Legal Question in Criminal Law in California
This is my first ever offense. If I am accused of a felony, defrauding the dmv. I took my motorcycle registration tags and put them on my car. I am also accused of driving on a suspended license because of an unpaid parking ticket from over a year ago that I didn't know about until then. I am an upstanding citizen and I don't want anything on my record, I just made a stupid mistake. What are my best realistic options?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Any crime involving theft or fraud needs to be fought, and any Felony really really needs to be fought, tooth and nail. Otherwise your days as an upstanding citizen, or even as a free citizen, could be behind you. Do not get convicted of a felony. Hire an attorney and bring the attorney to your first court date.
Use your telephone to call yourself a criminal defense attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, ask the court to appoint you a public defender at your arraignment.
Your options at this point are limited. They come down to if you can afford a private attorney or not. If you can afford an attorney, get on the phone and start shopping for one. If you can't afford an attorney, at your first court appearance make a request that a public defender be appointed.
Fraud is referred to as a crime of "moral turpitude" and convictions relating to crimes of moral turpitude tend to follow people around for a very, very long time. You need to take this very seriously and realize you need an attorney.
Good luck
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