At the Kosnett Law Firm, our firearms defense attorneys in Los Angeles know that California has some of the most stringent gun laws in the United States. However, our residents are allowed to legally possess a firearm, when they purchase the gun through a California licensed dealer under the Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) process.
When firearms are illegally obtained, unlawfully carried, or used during the commission of a crime, the individual can be charged with a felony or misdemeanor that will reflect the type of gun in question, the intent of its use, and the prior criminal record of the person who was arrested and charged.
Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys can help you understand the extent of the charges the prosecutor’s office is pursuing against you, so together we can build the best defense strategy for your unique case.
What are the Most Common Types of Gun Crimes Reported in Los Angles, California?
In California, there are many types of gun crimes that can lead to extensive penalties when convicted.
They may include:
- Assault weapon possession
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Brandishing a weapon
- Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit
- Carrying a loaded firearm in public
- Drive-By shooting
- Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Illegally selling a firearm
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Possession of an assault weapon
- Shooting an object into or firing into an occupied building
If you have been accused of a crime involving a firearm in California, consult with our skilled Los Angeles weapons charges attorneys at Kosnett Law Firm to thoroughly review the details of your case to determine an effective defense strategy to meet your unique needs.
What are the Penalties for Gun Crimes in Los Angeles, California?
Each person’s weapons charge is unique and will require a complete investigation into the alleged crime, where it occurred, and the individual’s criminal history.
Generally, a misdemeanor gun crime in Los Angeles carries a penalty of up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
Felony weapons offenses can carry a sentence of one to twenty years in a California state prison.
Each sentence length will be determined by the activity, the type of weapons offense, and whether the individual has a prior criminal record, particularly a weapons conviction.
There is also any number of sentencing enhancements that could apply to each conviction, which may add a significant number of years to your sentence.
There are many factors associated with Los Angeles County weapons charges, that is why it is important to partner with an experienced Los Angeles criminal gun crimes attorney who will outline your charges, the penalties associated with the alleged crime, and the proper defense strategy to pursue the best outcome for your unique needs.
How Can the Los Angeles Gun Crimes Attorneys at the Kosnett Law Firm Defend My Case?
Weapons charge convictions in Los Angeles may impact the rest of your life, including appearing on a criminal background check for employers, lenders, professional licensing committees, and government agencies to see.
Depending on your unique gun crimes charges in Los Angeles County, there are legal defense strategies that are designed to pursue the best results, when they can be applied to your case.
They include:
- Self-defense, or the defense of another person or people, when you believed any of you were in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- Accidental discharge of a weapon with no criminal intent.
- You did not own the weapon, nor were you aware of the weapon’s existence on your person or in your vehicle.
- The evidence being used against you was illegally obtained in violation of your Fourth Amendment
- Police misconduct occurred during the arrest or while gathering evidence.
If you have been arrested for gun crimes in California, contact our Los Angeles & Irvine criminal defense attorneys at the Kosnett Law Firm today by calling (310) 445-5900 or by contacting us online to review your unique circumstances and provide straightforward legal options on how we can help.
