Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

California laws and procedures related to criminal defense are complicated and require a skilled criminal defense lawyer to properly navigate through the process.  Mike Coffey & Patrick Coffey fight for the rights of alleged criminal offenders in the city of Newport Beach and throughout Orange County. The Firm delivers personalized attention to clients by keeping case information detailed and accessible, and provides criminal defense legal solutions related to the following matters:

California Criminal Defense:
Individuals found to violate a criminal law whether through their own admission of guilt or through the determination of a jury are subject to fines, imprisonment, and probation and community service, among other penalties. The outcome of any criminal case depends upon the facts surrounding the crime charged, the strength of the evidence, the legal validity of law enforcement and courtroom procedure, and the goals and strategy of the government and defense.

California DUI:
"DUI" stands for Driving Under the Influence and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance, to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit. Even for a first offense, penalties can include license suspension, substantial fines, community service, mandatory attendance at a state or DMV approved alcohol program, mandatory overnight incarceration and required installation (at the offender's expense) of a car ignition locking device. In addition, a DUI conviction stays on a DMV record for at least 7 years, it typically results in higher insurance premiums and an offender may become ineligible for credit. Plus, a DUI could also jeopardize your employment opportunities.

However, if someone was injured as a result of the drunken driving accident, it is possible the defendant will be charged with a felony (and if the victim dies, the driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter). Further, a DUI conviction will likely be raised to a felony if it is the driver's fourth DUI offense or the driver has had a prior felony DUI offense within 10-years of the new charge.

California Domestic Violence: 
Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual or other violence that takes place between people who may be married or not married, heterosexual, gay or lesbian, living together, separated or dating. Domestic violence can be criminal and include physical assault: hitting, pushing and shoving, etc.; sexual abuse: unwanted or forced sexual activity; and stalking.

California Drug Crimes:
Over the past few decades, the government has amassed armies of law enforcement personnel whose sole purpose is to pursue, arrest and prosecute violations of the nation's drug laws, which have become more and more severe, with offenders frequently receiving sentences with very long mandatory minimum prison terms. The severity has also extended to drug forfeiture laws, which the government uses to seize bank accounts, houses, cars, boats and other property, even when it cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed. Coffey & Coffey have extensive experience in state and federal courts representing clients in all types of drug cases. They treat each drug case individually, finding the right solution to serve the needs of their clients.

California Felonies:
Felony crimes involve drug and narcotics charges, arson, burglary, armed robbery, murder and/or attempted murder, rape and/or sexual assault, kidnapping and aggregated assault and battery. A felony conviction is a serious matter that can result in a substantial state prison sentence and the potential loss of certain privileges and Constitutional rights of U.S. citizenship, such as the right to possess a firearm or the right to vote.

California Misdemeanors:
Some people think of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors as minor offenses. Coffey & Coffey understand that a conviction for any crime can have disastrous consequences. Because a misdemeanor conviction can result in jail time and loss of important rights and freedoms, they know such cases are anything but minor.

Take Action To Protect Your Rights:
If you or someone you know needs skilled criminal, DUI or drug defense, please call the Firm today at 949-675-6600, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation with an experienced Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer.