Law Office of Nic Cocis
Violent Crimes
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Violent Crimes

Serious defense for serious charges including assault, battery, robbery, and weapons offenses. We fight for your freedom.

Violent Crimes

Violent Crimes Defense in Riverside County: Protecting Your Freedom and Future

Violent crime charges in Riverside County are among the most serious offenses in California, carrying severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences, strikes under the Three Strikes Law, and permanent damage to your reputation. Whether you are facing charges in Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Winchester, Perris, Hemet, San Jacinto, Corona, Riverside, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Banning, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Winchester, Wildomar, or French Valley, a violent crime conviction can destroy your career, relationships, and freedom. At the Law Office of Nic Cocis, we understand that violent crime allegations often arise from self-defense, false accusations, or situations that have been mischaracterized by law enforcement. Our mission is to provide aggressive defense that protects your rights and fights for your freedom.

Understanding Violent Crime Charges in California

California violent crime laws cover a wide range of offenses under the Penal Code. Common violent crime charges in Riverside County include assault, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, homicide, attempted murder, and mayhem. These charges carry penalties ranging from months in county jail to life in prison.

California's Three Strikes Law

Many violent crimes are classified as "strikes" under California's Three Strikes Law. A first strike has no additional penalty but counts toward future strikes. A second strike doubles your sentence for any new felony. A third strike results in 25 years to life in prison for any new felony, even if non-violent.

Strategic Defense Against Violent Crime Charges

At the Law Office of Nic Cocis, our defense strategies include self-defense or defense of others, false accusations, lack of intent, insufficient evidence, constitutional violations, mistaken identity, and negotiating reduced charges. We fight to protect your freedom and future.

Contact the Law Office of Nic Cocis today for a confidential and completely free consultation. Let us begin building your defense immediately.

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Don't face criminal charges alone. Contact the Law Office of Nic Cocis today for a free, confidential consultation about your violent crimes case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under PC 667.5(c), violent felonies include murder, voluntary manslaughter, mayhem, rape, sodomy by force, oral copulation by force, lewd acts on a child under 14, any felony with great bodily injury, robbery, arson causing injury, carjacking, kidnapping, and assault with intent to commit rape or robbery.
Violent felonies are strikes under Three Strikes, doubling sentences for future felonies and potentially resulting in 25-to-life for a third strike. They also require serving 85% of the sentence before parole eligibility, limit good time credits, and can result in state prison rather than county jail.
Great bodily injury (GBI) enhancement (PC 12022.7) adds 3-6 years to sentences when the victim suffers significant physical injury. GBI is defined as substantial injury beyond that inherent in the offense. The enhancement applies to most felonies and makes the underlying offense a violent felony.
While challenging, violent crime charges can sometimes be reduced through plea negotiations, especially when evidence is weak or mitigating factors exist. Charges may be dismissed if constitutional rights were violated, evidence is insufficient, or witnesses are unavailable. An experienced attorney can identify the best strategy.
Assault with force likely to cause GBI (PC 245(a)(4)) is the attempt or threat, carrying 2-4 years. Battery causing serious bodily injury (PC 243(d)) requires actual infliction of injury, also carrying 2-4 years. Both are wobblers, and both can be strikes if GBI is found.

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