Torrance Violent Crime Lawyers

Violent Crime Cases We Handle

At Ernenwein & Mathes, LLP, we defend against all types of violent crimes, including but not limited to the following:

• Elder Abuse: Physical, emotional, or financial abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person aged 65 or older.
• Robbery: Using force, threat, or intimidation to take someone else’s property while they are present.
• Murder: The unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. It is the most serious violent crime under California law.
• Arson: Intentionally setting fire to property, including forest land, vehicles, or residential buildings, for malicious purposes.
• Child Endangerment: Causing or permitting a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or placing a child’s health or safety at risk.
• Assault and Battery: Assault involves placing another person in fear of immediate violence; battery involves actual physical contact, even without injury.
• Weapons Charges: Illegal possession, sale, manufacture, or trafficking of firearms or other deadly weapons.
• Involuntary Manslaughter: Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person resulting from criminal negligence or an unlawful act.
• Voluntary Manslaughter: An intentional killing that occurs in the “heat of passion” or during a sudden quarrel that provokes violence.
• Vehicle Manslaughter: Causing death through negligent or unlawful driving.
• Domestic Violence: Injury or threat of harm against spouses, intimate partners, or other domestic victims, covering offenses from spousal battery to corporal injury.
• Sexual Assault: Sexual assault encompasses any sexual activity or conduct that occurs without explicit consent.
• Carjacking: Forcibly stealing a vehicle from its owner, typically while the owner is present.
• Kidnapping: Forcibly moving a person from one location to another against their will.
• Criminal Threats: Threatening another person with serious harm or death in a way that causes genuine fear for their safety.

Accused of a violent crime?
Call us today at (310) 361-3068 for a free, confidential case evaluation. Contact us now!

Potential Consequences of a Violent Crime Conviction

No two criminal cases are alike. The penalties you face depend on factors including the severity of the alleged crime, whether a deadly weapon was used, the victim’s age or capacity, whether the victim was a public servant, and your prior criminal history. Sentences can range from jail or prison time and substantial fines to long probation terms, victim restitution, mandatory substance abuse programs, batterers’ programs, or sex offender registration for serious offenses. Repeat offenders with prior strike convictions may also face enhanced sentencing under the California Three Strikes Law, which can result in sentences of 25 years to life on a third strike.

The best way to understand what you’re facing and identify your options is to speak with an experienced attorney. At Ernenwein & Mathes, we have decades of experience providing aggressive criminal defense. We can help you evaluate alternatives to pleading guilty, including diversion programs, and determine the strongest path forward based on the facts of your case.

Defending Against Violent Crime Charges

Every case turns on its own facts, and the right defense strategy depends on the evidence, the charges, and the circumstances of the alleged incident. Common defenses in violent crime cases include:

• Self-Defense: If you were protecting yourself or others from immediate harm, self-defense may apply. The force used must be reasonable and proportional to the threat you faced.
• Lack of Intent: Many violent crimes require proof that the defendant acted with a specific purpose to cause harm. Where intent is a required element, evidence that you didn’t act deliberately can be a viable defense.
• Mistaken Identity: Eyewitness misidentification is one of the most well-documented sources of wrongful conviction. Challenging the reliability of identifications is a meaningful avenue in many violent crime cases.
• False Accusations: Charges can stem from personal disputes, relationship conflicts, or genuine misunderstandings. Careful examination of the evidence and witness credibility is essential when the allegations don’t reflect what actually happened.

The Role of Evidence in Violent Crime Cases

A strong defense begins with a thorough review of the evidence the prosecution intends to use. Our on-staff licensed private investigator, a former LAPD officer, conducts independent factual investigations on every case. Key evidence categories in violent crime cases include:

• Forensic Evidence: DNA, fingerprints, and ballistic analysis can implicate or exculpate. Defense review of forensic methodology, including how evidence was collected and analyzed, is critical to evaluating its reliability.
• Eyewitness Testimony: Eyewitness accounts can be persuasive, but they’re also subject to well-documented error. Biases and inconsistencies can be surfaced through careful cross-examination.
• Surveillance Footage: Video from security cameras or mobile devices can provide an objective record of events, sometimes directly contradicting the prosecution’s account.
• Expert Testimony: Experts in forensic science, mental health, or injury analysis can challenge or contextualize the prosecution’s physical and medical evidence in ways that matter at trial.

How a Conviction Can Affect Your Future

The consequences of a violent crime conviction extend well beyond any sentence imposed by the court:

• Employment: Most employers run background checks. A violent crime conviction can disqualify applicants from a wide range of positions and make it harder to maintain existing employment.
• Housing: Many landlords won’t rent to individuals with violent crime convictions, which can create serious barriers to stable housing.
• Reputation: A conviction can alter how family, friends, and colleagues view you, with lasting effects on personal and professional relationships.
• Social Consequences: The stigma of a violent crime conviction can affect mental health, community ties, and overall quality of life in ways that persist long after a sentence is served.

Our Approach to Violent Crime Defense in the South Bay

Robert Ernenwein’s years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney gave him detailed knowledge of how prosecutors in the South Bay evaluate cases, pursue charges, and decide where to press and where to negotiate. That perspective directly shapes how we build defenses for clients at Torrance Superior Court and throughout Los Angeles County. Before a case reaches trial, we pursue every available pretrial option: dismissals, charge reductions, deferred entry of judgment, and placement in diversion programs where the facts support it. When trial is the right path, we’re prepared to take it.

Residents throughout the South Bay, including Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, San Pedro, Long Beach, and Hawthorne, can discuss their situation with our team at no charge. If you’re facing violent crime allegations anywhere in Los Angeles County, contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Torrance violent crime lawyer.

FAQs About Violent Crime Cases in California

• What are the penalties for violent crimes in California?
  Penalties depend on the specific offense and the circumstances involved, but can include lengthy prison sentences, substantial fines, probation, victim restitution, and mandatory rehabilitation programs. Aggravating factors such as weapon use or the victim’s age can significantly increase the sentence imposed.
• Can a violent crime charge be reduced to a lesser offense?
  In some cases, yes. Whether a reduction is achievable depends on the strength of the evidence, the specific charges, and negotiations between your defense attorney and the prosecution. This is one of the first things we evaluate when taking on a new case.
• What should I do if I’m wrongly accused of a violent crime?
  Stay calm, don’t speak to law enforcement without an attorney present, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. The earlier you have counsel involved, the more options are available to you.
• What is the difference between assault and battery?
  Assault refers to an act that places someone in fear of imminent harm; battery involves actual physical contact with another person. Under California law, battery can be charged even when no injury occurs.
• Can a violent crime conviction be appealed?
  Yes. If you’re convicted, you have the right to appeal based on legal errors made during trial or newly discovered evidence that could affect the outcome.
• What qualifies as a violent crime under California law?
  California’s violent crimes include murder, robbery, assault, battery, domestic violence, kidnapping, and other offenses involving the use or threat of force against another person.

Call our office at (310) 361-3068 or contact us online for a free consultation with a violent crime attorney in Torrance.