Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Attorney

Lessem & Newstat: Quality, Aggressive Legal Representation

If you need a high-quality attorney on your side, call our office today. Our lawyers are ready to put their knowledge and experience to work for you. Jeremy Lessem, an attorney with the firm, is a certified criminal specialist. Less than one percent of the lawyers in California who practice criminal law can claim this title. If you are facing criminal charges, the quality of your attorney is probably the most important factor affecting the outcome of your case. When you need an aggressive, high quality Santa Barbara criminal defense lawyer, our firm has the credentials that you need to protect your rights and fight for your interests from the moment we take on your case.

Areas of Practice

Federal Crimes
There is a wide range of crimes that will be filed in federal court, and these can include violent crimes, drug crimes, as well as white collar crimes. The federal criminal justice system is completely separate than the state system, and most crimes have much more severe penalties at that level. Read more about federal crimes...

DUI
If you are facing DUI charges, it can be a very serious legal problem. It is important that you understand the DUI process and act quickly, as charges proceed through the system extremely quickly. It could not be more important to have a quality defense lawyer fighting for you if you are facing any DUI charge, including felony criminal accusations of vehicular manslaughter. Read more about DUI...

Misdemeanor
There is a misconception that a misdemeanor offense is minor. In fact, many misdemeanor offenses have the potential for up to one year in jail as part of the punishment. If you land in the courtroom of a judge that considers that you need to learn a lesson, you could spend months or longer in jail. Read more about a misdemeanor...

Murder Being accused of deliberately causing the death of another person is the most serious of criminal charges on the books. In first degree murder cases, there is the possibility that the death penalty will be imposed upon the accused. If you are the target of a murder investigation or have been charged with this crime, it is necessary to ensure you have the best possible defense lawyer. Read more about murder...

Three Strikes
Under the California Three Strikes law, there are enhanced penalties for repeat offenders. A third "strike" can lead to 25 years to life in prison, even if the crime was minor. If you are in trouble and have been accused of a "strike" offense, it is vital that your defense lawyer moves into action for you at once. Read more about three strikes...

Drug Crimes
Many assume that the State of California has lenient drug laws. While it is true that possession of a small amount of marijuana is now an infraction, felony drug crimes are punished severely. If you are found to possess more than a very small amount of any controlled substance, you could be facing charges of possession with intent, a felony. Charges of distribution or offenses related to medical marijuana can lead to very severe repercussions if defense actions are not undertaken immediately. Read more about drug crimes...

Expungement
Past arrests and convictions are easily accessible to any person who does a background check on you. These include potential employers, landlords, business partners and others. With any conviction on your criminal record, no matter how long ago, you could suffer the consequences for many years. Cleaning your criminal record can be undertaken by our firm. Read more about expungement...

Internet Crimes
As technology advances, law enforcement units expand to cover the new areas in which illegal activities could be taking place. This is true with the internet. Both state and federal governments have large numbers of personnel monitoring activities that could be illegal that are taking place on the internet. Read more about internet crimes...

Traffic Crimes
There are some traffic crimes that are so serious that they are charged as felonies. These include hit and run, vehicular manslaughter and others. If you are facing a serious traffic offense, it is vital that you have a defense lawyer with experience defending such cases. Read more about traffic crimes...

Juvenile Crimes
Young people make mistakes, as most of us did. In some cases, errors in judgment can lead to being caught in the criminal justice system. It is important that a minor accused of a crime is given every opportunity to move on with their lives and not suffer the consequences forever. Read more about juvenile crimes...

Violent Crimes
Crimes of violence are punished heavily under state law. These include assault, battery and domestic violence. Many such cases are based upon the testimony of only one person, and the entire circumstances that led to the altercation or incident are not actually known at the time of the arrest. Read more about violent crimes...

Probation Violations
When you are given probation as part of a sentence, it is expected that you adhere to every term of your probation. If there is any failure to pay a fine in a timely manner, attend classes, or if you are arrested for another crime, you can face very serious consequences. Read more about probation violations...

Sex Crimes
There are few types of criminal offenses that provoke so much outrage than those involving sex crimes. A person accused of any such crime, including rape, can face permanent damage to their personal and business reputation even if entirely innocent. Read more about sex crimes...

Theft Crimes
There is a wide range of theft crimes, all of which carry specific penalties. These include shoplifting, petty theft, grand theft, robbery, burglary, carjacking, identity theft and many others. If you are facing charges involving theft, it is imperative that you have quality legal counsel to defend you. Read more about theft crimes...

White Collar Crimes
The term "white collar crimes" was coined to refer to those crimes that are non-violent and committed by individuals, corporations, or office workers and are financially motivated. The term has expanded to include internet crimes, bank crimes, and mortgage fraud among others. Read more about white collar crimes...

Prefile Intervention
There are actions that can be taken prior to formal charges being filed, termed a prefile intervention. It can be extremely productive for a defense lawyer to discuss your case with the judge and prosecutor, particularly when there is compelling evidence for the defense. Read more about prefile intervention...

Felony
Are you facing a felony charge? The penalties for felony crimes are particularly harsh in our state, and most frequently include time in federal or state prison. A felony conviction will have long term effects, beyond the personal cost of incarceration, fines and other penalties. There are certain rights that are lost to convicted felons. Read more about a felony...

Our firm serves the criminally accused throughout Montecito, Isla Vista, UCSB, Goleta, and Carpinteria.

Contact a Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney from our firm immediately if you are facing criminal charges, either misdemeanor or felony in federal, state or juvenile court.