When Charged With a Crime ®

Our firm is delighted to announce that Liann R. Sabatini, former Deputy Public Defender for the past decade with the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office, joined the firm on August 1. During a decade of service with the County of San Diego, Liann not only assisted in the litigation over 10,000 criminal cases, she also personally served as lead counsel in more than 2,000 felony cases.

Liann's experience with the criminal justice system began when she was just 9 years old, as a child growing up in Hawaii, when a family member was wrongfully accused of a criminal offense. Although that family member was ultimately exonerated of any wrongdoing, the experience helped mold Liann’s future as a criminal defense attorney.

Liann’s addition has solidified our Firm’s place as one of the largest and deepest criminal defense law firms in all of San Diego County. Liann’s impact to the firm was felt on day one, when she dove right into the work and took on several complex felony matters. Now, perhaps more than ever, the Firm’s ability to help good people regain control of their future when charged with a crime is at an all-time high and we could not be more excited about that!

Many people assume that if the facts of their DUI case – such as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above the legal limit – are against them, they might as well plead guilty. After all, they might conclude, why hire a lawyer if they are going to be found guilty anyway. One of the many problems with that type of thinking is that there are issues which an experienced DUI lawyer can spot that can be developed into a strong defense against the charges, even with a high BAC.

In this video, Managing Partner David P. Shapiro notes that one of the key elements of a DUI is proof beyond a reasonable doubt you actually drove a vehicle at the time your BAC was at or above the legal limit. We are not suggesting that a “driving defense” is available in all situations. However, it is something worth exploring, particularly if your case’s facts support it.

If you or loved one has been charged with a DUI in the San Diego area, make sure you hire a law firm worthy of your trust and money; one that is a good fit for you and knows how to protect your freedom, future, and interests when dealing with law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges. We can be reached at 619-295-3555.