Criminal Defense Attorney

Geri A. Saklad's criminal defense attorneys are experienced, aggressive criminal lawyers who will do everything in their power to get you a favorable outcome whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony charges. Your criminal defense attorney will analyze and evaluate your legal situation and prepare a strong case to present to the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office or the Ventura DA for getting the case dismissed or they will continue on and prepare a strong defense with the intent of getting a favorable outcome at trial.

Geri A. Saklad's criminal defense attorneys strongly recommend that you have legal counsel before ever settling a case by plea bargain with a prosecuting Assistant District Attorney representing the State of California or the U.S. Attorney General’s office. If you settle for a guilty plea through plea bargain or you are convicted of a crime, it can lead to losing your job, having a criminal record and doing jail time. It is important that your rights are protected throughout the legal process, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony charge. It is absolutely vital that your attorney be competent, experienced and effective in representing you. Geri A. Saklad's criminal defense attorneys will represent you in the Los Angeles or Ventura County court system where we are experienced in defending those accused of a crime.

Your criminal defense attorney is familiar with the many facets of criminal defense and many different tactics that the District Attorney and U.S. Assistant Attorney General will use to convict you of a crime with the intent of having you do jail time. Your defense attorney will work to get the charges dropped or lowered if your case has gone that far. They will interview the police, people involved in the case and any possible witnesses that may help to expose any lies or exaggerations presented by the prosecutor. They will make sure that the prosecutor does not obtain evidence against you illegally; they will conduct a detailed and thorough pre-trial investigation on your behalf and if possible will hire a private investigator, polygraph expert or anyone else that may help to strengthen your case. First and foremost they will represent you - and do everything they can first to get the case dismissed or lowered to the minimum possible

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Recent Victories & Cases

JURY TRIALS

Moorpark DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- 4 DAY JURY TRIAL- NOT GUILTY

Ventura RESISTING ARREST AND BATTERY- 4 DAY JURY TRIAL- NOT GUILTY

Newbury Park DUI- 3 DAY JURY TRIAL-HUNG JURY

Thousand Oaks DUI- 4 DAY JURY TRIAL- HUNG JURY

Ventura RESISTING ARREST- JURY TRIAL- CASE DISMISSED ON THIRD DAY OF TRIAL

Simi Valley DUI ALCOHOL/MARIJUANA- 2 DAY JURY TRIAL-NOT GUILTY

Ventura DRUG CHARGES- 3 DAY JURY TRIAL-NOT GUILTY

Oxnard DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/ ANNOYING PHONE CALLS- 3 DAY JURY TRIAL- NOT GUILTY

Ventura UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS- JURY TRIAL-DISMISSED AFTER 1 DAY OF JURY SELECTION

Thousand Oaks CHILD ENDANGERMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR, & RESISTING ARREST-MOTION TO SUPPRESS GRANTED, MOTION TO DISMISS RESISTING ARREST- GRANTED. ENTIRE CASE DISMISSED ON EVE OF TRIAL

GABRIEL….Married man in Oxnard accused with violating Penal Code Section 273.5 (a) SPOUSAL ABUSE: inflicting injury on fellow parent, and Penal Code Section 273 a(b) CHILD ENDANGERMENT:cruelty to child by endangering health and Penal Code Section 594(a) Every person who maliciously commits any of the following acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of vandalism: (1) defaces with grafffiti (2)damages (3) destroys. After a 3 day jury trial, a jury of his peers found the man not guilty on the charges.


MELISSA……Woman charged and arrested in Ventura for violating Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle. Private Defender 4 U and Woodland Hills Criminal Defense Attorney were retained 3 days before trial and the jury acquitted the woman of the charge.


DOLORES……Woman in Newbury Park accused of violating Health and Safety Code Section 11550 UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (a) No person, shall be use or be under the influence of any controlled substance….It shall be the burden of the defense to show that it comes within an exception. The woman was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine. The case was set for trial and was dismissed on the last day of trial by the District Attorney pursuant to Penal Code Section 1385, case could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.


JASON….. Young man arrested in Moorpark for violating of Penal Code Section 242 BATTERY, a battery is any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another, and Penal Code Section 148 RESISTING ARREST (a) Every person who willfully resists, delays or obstructs any public officer, peace officer….in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment, when……After a 4 day trial, the jury found the client not guilty after 3 battery charges and 1 resisting arrest charge.


CHRISTOPHER …. Man in Simi Valley charged with violation of Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. Private Defender 4 U and Woodland Hills Criminal Defense Attorney were retained and after the jury was out for 3 days deliberating could not come to a unanimous verdict resulting in a hung jury.


JENNIFER….Woman accused and arrested in Thousand Oaks for violating Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. After a 4 day the jury trial, the jury was came back with a “hung” verdict.


JOSE…..Man involved in an incident with the police in Ventura where he was accused of violating Penal Code Section 69- (a wobbler- may be filed as a felony or misdemeanor) RESISTING ARREST :obstructing or resisting executive officer in performance of their duties; attempts: threats; violence. Case dismissed by the District Attorney Office after 3 days of jury trial and 5 prosecution witnesses testified due to inconsistent testimony of the witnesses and the police report.


BRAD….PETITION TO EXPUNGE CONVICTION granted and MOTION TO TERMINATE PROBATION granted on matter wherein the client plead guilty 2 years prior to numerous counts of Penal Code Section 485 PETTY THEFT OF LOST PROPERTY in the city of Lancaster.


MEGAN…… Woman in Oxnard charged and arrested for violating Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. Case set for trial and was dismissed by the District Attorney pursuant to Penal Code Section 1385, the case could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.


JOANN…..Woman arrested in the city of Westlake Village for and found not guilty on all counts of receiving stolen property - in violation of Penal Code Section 496 RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY: Every person who buys or receives any property that has been stolen or that has been obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion….. after the District Attorney’s Office was unable to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.


JACOB…Man in Beverly Hills exonerated on all charges of robbery in violation of Penal Code Section 211 ROBBERY: Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear.


MIKE…. Gentleman charged and arrested in the city Thousand Oaks for violating Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. The jury found the man not guilty after 5 days of trial where the defense was clients blood was tampered with and deteriorated for purposes of assessing the accurate blood alcohol level.


LENA…Charges dropped after Judge granted MIRANDA MOTION based upon an involuntary and lengthy coerced confession by the Sheriff’s Department. Client was accused in the city of Malibu of violating Penal Code Section 236 FALSE IMPRISONMENT: False imprisonment is the unlawful violation of the personal liberty of another.


JOSEPH …. Young man in Simi Valley arrested for Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. After a 3 day trial, the jury found the young man not guilty of Penal Code Sections 23152 (a) and 23152 (b) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA.


PHILLIP….MOTION pursuant to Penal Code Section 17(b) to reduce felony charges to a misdemeanor were granted by the Judge after oral arguments in Van Nuys Courthouse.


ROSE ….Woman is charged with Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. DUI reduced to a wet reckless after hours of negotiating in Los Angeles with Woodland Hills Criminal Defense Attorney.


RODRIGO….TROMBETTA MOTION in the city of Calabasas granted by the Judge pursuant to California V.Trombetta (1984) 467 US 479 and Arizona V. Youngblood (1988) 488 US 51 after it was discovered that the prosecution lost or purposely destroyed pertinent evidence (a videotape of the alleged crime).


MARIA…. Young woman arrested in Newbury Park for violating Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVING) :It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle, and Penal Code Section 23152 (b) ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE .O8: It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more,by weight,of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. DUI MEDS- Woman was not guilty after a 5 day trial where she was being charged with driving under the influence of Vikoden.


MICHELLE….Woman acquitted in Oxnard after a 4 day jury trial where the verdict was NOT GUILTY of violating Penal Code Section 11550 UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE :(a) No person, shall be use or be under the influence of any controlled substance….It shall be the burden of the defense to show that it comes within an exception. The woman was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine with POSITIVE BLOOD tests that showed she was high and her drug recognition exam results were very poor.

OUTRIGHT DISMISSALS

Westlake Village DUI- CASE DISMISSED

Lancaster DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- CASE DISMISSED

Glendale DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- CASE DISMISSED

Compton DRUG CHARGES- CASE DISMISSED AFTER SUCCESSFUL MOTION TO SUPPRESS

Woodland Hills DRUG CHARGES- CASE DISMISSED

Lancaster STALKING- CASE DISMISSED

Ventura DUI- CASE DISMISSED

Beverly Hills THEFT – CASE DISMISSED AFTER SUCCESSFUL SERNA MOTION

Malibu DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VOP- WITHDRAWN

Downey WEAPONS CHARGE- CASE DISMIISSED AFTER SUCCESSFUL SUPPRESSION MOTION

Calabasas RECEIPT OF STOLEN PROPERTY- CASE DISMISSED

Compton CRIMINAL THREATS- CASE DISMISSEDDUI- CASE DISMISSED AFTER SUCCESSFUL LACK OF JURISDICTION MOTION

Malibu HIT AND RUN- CASE DISMISSED

Tarzana UNLICENSED DRIVER- CASE DISMISSED

Los Angeles DUI- CASE DISMISSED

Tarzana VOP HEARING -WITHDRAWN

Westlake Village VANDALISM- CASE DISMISSED

Downey RESISTING ARREST- CASE DISMISSED

Thousand Oaks DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- CASE DISMISSED

Ventura UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS- CASE DISMISSED

Oxnard UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS- CASE DISMISSED

Calabasas DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- CASE DISMISSED