A Violent Crimes Defense Attorney Representing Your Side Of The Story

Facing a felony charge can feel overwhelming and terrifying. You may have questions about your rights, your future and what steps to take next.

I am Marc Pelta, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor with over 13 years of experience. This dual perspective and experience allow me to create strong defense strategies that protect my clients’ rights and interests. If you’re facing charges related to a violent crime, a drug offense or another serious felony in San Francisco or throughout the Bay Area, I can provide the representation you need.

Providing Tenacious Defense Against State And Federal Felony Charges

A felony is the most serious type of crime in California. Unlike misdemeanors, felonies can send you to state prison for more than a year. I defend clients against charges such as:

• Violent crimes and assault: These crimes involve causing or threatening harm to others. Charges can range from basic assault to serious bodily injury.
• Drug-related offenses: These include selling, making or possessing large amounts of illegal drugs. The charges get more serious based on the type and amount of drugs involved.
• DUI felonies: A driving under the influence (DUI) offense becomes a felony when someone gets hurt, it’s the driver’s fourth offense or they have prior felony DUI convictions.
• Sex crimes: These charges include serious offenses that can lead to lifetime registration as a sex offender. Each case needs careful handling due to its sensitive nature.
• Burglary: This involves entering a building to commit a crime. If there were other people in the building, then the charges become more serious.
• Robbery: Taking property from someone by force or fear is robbery. Using weapons or causing injury makes these charges even more severe.
• Reckless driving: When reckless driving causes serious injury, it becomes a felony. These cases often involve accident reconstruction and medical evidence.

A felony conviction can change the trajectory of an individual’s life. A person might face years in state prison and thousands of dollars in fines. They may also find it harder to get jobs or rent homes. Professional licenses often get suspended, and noncitizens may face immigration problems. As your defense attorney, my main goal will be not only defending you in court but also protecting your future.

Understanding California’s Three Strikes Law

If a person has prior convictions for violent crimes, even a new minor felony charge could trigger harsh mandatory sentences. California’s Three Strikes law can greatly impact how courts handle a person’s current case based on their past criminal record.

Here is how it works:

• First strike: Normal sentencing guidelines apply for the first serious or violent felony conviction.
• Second strike: The sentence doubles for any new felony after the first, and the person must serve 80% of their time.
• Third strike: If they have two previous felony convictions, a person may face 25 years to life in prison with no time off for good behavior.

When a client has one or more prior convictions, I carefully examine past records and current charges to explore every possible defense strategy.

What Are Considered Three Strikes Offenses?

A “strike” is a violent crime that falls under California Penal Code Sections 667.5(c) and 1192.7(c). These convictions stay on your record and can lead to harsher sentences for any future felony charges. Common strikes include:

• Murder
• Robbery
• Residential burglary
• Kidnapping
• Most sex offenses, such as sexual assault and child molestation
• Any crime during which you personally used a weapon
• Any crime during which you caused great bodily injury
• Arson
• Crimes involving explosive devices

Attempting to commit any of these violent crimes also counts as a strike. These convictions never expire, so even decades-old strikes can affect new cases. This makes it crucial to fight any charge that could become a strike.

Get A Former Prosecutor On Your Side

Before founding Pelta Law, I served as a prosecutor for three years. Today, I make sure that prosecutors fully meet their burden of proof. Whether I’m defending against strike offenses, federal charges or other serious crimes, my background helps me build stronger cases and fight for better results.

My experience spans from local courts to the nation’s highest tribunals. I am admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, along with three federal district courts across California. This range of experience, combined with years of criminal defense work, means that I can handle serious felonies, strikes and complex federal cases at any level.

Working With An Experienced Attorney Makes All The Difference

If you or someone close to you is facing violent crime charges, you deserve experienced representation from a lawyer who understands what’s at stake. Drawing from my background on both sides of the courtroom, I stand ready to defend your rights and fight for your future.

Take the first step toward protecting what matters most. Schedule a consultation with Pelta Law by calling 415-853-8627 or sending a message through my contact page.

Common Questions Clients Are Asking About Felony Crimes

1. How can a San Francisco violent crimes attorney help protect my career and reputation?

A felony charge can follow you long after your case ends. Employers, landlords and licensing boards often review criminal records. This means a conviction can affect your job, your housing options and your professional standing for years.

When you hire me, I will review the evidence, challenge weak points in the prosecution’s case and look for ways to reduce the impact these charges have on your record. My goal is to build a defense strategy that accounts for both the courtroom and the life you return to once the court resolves the case.

2. What happens if I am charged with a felony under the California Three Strikes Law?

If I take on your case and you have one or more prior strike convictions, the stakes rise significantly. A second strike doubles your potential sentence and a third strike can carry 25 years to life in prison.

I will examine your prior record closely to see whether past convictions truly qualify as strikes under California law. I will look for procedural or evidentiary issues that may allow you to seek alternative sentencing options.

3. Can a Bay Area drug offense lawyer get my felony charges reduced or dismissed?

The outcome of a drug case can be heavily impacted by details like how police collected the evidence, the type and quantity of the substance and your criminal record. As a felony crimes attorney, I review search and seizure procedures, lab results and chain-of-custody records for weaknesses. Depending on the circumstances, this analysis may support a motion to suppress evidence, a negotiated reduction or, in some cases, dismissal. I will discuss the realistic options for your specific charges during a consultation.

4. Why is it important to hire a former prosecutor for my San Francisco felony defense?

Before founding Pelta Law, I spent three years prosecuting cases in California courts. That experience gave me insight into how prosecutors build cases, what evidence they prioritize and where their arguments tend to fall short. I now use that same insight to anticipate the state’s strategy and prepare a defense that addresses it directly, whether your case involves a violent crime, a drug offense or a federal charge.

5. Will a violent crime conviction in California automatically result in state prison time?

Sentencing depends on the specific charge, the facts of the case, your criminal history and whether the offense qualifies as a strike. Some violent felony convictions carry mandatory prison terms. However, others may allow for probation, diversion programs or alternative sentencing depending on the circumstances. I will walk clients through the sentencing ranges that apply to their charges.