the Victorville Courts every single day defending our clients. This local experience and familiarity is a key factor in getting great results in court.

We have a live person answering our phones Weekdays from 8am to 5pm. We are here to answer your questions whenever they should arise.

Undergoing criminal prosecution in Victorville can be a frightening experience. If you, or someone you love, are facing criminal prosecution, you need an attorney with experience to fight for you. Earl Carter has been defending clients against criminal charges in Victorville for over 35 years.

Victorville Criminal Defense Attorney

Stay Out of Jail – Our Experienced Victorville Criminal Defense Attorney Will Fight For You! Staying out of jail is the primary concern of most of our clients. No one wants to go to Jail. That is where we come in. Fortunately, one of Victorville Defense Attorneys’ many strengths is the ability to keep our clients out of jail (when the facts of their case allow for it) through aggressive representation. Many of our clients never have to go to jail after hiring us. We have the experience necessary to analyze each of our clients’ cases and develop the defenses available to them. Employing these legal defenses we can successfully resolve their cases either by litigating at a jury trial, or through a negotiated settlement.

Even where jail time is required, there are often alternatives to time in jail. Our Victorville criminal defense attorneys are very knowledgable regarding the various jail alternatives that are available in Victorville courthouse. For example, our defense lawyers are regularly able to secure the following jail alternatives for our clients: weekend work release, electronic monitoring, house arrest, and community service. Do not assume that being charged with a crime in Victorville necessarily means time behind bars.

Avoid Going To Court. Our Victorville Criminal Defense Attorney Will Go For You.

Defending against criminal charges in Victorville often requires several court dates. One of the many advantages to hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer from the Law Office of Earl Carter to represent you is that in most instances, we can appear in court for our clients. This is one of the advantages to hiring us rather than using a public defender. If you are represented by a public defender, you have to be at court for every appearance. In Victorville court, a private attorney can appear for his client when they are charged with a misdemeanor. That means that, often times, our clients don’t have to miss a single day of work to resolve their case. This also means that our clients are saved countless amounts of stress from court. If you are being charged with a crime in Victorville, let us carry the burden of defending you, while you go on with your life. That is what we are here for. Save time and avoid the unnecessary stresses of court by contacting our Victorville criminal defense attorneys to fight for you today.

Our Victorville Criminal Defense Attorneys Handle All Types of Cases

Our Victorville criminal defense attorneys tackle all types of criminal cases. We handle the entire gambit including serious felonies, misdemeanors, and even traffic infractions. Our lawyers are excellent at handling DUI cases in Victorville, but they are skilled at handling much more serious cases when needed. Our attorneys in Victorville also handle even the most serious felonies including: Murder cases, Attempted murder, gang enhancements, three strikes cases, sex crimes, burglary cases, domestic violence, assault cases, fraud, theft cases, drug charges, embezzlement, robbery and more. There is no case too big or too small for our attorneys.

We handle the following misdemeanors: DUI , Driving Under the Influence , Domestic Violence, Battery, Solicitation, Larceny, Shoplifting, Petty theft, Drunk in public, public intoxication, driving on a suspended license, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and more.

Victorville Criminal Lawyers and a Team of Private Investigators

Our Victorville Criminal Defense Lawyers have Team of Licensed Private Investigators Available to investigate your case to develop you defenses. Often times when defending against criminal charges it is important to get witness statements from people who have information about the facts involved in the alleged crime. Other times, it is critical to have an investigator take photographic evidence that is helpful to challenge allegations made by the police. Our Victorville criminal Lawyers have the investigative resources they need to dig into the facts of your case and make sure you have the strongest defense possible.

Reduce or Expunge Criminal Defense Charges – Keep Your Record Clean!

One of the major concerns our clients have when fighting a criminal case is the impact on their criminal record that follows conviction. If you’re facing conviction, it is critical that you do everything that you can to minimize the impact it has on your record. The best option is to avoid blemishes to your record preventatively by fighting against criminal charges. However, just because you are convicted, all is not lost. An experienced Earl Carter Victorville attorney knows how to get charges dropped or reduced when necessary, after the fact, through an expungement or a 17 (b) motion, in order to minimize the mark on your record following a conviction. Our attorneys are highly successful at getting felonies dropped down to misdemeanors, and misdemeanors expunged from your record. The older the record the better. You will need to be off probation in order to have your charges expunged. Where time is of the essence, a motion may be filed to shorten your probation time in order to expedite an expungement. If you are concerned about your criminal record, you should consult with one of our Victorville criminal defense attorneys.

Earl Carter & Associates Victorville California

The criminal lawyers at Earl Carter & Associates have been defending criminal cases in Victorville, CA for over 35 years. Their experience and knowledge encompasses all criminal defense practice areas including dui, drug crimes, welfare fraud, domestic violence, traffic, tickets, and more. Earl Carter is the best Victorville Criminal Attorney and their criminal defense lawyers will aggressively defend your case. They have Spanish speaking Abogados en Victorville. Specifically with DUI’s, Earl Carter has been defending DUI cases since 1975 and they have more experience and win more DMV hearings than most any other DUI Attorney. Earl Carter is known as the best DUI Attorney in Victorville and provides assistance every step of the way.

Criminal Defense Attorney Victorville- Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I am afraid I was caught red handed. Is it even worth hiring an attorney, or should I save my money and take my lumps?

A: If you are charged with a crime in Victorville, you should always seek the counsel of an experienced Victorville criminal defense attorney. You may have many defenses available to you that are not obvious to you. Do not despair, help is available. There are very few situations in which we cannot help our client improve their situation. Even in situations where our clients are clearly guilty of committing a crime, we routinely get charges dropped or reduced, and punishments reduced. Our Victorville Criminal lawyers are very good at securing alternatives to jail for even our most guilty clients including work release, house arrest, electronic monitoring, or community service.

Q: Is it possible to beat a DUI charge?

A:There are many ways to successfully defend against a charge for DUI. A skilled criminal Defense lawyer knows how to attack a DUI charge strategically, so as to maximize the possibility of a successful defense. These cases are not as straightforward as you might think. Many clients come in fearing the worst, only to be pleasantly surprised. You should always consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney before going to court on a DUI do not assume you should plead guilty. Even where a conviction is imminent, many DUI’s can be negotiated down to reckless driving charges.

Q: Do I even need a private criminal attorney ? Why not just use a public defender?

A: While a Public Defender may be available to help those who are very poor financially, that does not mean that a public defender is the best option for you. For example, one clear advantage of hiring a private criminal defense attorney, especially if you are facing a misdemeanor, is that a private attorney can often go to court on your behalf, thereby keeping you out of court. If you are represented by a public defender, you will have to appear at court at every single court date.

Moreover, many people elect to hire private criminal attorneys in order to get the level of customer service and personalized attention that a private attorney can provide.

Q: Will the court automatically provide me with a public defender?

A:It is true that Public Defenders are provided to those charged with serious crimes who absolutely cannot afford an attorney, but if the court finds that you meet their financial qualifications, you will be denied representation by a public defender and required to hire your own private attorney.

Q: This is my first time being charged with a crime. Does the court take that into consideration?

A:Yes. Part of the analysis the court will undergo when determining how severe punishment for a crime should be, is determining if the defendant has committed crimes in the past. Typically in Victorville, individuals who have little or no prior criminal history will receive lighter punishments than those with extensive criminal backgrounds. Our experienced Victorville criminal defense attorney knows how to emphasize the importance of the fact that his client has a clean criminal history, while minimizing the impact in the case of an extensive criminal record.

Q: Is it possible to get my charges completely dismissed?

A:The short answer is yes. We regularly have clients whose charges get dismissed prior to a jury trial, but this typically only occurs if the incriminating evidence is particularly weak. In most instances, if you are being charged with a crime, the only way you can expect a positive result is to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. A skilled victorville criminal defense attorney will know how to achieve the best result possible for you through either a plea bargain, or by taking your case to trial.

Q: What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?

A: The terms felony and misdemeanor are classifications that refer to the severity of the crime. Essentially a felony is a crime that is punishable by over one year in jail, or state prison. A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by one year in jail or less. A third classification is an infraction. Infractions are minor offenses like traffic violations and these are not punishable by jail.

Q: Does being convicted of a felony always result in time in jail?

A: NO. While a felony always carries the risk of being sentenced to jail time, being convicted of a felony does not always result in jail. This is especially true if by the term jail you are referring to time behind bars in a jail cell.

There are many factors that play into the sentence that will accompany the conviction of a felony offense. One of the primary factors will be the severity of the crime one is convicted of. Another factor will be whether or not this is a first offense or whether there is a history of criminal convictions. An experienced Victorville criminal defense attorney will be able to resolve a felony case with the least punishment possible. Where jail is required, there are often many jail alternatives which a skilled Victorville criminal defense attorney may be able to arrange as a substitute for spending time behind bars. There are some felony convictions in which the sentence involves no jail time, there are other times when the sentence does require jail time, but this can be satisfied through work release, or electronic monitoring, and there are other times, when jail may be unavoidable.

Q: I was caught shoplifting in Victorville and I am being charged with Petty Theft (Penal Code 484, 488, or 490.5). Could I go to jail for this?

A: When someone is caught or accused of shoplifting they are most often charged with petty theft or larceny, unless the value of the items alleged to have been taken exceeds $950. Petty theft is a misdemeanor in California, and technically petty theft carries a potential punishment of up to $1000 in fines and up to six months in jail. However, as a practical matter, very few people charged with first time shoplifting in Victorville go to jail. Most frequently these cases resolve for a fine and probation in addition to some form of community service and restitution of the items alleged to have been taken.

One of the most severe penalties associated with a conviction for shoplifting or petty theft is the blemish it can create on one’s record. Stealing is what is referred to as a crime of moral turpitude and it can have disastrous affects on one’s employment or career, immigration status, or educational progress. The good news is that a skilled criminal defense attorney can often successfully defend against a petty theft charge in such a way so as to minimize the punishments. Even where a conviction is unavoidable, an experienced criminal defense attorney can often have a petty theft conviction expunged or removed from your record after you have successfully completed probation.

If you are wrongfully accused of petty theft, our skilled Victorville criminal defense attorney may be able to have you acquitted at a jury trial. In circumstances where a jury trial is not the best option, petty theft charges may be dismissed through a plea bargain that involves a deferred entry of judgment (DEJ). This is a resolution in which the District Attorney agrees that if the defendant can stay out of trouble for several months, the case will be dismissed following the successful completion of the agreed upon duration of time. In other circumstances a petty theft charge may be reduced from a misdemeanor to and infraction through the plea bargain process.

Some of the key factors that play in to the defend-ability of a shoplifting or petty theft charge include: 1. Whether or not this is a first offense. 2. The strength of the incriminating evidence. And 3. The value of the items alleged to be stolen. If you are being charged with Petty theft or Shoplifting in Victorville, our Victorville criminal defense attorneys can help you. In most cases we can even go to court for you. You may never have to appear in court at all. Call us immediately.

Q: What are the typical punishments for a domestic violence conviction in Victorville court?

A: When someone is arrested for domestic violence in California, the district attorney will typically file one of the following two charges: 1. California Penal Code Section 243(e)(1) (sometimes referred to as domestic battery) or 2. California Penal Code Section 273.5. ( referred to as corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant). CA PC 243(e)(1) is a misdemeanor offense, while Ca PC 273.5 can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony, but this charge is most often used in more severe cases where there has been a visible or substantial injury.

The severity of the punishment associated with a domestic violence conviction in Victorville will depend primarily on the severity if the crime charged. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, the typical punishment will involve a few days of jail (most often served through a jail alternative such as work release or electronic monitoring / house arrest), three years of summary or informal probation, and 52 weeks of anger management classes. A felony conviction of domestic violence can be substantially more severe, including state prison, three years of formal probation, and 52 weeks of anger management classes. In addition, domestic violence convictions often carry with them criminal protective orders ( these are restraining orders that are enforced by the criminal court) that force the defendant to stay away from the alleged victim. Moreover, domestic violence convictions can also result in the loss of the right to possess firearms.

If you are arrested for domestic violence you should understand that for public policy reasons Victorville Sheriffs may arrest someone once they are called out to a domestic dispute situation, whether or not domestic violence has actually occurred or not. However, being arrested does not necessarily indicate that the police have a strong case against you. In our experience, many domestic violence cases are filed with weak evidence, and are highly defendable. Our highly experienced Victorville domestic violence attorneys are excellent at identifying the weaknesses in the evidence of a domestic violence case. We have a team of investigators who can interview witnesses in order to provide evidence to show when domestic violence never actually occurred. We routinely get great results in court defending our clients who are accused of domestic violence based on weak facts. If you are being charged with domestic violence, our criminal defense attorneys can help you. We defend domestic violence cases in the Victorville courthouse on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. We have the local experience to protect you against baseless domestic violence charges.

Q: I am being charged with a felony in the Victorville courthouse. Is it possible to avoid jail?

A: While every case is unique, and there are many facts that need to be analyzed in every case to determine if it is realistic to avoid jail, it is absolutely possible to avoid jail when being charged with a felony in Victorville.

A skilled criminal defense lawyer may be able to beat some felony charges, when the facts of the case are favorable. In other situations, a case that is initially charged as a felony may be reduced through the plea bargain process. However, even in a situation where a felony conviction is unavoidable, there are many instances in which jail alternative such as work release, or house arrest are available as substitutes to serving time behind bars. The availability of these sentencing alternatives depends on several factors including the severity of the crime and whether or not you have prior convictions.

Q: What is the difference between first and second degree burglary?

A: In California the terms of first and second degree burglary (sometimes referred to as commercial burglary and residential burglary respectively) typically refer to the type of dwelling that was involved in a burglary.

Burglary is generally defined as the entering of a building, dwelling, or structure with the intent to commit a crime therein (typically a felony). If the dwelling entered is a store or a commercial building then the crime would typically be charged as second degree burglary, or burglary in the second degree, or commercial burglary. Second degree burglary can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, but is most often charged as a felony. If one enters a dwelling such as a house which is occupied, to commit a burglary, then this will be charged as a first degree burglary and will be charged as felony and a strike under California’s three- strikes law.

Burglary cases are taken very seriously in California courts, and Victorville is no exception. If you are being charged with burglary in Victorville, you should call us immediately to consult with an experienced Victorville criminal defense lawyer.

Q: What results can you guarantee, if I hire a criminal defense attorney from your firm?

A: It is critical that you understand that hiring an attorney from our law firm does not guarantee any result in your case. We cannot, nor do we ever promise results on a case. However, we can guarantee that by hiring us, you will get a criminal attorney who will fight for you, and do everything in his power to make sure that your rights are protected, and that you are defended as competently and effectively as possible under the circumstances. We have a wealth of experience among our Los Angeles criminal attorneys from many years of fighting hard for our clients in the Los Angeles County courts, which regularly results in great results.