California’s Three Strikes Law treats serious and violent crimes as strikes.  If convicted of a crime that falls under this sentencing scheme, you face a length prison sentence and a prior conviction that will enhance and future sentence.  If you are charged with such a crime, should immediately contact an experienced Criminal Lawyer like Matthew O’Connor.

In California serious and violent crimes can be charged under a harsh sentencing scheme known as the “Three Strikes Law” and assigns punishment as follows:

• For a first strike, you may have to serve 85% of your prison sentence (instead of the normal 50%).
• If you receive a second strike, your prison sentence automatically doubles, and you must serve at least 80% of the sentence.
• On the third strike, you may be in prison for the rest of your life, ineligible for parole until you have served at least 25 years of your sentence.

At O'Connor Law APC we counsel clients on the effect of pleading guilty to a violent crime to avoid the possibility of jail time. Clients almost never realize that even though the crime is not viewed as an actual conviction, it is still generally counted as a strike (for purposes of the three strikes rule) that stays on their record for the rest of their lives.  Clients charged with violent crimes throughout the Walnut Creek area rely on our firm for aggressive defense in even the most serious charges. Please visit our representative cases page to learn about the results we have won for people just like you.  He may also be able to have prior strikes dismissed, resulting in a shorter sentence for you.

At O'Connor Law APC, our criminal defense attorney has more than 11 years of experience in criminal law – as both defense attorney and prosecutor.  Matthew O’Connor will study the facts of the case and develop a defense strategy designed to minimize or eliminate any potential negative consequences, and advise you of the risks involved in pleading guilty to a violent crime. For example, he may argue that you acted in self defense, or that your actions did not cause grave bodily injury to others.