San Gabriel Criminal Defense Lawyer

Whether it’s a first-time DUI offense, a DUI involving an accident, or cases with prior DUIs, our firm provides comprehensive defense strategies. We help clients through every part of the process, including DMV hearings, court proceedings, and any penalties associated with the charges. Our goal is to protect your driving privileges, minimize penalties, and, when possible, seek dismissal or reduction of charges.

Drug-related charges in California, including drug possession, trafficking, or prescription fraud, can carry serious consequences. Our attorneys work diligently to challenge evidence, investigate search and seizure procedures, and look for alternatives to jail time, such as diversion programs or reduced charges, depending on the case circumstances.

When facing violent crime charges such as assault, battery, or domestic violence, it is essential to have experienced defense on your side. Our team investigates every detail of the case, challenges the evidence, and works toward the best possible outcome. We understand the life-altering impact these charges can have, and we fight to protect our clients’ rights and futures.

Our firm has a strong background in defending clients against theft-related charges, including grand theft, burglary, embezzlement, and identity theft. In cases involving fraud, such as mail fraud or credit card fraud, we build defenses aimed at challenging the prosecution’s evidence, minimizing the charges, or negotiating favorable outcomes.

For clients facing charges that carry life-altering consequences, including homicide, manslaughter, and federal crimes, our firm provides the rigorous defense needed to tackle complex legal issues. Cases such as murder, kidnapping, and federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) crimes demand experienced, strategic legal defense, and Perliss Law Firm is prepared to advocate tirelessly on behalf of our clients.

Say as little as possible. Beyond basic booking information (your name and date of birth), you do not have to answer questions — politely say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want a lawyer." Then call a criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. In California you have the right to at least 3 completed phone calls within 3 hours of your arrest, and calls to your attorney are confidential.

Yes — this is often the most valuable stage to have one. Before charges are filed, a prosecutor reviews the police reports and decides whether to file, reduce, or decline the case. A defense attorney can present your side during that window, and cases are sometimes declined entirely. Waiting until after charges are filed gives up that opportunity.

A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in county jail and fines generally up to $1,000. A felony carries a year or more in county jail or state prison and much higher fines, and it has wider consequences for employment, professional licenses, firearm rights, and immigration status. Some offenses ("wobblers") can be charged either way — a key place where early defense advocacy matters.

In most cases you will be arraigned within 48 hours of arrest (excluding Sundays and holidays) if you are in custody. The judge reads the charges, you enter a plea (almost always "not guilty" at this stage), bail is addressed, and future dates are set. It is short and procedural — but bail and protective-order decisions made there affect your daily life immediately.

Yes, through several paths: the prosecutor may decline to file after reviewing the evidence (especially with early defense input); charges can be dismissed by the court if the evidence is insufficient or your rights were violated; and negotiated resolutions often reduce felonies to misdemeanors or substitute lesser offenses. Which path fits depends on the evidence — that is what the free consultation is for.

It can — seriously. Many California offenses, including some misdemeanors, can lead to deportation, denial of a green card or visa, or problems with naturalization for non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents. If you are not a U.S. citizen, tell your attorney at the very first consultation. A plea that looks minor from a criminal-law perspective can be devastating from an immigration perspective, and your defense must be built with both in view.

Generally, no. Police usually need a warrant to search the contents of your phone (a rule the U.S. Supreme Court set in Riley v. California) and to enter your home, with narrow exceptions such as true emergencies. You never have to consent to a search — say clearly, "I do not consent to a search." If a search happened anyway, its legality can be challenged in court, and illegally obtained evidence can be suppressed.

Many convictions can be dismissed under Penal Code § 1203.4 after you complete probation — this is commonly called expungement. It releases you from most penalties of the conviction and greatly improves employment and housing prospects, though it does not erase the record for every purpose (for example, it can still count in future cases and immigration analysis). We evaluate eligibility at a free consultation.

Not without an attorney. Investigators are trained to obtain statements that complete their case, and "just talking" is how many people create the evidence used against them. You may politely decline and have your lawyer contact them instead. Nothing about declining can be held against you in court.

Your consultation at Perliss Law Firm is free and confidential. Fees depend on the severity of the charges and whether the case resolves early or goes to trial; we explain the full cost before you decide anything. Our team is led by a former prosecutor, we serve clients in English and Chinese, and our phones are answered 24/7: (626) 323-9108.