Hire A Former Prosecutor To Stand By Your Side! Attorney Marc Pelta knows the system and how it works!

Experience Counts

A Felony Charge Doesn’t Have To Ruin Your Life

You likely remember the anti-drug public service announcement from the ’80s and ’90s that said, “This is your brain; this is your brain on drugs” while showing an egg being dropped into a frying pan. If the PSA had said, “This is your life after a felony conviction,” the pan would have been tossed up into the air, sending eggs and grease all over the kitchen. Few things can destroy your life more effectively than a felony conviction. Felonies can result in steep fines, jail time, prison sentences and a criminal record. The collateral consequences of having a felony conviction on your record can make your life miserable long after you’ve paid your debt to society.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You can fight back with the help of a tenacious criminal defense attorney. I have devoted over a decade of my career to defending the rights of felony defendants in San Francisco and surrounding areas of California. Call me at  415-853-8627 to discuss your defense options with an experienced criminal defense attorney and former criminal prosecutor.

A Tenacious Defense Against California And Federal Felony Charges

I don’t shy away from difficult cases. In fact, I welcome the challenge of going toe-to-toe with prosecutors. My experience as a prosecutor provides great insight into their viewpoint, something I use to build a strong defense for my clients. Unlike most defense attorneys, I have real trial experience. Preparing every case for trial allows me to negotiate plea agreements from a position of strength and achieve better outcomes for my clients.

I defend against a wide range of state and federal felony charges, including:

I also provide representation to people facing criminal consequences from probation and/or parole violations and can assist with obtaining an expungement of criminal records for those who have previous felony convictions.

Having a felony conviction on your record can haunt you for the rest of your life. The best way to avoid that fate is to fight back against charges upfront.

Life As You Know It Will End With A Felony Conviction

Whether you have been arrested or charged with a felony DUI, felony drug charge or a different felony crime, or you have reason to believe you are under investigation for a felony, contact me today for a consultation. Call my office now at 415-853-8627.

Aggressive Defense For The Most Serious Crimes

It may seem hopeless if you or a family member is accused of a violent crime or other serious felony. But it’s never over until it’s over. A good defense lawyer will do everything possible to fight the charges or cushion the blow.

I am Marc Pelta, a criminal defense attorney who welcomes the toughest cases, including Three Strikes felonies. I am a former prosecutor and proven trial lawyer who will not simply plead you guilty. With your freedom and your future on the line, I am prepared to go to court with a sound strategy and put up a fight.

No matter what the charges, call me at 415-853-8627 today.

When Criminal Charges Count As ‘Strikes’

As if jail and a felony record were not bad enough, some crimes are also a checkbox under California’s Three Strikes law. Convictions for violent felonies or serious felonies trigger increasingly harsh “throw away the key” prison terms:

  • On a first strike, the normal sentencing guidelines apply.
  • On a second strike, the minimum sentence for that offense is doubled.
  • On a third strike, the minimum sentence for that offense is tripled or 25 years in prison (whichever is greater)

For these reasons, it is critical to avoid a first, second or third strike conviction if at all possible. Prosecutors may be willing to negotiate to a non-strike offense. I also have experience with Romero motions and other strategies under the law to get previous strikes dismissed or reduced.

What Are Considered Three Strikes Offenses?

Examples of violent and serious felonies under the Three Strikes law include:

  • Murder and voluntary manslaughter
  • Rape and forcible sexual assault
  • Carjacking and armed robbery
  • Kidnapping
  • Arson
  • First-degree burglary (occupied building)
  • Any first-degree felony (use of a firearm or resulting in bodily injury)
  • Selling drugs to a minor

A Former Prosecutor On Your Side

I served as a criminal prosecutor for three years. Those insights have made me a better defense attorney over the last decade. I know how police investigations work and how the prosecuting attorneys think. That allows me to anticipate their strategies and find the holes in the government’s case – sketchy witnesses, thin evidence, other suspects, violations of your constitutional rights, etc.

If you are facing a first or second strike offense, I do everything I can to get that charge dismissed or knocked down so that it does not count as a strike. If you are arrested for a potential third strike, I am fully prepared to go to trial to fight for your freedom if the prosecutor will not budge on the underlying charges.

A Skilled Defense Can Make A Difference

You will work directly with me. I will explain the law and where you stand, and present a strong and strategic defense. To schedule your consultation, call my office at 415-853-8627 or use my online form. I practice throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.