Arson Defense Attorney in Los Angeles, CA, Represents Clients From Charged in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, and Across Southern California
If you’ve been accused of unlawfully starting a fire, you may be facing major consequences in California. Depending on the circumstances of the offense, you could be charged with a felony and potentially be sentenced to years of imprisonment.
At the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney, our goal is to protect the rights and represent the interests of the accused. We defend clients throughout L.A. County and beyond against charges of reckless burning, arson, and other violations. Contact us today for help navigating the criminal legal process.
Help for Arson Charges in Los Angeles, CA
California law treats the unlawful starting of fires as a serious crime against property. Although some violations may be considered a misdemeanor under California Penal Code 452, arson charges often constitute more serious felonies.
Although you could be facing several years of jail time for an arson offense in California, your legal rights still matter. In fact, preserving your legal rights by hiring an attorney to advocate for you and represent you in court proceedings offers you the best hope of a resolution that will minimize the consequences of these charges.
Areas Our Los Angeles Arson Lawyer Serves
Throughout Southern California, we advocate for people facing serious criminal charges. We represent clients in cities and communities like the following:
- Agoura Hills
- Alhambra
- Arcadia
- Artesia
- Avalon
- Azusa
- Baldwin Park
- Bell
- Bell Gardens
- Bellflower
- Beverly Hills
- Bradbury
- Burbank
- Calabasas
- Carson
- Cerritos
- Claremont
- Commerce
- Compton
- Covina
- Cudahy
- Culver City
- Diamond Bar
- Downey
- Duarte
- El Monte
- El Segundo
- Gardena
- Glendale
- Glendora
- Hawaiian Gardens
- Hawthorne
- Hermosa Beach
- Hidden Hills
- Huntington Park
- Industry
- Inglewood
- Irwindale
- La Cañada Flintridge
- La Habra Heights
- La Mirada
- La Puente
- La Verne
- Lakewood
- Lancaster
- Lawndale
- Lomita
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Lynwood
- Malibu
- Manhattan Beach
- Maywood
- Monrovia
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- Norwalk
- Palmdale
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Paramount
- Pasadena
- Pico Rivera
- Pomona
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Redondo Beach
- Rolling Hills
- Rolling Hills Estates
- Rosemead
- San Dimas
- San Fernando
- San Gabriel
- San Marino
- Santa Clarita
- Santa Fe Springs
- Santa Monica
- Sierra Madre
- Signal Hill
- South El Monte
- South Gate
- South Pasadena
- Temple City
- Torrance
- Vernon
- Walnut
- West Covina
- West Hollywood
- Westlake Village
- Whittier
No matter where in L.A. County you’ve been charged with an unlawful burning crime, you would benefit from having an experienced arson defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, represent your interests.
Penalties for Arson and Unlawful Burning Charges in Los Angeles
Arson convictions in L.A. are a big deal. You could be looking at a lengthy prison sentence.
How much time do you get for arson in California? That depends on the specifics of the case, including what was burned, whether anyone was injured, and whether the crime constituted a felony.
In general, you could serve prison sentences of two, four, or six years for burning forest land. Burning an inhabited structure or property is punishable by three, five, or eight years of jail time. If the fire harms someone, possible penalties include jail terms of five, seven, or nine years.
The least severe felony arson charges could send you to jail for a period of 16 months to three years.
Further, certain circumstances permit an “enhancement” to the penalties you could be sentenced to if convicted. These circumstances include:
- A prior arson conviction
- Great bodily injury to emergency personnel resulting from the fire
- Great bodily injury to more than one person resulting from the fire
- Arson that caused the burning of more than one structure
- The use of a device that accelerates the fire or delays its ignition
In these instances, a period of three, four, or five years of imprisonment may be added to the original penalty. This means the most serious arson charges in California could carry penalties that amount to 14 years of jail time.
What Can a Los Angeles Arson Lawyer Do for Me?
Whether you’re facing a matter of months or more than a decade of prison time, it helps to have a knowledgeable arson defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, representing your interests and protecting your rights.
Here are some of the ways a Los Angeles arson lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney can assist you:
- Ensure you know your legal rights and advocate for those rights to be upheld throughout the legal process
- Carry out an arson investigation that prioritizes your interests and seeks to uncover any evidence that can support your defense
- Build you a robust defense strategy based on the specific facts of your case
- Help you understand the charges against you, the penalties they carry, and all legal options, including the possibility of accepting a plea agreement
- Represent you in all proceedings, including pre-trial procedures, the trial, and sentencing
You’re sure to have questions and concerns as the criminal case against you progresses. With us on your side, you’ve always got someone to turn to for reliable answers.
Contact a Los Angeles Arson Lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney Today for a Free Consultation
For help from an arson defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, reach out to the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney online or call (310) 209-3999 today.
