Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer

Arrested and charged with a crime?

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in L.A., you are facing serious consequences. Our state has some of the toughest prosecutors, law enforcement and judges in the country, and when you facing these odds, you need have an experienced defense lawyer with a proven record of success. At Takakjian & Sitkoff, our legal team has extensive trial experience on both sides of the aisle.

As former Deputy District Attorneys in the Los Angeles area, few legal teams have the depth of insight and extensive contacts throughout the legal community that we bring to the table. We know being accused of a crime is frightening and that you are likely concerned about your future. You have every reason to be concerned. The criminal justice system moves forward relentlessly, and if you hope to go free, you must contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at once to begin taking action for your defense.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Los Angeles

Whether charged with a DUI or a serious murder charge, fighting for your defense should being at once. The sooner we become involved in your case, the more likely we can take action to help you fight to avoid the repercussions you will face if convicted. In some cases, if we can intervene prior to formal charges, negotiations can take place to avoid the charges altogether, have them reduced or seek other alternatives in the case. We take cases on determined to aggressively defend our clients, and we fight to win. The first most urgent step is to engage in a painstaking review of all the evidence the prosecutor has against you, including police reports, witness statements, lab reports and other evidence. The arrest procedures and whether you were the victim of illegal search and seizure must be evaluated to determine whether any evidence can be suppressed. We take your case very seriously and know exactly how important it is to your future. We give it the focus it deserves.

We can assist in all types of criminal charges and related activities including but not limited to:

Appeals
Though you may have been convicted of a crime, if you believe the verdict or sentence was unfair, you may have grounds for an appeal. Click here to read more about criminal appeals.

Arson
Intentionally setting fire to one's own property for the purpose of committing fraud or intentionally setting a fire or causing an explosion on another's property may constitute the offense of arson. Click here to read more about arson.

Bench Warrants
A bench warrant may be issued for your arrest based on a failure to appear in court, failure to pay a fine or other form of noncompliance with a court order. Instead of trying to avoid arrest by moving or evading law enforcement, it is best to face a bench warrant head on with an attorney's help. Click here to read more about bench warrants.

Domestic Violence
Domestic violence may take on many forms: child abuse, elder abuse and spousal/partner abuse. In any of these circumstances, a defendant accused of domestic violence may face harsh penalties if convicted. Click here to read more about domestic violence.

Drug Crimes
Whether accused of drug possession, possession for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia or a more serious drug offense such as distribution, manufacturing or trafficking, you need a Los Angeles criminal attorney you can trust to protect your interests. Click here to read more about drug crimes.

DUI
When a driver is charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in the Los Angeles area, he or she can expect to face imprisonment, fines and license suspension if convicted. Community service and probation in lieu of imprisonment may also be enforced. Click here to read more about DUI.

Expungement
Expungement is a legal process that involves having one's criminal record cleared. Except for in certain situations, this means that a criminal conviction, arrest or charges will not appear on one's record and that one can legally say "no" when asked if they have a record. Click here to read more about expungement.

Federal Offenses
Including such offenses as counterfeiting, espionage and tax fraud, federal crimes are those crimes charged in federal court. Penalties for these crimes are often more severe due to federal sentencing guidelines and the inability of federal judges to deviate from these to lessen a defendant's punishment. Click here to read more about federal offenses.

Felony Offenses
In California, a felony is a crime punishable by imprisonment in state prison for at least one year. Penalties may range all the way to life in prison or even the death penalty in some cases, making felonies the most serious types of criminal offenses one may be accused of committing. Click here to read more about felony offenses.

Human Trafficking
Trading, selling or transferring human beings for sexual exploitation or labor is considered the criminal offense of human trafficking. Investigations into human trafficking are often conducted by the federal government and charges may be filed in federal court. Click here to read more about human trafficking.

Juvenile Crimes
A juvenile crime is a criminal offense that is committed by a minor, a person under 18 years old. A minor may face juvenile charges for an act that is illegal due to their age, as in the case of underage drinking, or because the act is considered illegal at any age, as in the case of shoplifting or burglary. Click here to read more about juvenile crimes.

Kidnapping
When a person is accused of taking and holding or transporting another person against their will, this may be considered kidnapping. If kidnapping is carried out for the purpose of collecting ransom or assaulting the victim in any way, a defendant may face first degree felony charges. Click here to read more about kidnapping.

Misdemeanors
A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by up to one year in county jail. Even though it is true that a misdemeanor is a lesser crime than a felony, it may still have a serious impact on a defendant's life, leading to ruined employment and educational opportunities. Click here to read more about misdemeanors.

Probation Violations
A person who is on probation must abide by certain rules to avoid having probation terminated and being sent to serve the full jail or prison sentence that may be enforced for the original crime they were convicted of. In the face of an alleged probation violation, it is absolutely crucial to involve a lawyer who can defend your rights. Click here to read more about probation violations.

Sex Crimes
The true impact that a sex crime conviction will have on a defendant will extend far beyond any jail or prison time initially imposed by the court. A defendant's reputation and career may never fully recover, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration may lead to social ostracism and limited employment and educational opportunities. We handle all types of sex crime cases in Los Angeles, including child molestation, child pornography, indecent exposure, internet sex crimes, rape, sexual battery and more. Click here to read more about sex crimes.

Theft Crimes
There are numerous different types of criminal offenses that may be classified as theft crimes: automobile theft, burglary and robbery, embezzlement, petty theft and shoplifting. All of these involve taking another's property, whether by force, deception or without their permission. Click here to read more about theft crimes.

Three Strike Crimes
In California, a conviction for certain serious and/or violent felony offenses will count as a "strike" on a defendant's criminal record. A second strike may result in double the penalties,and a third felony conviction of any kind (even for felony petty theft) may result in 25 years to life in prison. Click here to read more about three strike crimes.

Traffic Offenses
At our firm, we are committed to protecting Los Angeles drivers who have been pulled over and ticketed or arrested for traffic offenses. We handle cases related to hit and run, reckless driving, speeding tickets, DUI and many others. Click here to read more about traffic offenses.

Violent Crimes
Representing defendants accused of violent crimes is an important part of our firm's criminal defense practice, as the penalties for these offenses are often steep and only skilled counsel can help a defendant secure a dismissal or acquittal. We handle cases related to murder, manslaughter, assault and battery, aggravated assault, armed robbery, vehicular manslaughter, hate crimes and more. Click here to read more about violent crimes.

Warrants
A warrant may be issued when law enforcement establishes probable cause that a person has committed a crime (arrest warrant) or when a person stands accused of violating a court order (bench warrant). Click here to read more about warrants.

Weapon Charges
Possession of an illegal weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon or firearm, weapons trafficking, and the possession or use of a weapon in the commission of a crime may all constitute weapon charges, which are often felonies. Click here to read more about weapon charges.

White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes typically occur in a business or financial environment. Fraud, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, money laundering, identity theft, bribery and tax evasion are some of the types of white collar criminal cases that our firm handles. Click here to read more about white collar crimes.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from our firm at once if you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense.