Choosing the best criminal defense attorney in Stockton.
If you are looking for a criminal defense attorney in Stockton, start with the question that matters most: who will actually be handling your case? I am Chris Parkhurst, Esq. I have been defending cases in San Joaquin County since 1999, and my State Bar number is 203402. You work with us directly rather than with an intake team or a call center.
What that means in practice is straightforward. I read your file before I tell you what I think of it, I explain what it actually supports, and I give you the realistic range of outcomes rather than the encouraging end of it. For the detail on the charge itself, see criminal defense. To find out what happens next in your case, call.
Criminal defense charges I defend.
These are the criminal defense matters I handle for clients in Stockton and across San Joaquin County.
- DUI and driving offences. The most commonly filed charge, and the only one that starts a second case at the DMV.
- Violent crime and assault. Several of these require no injury at all, and some are strikes.
- Domestic violence. Where the person who called cannot end the case, because the District Attorney decides.
- Theft and property offences. Almost all wobblers, where felony or misdemeanour is the real question.
- Drug offences. Frequently eligible for diversion, which is lost by delay more often than refused.
- Weapons and firearm charges. California regulates possession itself, which catches people who broke no other law.
- Sex offences. Where registration attaches to the conviction rather than the sentence.
- Record relief. Dismissal, reduction and sealing once a case is behind you.
If your charge is not listed, call me. Working out what you are actually facing is the first useful thing that happens.
What I look at first.
What I examine first in a criminal defense case out of Stockton:
- Whether the stop or the detention was lawful
- Whether the search was valid, and whether its scope was exceeded
- Whether each count charged is actually supported by the report
- The gap between what the report describes and what the footage shows
- Whether an enhancement has evidence behind it or was simply attached
- What evidence exists now that will not exist in twelve weeks
None of that happens on its own. It happens because somebody asked for it early, while it still existed.
Who arrested you in Stockton.
Stockton Police Department. 22 E Market St, Stockton, CA 95202. (209) 937-8377.
- California Highway Patrol. Highway 99, Interstate 5 and Highway 4, which meet in the city and carry heavy freight traffic.
- San Joaquin County Sheriff. the unincorporated areas and the delta communities west of the city.
- University of the Pacific public safety. the campus north of downtown.
Stockton is the largest city in San Joaquin County and the county seat, so both the volume and the machinery of criminal cases are concentrated here. Three major routes meet in the city, and Highway 99, Interstate 5 and Highway 4 between them generate a large share of the traffic stops. The downtown area, the Miracle Mile and the Pacific Avenue corridor produce most of the late-night calls.
Where a Stockton case is heard.
A criminal defense case arising in Stockton is prosecuted by the San Joaquin County District Atty at 222 E Weber Ave #202, Stockton, CA 95202 and heard in San Joaquin County. The date and location printed on your citation or release paperwork is the authority rather than anything on this page.
The Superior Court of California - County of San Joaquin
180 E Weber Ave, Stockton, CA 95202. (209) 992-5555
How this office charges cases and what happens between arrest and arraignment is set at county level. See San Joaquin County.
Areas I serve around Stockton.
Stockton is large, and the responding agency changes with the road you are on.
- Downtown and the waterfront. where the courthouse, the District Attorney's office and the police department all sit.
- Miracle Mile and Pacific Avenue. the main bar and restaurant corridor, and the source of most late-night arrests.
- Highway 99 and Interstate 5 corridors. where the CHP rather than Stockton PD makes most stops.
- Delta communities to the west. unincorporated and Sheriff-policed.
Stockton questions I hear most.
What is the difference between being arrested and being charged?
An arrest is made by police. A charge is filed afterwards by the District Attorney, who reviews the report and decides independently what to file and whether to file at all. People are released without charges regularly.
What is a wobbler?
An offence chargeable as either a felony or a misdemeanour. A great many California offences are wobblers. Which way it is filed, and whether a felony can later be reduced under Penal Code 17(b), affects firearm rights, employment and immigration more than the sentence usually does. See theft and property crimes.
Can a case be resolved without a conviction?
Sometimes. Diversion, deferred entry of judgment and dismissal all exist, and eligibility is narrow. It is worth checking immediately, because eligibility is more often lost by waiting than refused.
Is there a criminal court in Stockton?
Yes — Stockton is the county seat, so the court is here.
Do I have to appear in court myself?
For most misdemeanours an attorney can appear on your behalf. Felonies generally require your presence. Which applies depends on the charge, so it is worth asking early rather than assuming.
What does defending a criminal defense case in Stockton cost?
It depends on the charge, whether it is a misdemeanour or a felony, and whether the case is likely to resolve or be tried. Call and I will tell you what representation in your situation would cost before you commit to anything. For the general picture, see what a criminal defence lawyer costs in California.
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