San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Areas of Practice

Criminal allegations are only the beginning; they can lead to jail or prison sentencing, stiff monetary fines, community service, driver's license suspension, victim restitution, probation or parole and a permanent criminal record. San Diego criminal defense attorney James Dicks has been working in the criminal field for more than 30 years.

As a former police officer and narcotics investigator and as a Criminal Defense Specialist, he can help you take steps towards securing a more favorable case result considering the circumstances of your case. The firm is one of the most prestigious criminal defense law firms in North San Diego County; here you will get high quality criminal defense representation when you need it most. Our firm can handle all types of criminal cases, below are our key practice areas.

DUI
It is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater. If you have been arrested for a first DUI offense, multiple DUI, under 21 DUI, military DUI, or any other DUI offense, attorney James Dicks can review all aspects of your case including the circumstances that led up to your arrest. There are numerous mistakes that law enforcement can make which may serve to help you avoid a conviction if revealed. Read more about DUI…

Sex Crimes
Sex crimes typically involve non-consensual sexual contact; however, they also include internet sex crimes, child pornography, indecent exposure, pimping and prostitution. The more serious sex crime offenses such as child molestation require mandatory sex offender registration. Failure to register as a sex offender or failure to update your new address when you move can send you straight to prison. Read more about sex crimes…

White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes include: fraud, embezzlement, counterfeiting, identity theft, tax evasion, securities fraud, investment fraud and more, many of which come down to the defendant's intent. Attorney James Dicks can represent clients charged with all types of white collar crimes in the state and federal courts. The burden of proof will be on the prosecution to prove you intended to commit a crime, which can be exceedingly difficult for the prosecution to prove. Read more about white collar crimes…

Theft Crimes
Theft crimes refer to the taking of goods or services without the owner's consent. Theft crimes cover a broad range of criminal offenses ranging from shoplifting, to auto theft, identity theft, petty theft, grand theft, burglary and robbery. How you are prosecuted will depend on the value of the goods or services stolen, your criminal record (if any), and whether or not a weapon was involved in the crime. Read more about theft crimes…

Drug Crimes
Drug-related crimes are very serious offenses. The penalties for a drug-related crime vary widely depending on the type of the drug, the quantity and what you intended to use it for. Typically, possession of a small amount of marijuana is one of the least severe of drug offenses, whereas the penalties are far stiffer with drug sales, manufacturing, cultivation, trafficking, importation and exportation. Read more about drug crimes…

Federal Crimes
Federal crimes are aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors. Federal crimes are deemed illegal by United States federal legislation as opposed to state laws. Common federal offenses include but are not limited to: kidnapping, tax evasion, counterfeiting, social security fraud, damaging mailboxes and interstate drug trafficking. Read more about federal crimes…

Violent Crimes
Violent crimes are either the intended crime as in murder or manslaughter, or they are a means to an end as in robbery. Because of their inherently dangerous nature, violent crimes are prosecuted harshly in the state of California. Violent crimes include: assault, battery, rape, robbery, manslaughter and murder. Read more about violent crimes…

Domestic Violence
Domestic violence refers to violence that occurs between spouses, ex-spouses, people who were involved in a former relationship, family members, people who share a child together, or people who live together. Domestic violence is not limited to physical violence; it can be emotional, financial and economic as well. Common forms of domestic violence are child abuse, spousal abuse, stalking, assault, battery, and sexual assault. Read more about domestic violence…

Juvenile Crimes
Juvenile crimes are those criminal acts that are committed by individuals under the age of 18. The majority of juvenile crimes are tried in juvenile court; however, for more serious offenses such as murder, the minor can be tried as an adult and therefore face adult penalties. Read more about juvenile crimes…

Three Strike Crimes

Under California law, if you have two felony convictions on your record, a third conviction can result in a state prison sentence of 25 years to life under the "Three Strikes Law." A defendant can be sent to prison for 25 years even if their third conviction was not for a violent felony. California is one of the most severe states in regards to the interpretation of this law. Read more about three strike crimes…

Pre-File Investigations
If you are under investigation, did you know that you can fight a criminal charge before it has been formally filed? A pre-file investigation can set the record straight in your favor by helping you to avoid formal charges altogether. Attorney James Dicks can perform a pre-file investigation by building a defense on your behalf before charges are filed against you. Read more about pre-file investigations…

Expungements
Expungement is the process where your criminal record is sealed to the general public. If you are having difficulty getting a job, or obtaining a loan, you might want to consider finding out if your records are eligible for expungement. Clearing your criminal record will depend on a variety of factors; attorney James Dicks can help you determine your eligibility. Read more about expungements…

Internet Crimes
Internet crimes refer to any criminal offense which is committed on our through the internet. Common internet crimes include: identity theft, gambling, hacking, internet pornography of minors, credit card fraud, phishing, internet auction fraud, work-at-home schemes among others. Such crimes can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the facts of the case. Read more about internet crimes…

Military Crimes
Any member of the United States military who has been accused of a crime – whether it's a regular civilian crime or military specific is subject to a court martial (military trial) to ascertain guilt and sentencing. When your military career is on the line, you need an experienced attorney who is familiar working in the military courts. Read more about military crimes…

Assault and Battery
Assault is the attempt or threat of causing bodily injury coupled with the ability to carry out that threat, whereas battery is the actual and intentional striking or hitting another person's body. An assault and battery charge can be brought to civil or criminal court. Often times assault and battery are considered a violent crime in which case a conviction would count as a "strike" on your criminal record. Read more about assault and battery…

Burglary
It is against the law to enter someone else's property with the intention of stealing something or committing a crime. With burglary cases, it's critical to prove whether or not the defendant had the intent to commit a crime on the property. Defense strategies may include mistaken identity, the accused had a valid reason to be there, or their finger prints were on the scene because they were lawfully on the property in the past. Read more about burglary…

Robbery
Robbery is a serious crime in California because it involves taking another person's property by force, threats or violence; it is categorized as a felony offense. Due to its violent nature, robbery can count as a "strike" on your criminal record. This means that a subsequent conviction for a violent crime will incur double the penalties for the accused. Read more about robbery…

Restraining Order Violations
A restraining order violation is a criminal offense that involves intentionally violating the terms of a restraining order against you. If you are found guilty, you may be taken into custody and sent to jail. You could be facing up to one year in jail and/or a $1000 fine. If someone was injured during the violation, the fines are doubled and you could face misdemeanor or felony charges. Read more about restraining order violations…

Warrants
You could have a warrant for your arrest without your knowledge, turning a routine traffic stop into a one way trip to jail. If you suspect you have a warrant for your arrest, don't try to handle it yourself. Many judges have heard the same excuses all before and will be unsympathetic towards you and your associated penalties. Read more about warrants…

Extradition
Extradition is the process where one state asks another state to surrender a person who has a warrant out for their arrest or is suspected of committing a crime. Being extradited is a traumatic event which can cause you to miss work and lose wages, not to mention causing you substantial embarrassment and a ruined reputation. Read more about extradition…

Aiding and Abetting
In legal terms, aiding and abetting is the criminal act of helping someone commit a crime or avoid law enforcement after they have committed a crime. To be found guilty of aiding and abetting, it's not necessary that you were present at the time the crime was committed. Merely offering advice, assistance, or help would suffice. In California, the punishment for being an accessory to a crime will result in up to $5,000 in fines and up to one year imprisonment. Read more about aiding and abetting…

Conspiracy
Under California law, conspiracy takes place when two or more people plan and work together to commit a crime. They must also take some sort of action towards the completion of the crime; however, it is not necessary for the crime to be completed for the person to be charged with conspiracy. A conspiracy conviction can incur the same penalties as the crime itself. Read more about conspiracy…

Perjury
A person is guilty of perjury when they have lied about or hidden important information while under oath or otherwise when sworn to tell the truth. This can include information provided in a person's tax returns, or other legal documents. If convicted, a person can face up to 4 years in state prison, fines, community service and more. Read more about perjury…

Hit and Run
A hit and run occurs when a person is involved in an accident that causes property damage, bodily injury or death to another person and they do not stop, instead they flee the scene of the accident. In order for a person to be convicted of a hit and run, they must have known they were involved in an accident, and knowingly fled the scene. Read more about hit and run…

Stalking
Under California law, stalking is the act of intentionally, maliciously and repeatedly following or harassing a person and putting them in fear for his or her own safety. When a person's conduct purposely alarms, annoys, terrorizes or torments a victim, it is considered stalking. Most stalking victims are female and domestic violence is a dominant factor in many stalking cases. Read more about stalking…

Obstruction of Justice
Obstruction of justice involves the interference with the administrative or proceedings of the courts, the judicial system, or law enforcement agencies, and it is illegal. A conviction for obstruction of justice may include a state prison sentence of up to 8 years. Obstruction can include threatening witnesses or jurors, interfering with an arrest, bribing witnesses or jurors, or hiding or destroying evidence. Read more about obstruction of justice…

Do I Need a Defense Attorney?
When you are facing criminal charges, your future and your freedom are in the hands of the prosecutor and the judge. In many cases they have already made up their mind to pursue a conviction against you which usually involves jail or prison sentencing. You have no other choice but to retain your own experienced criminal representation if you want to have a chance of avoiding a criminal conviction. Read more about why you need a defense attorney…

San Diego DUI Attorney
It is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or greater in California. That number is even lower at .04% for commercial drivers and just .01% for drivers under the age of 21. A DUI charge can be fought and in many cases successfully won with the assistance of a highly experienced DUI attorney. Read more about a San Diego DUI attorney…

San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer

A San Diego criminal defense attorney from our firm can provide you with top-notch representation. Our firm has successfully handled all types of criminal cases, both large and small in the state, federal and military courts. We urge you to contact our firm immediately to schedule your confidential consultation where we can plan your defense strategy.

Are you facing criminal charges in San Diego? If so, contact San Diego criminal defense attorney James Dicks today!