Facing violent crime charges in Glendale, California represents one of the most serious legal challenges you can encounter. These charges carry the harshest penalties in California’s criminal justice system, including lengthy prison sentences, permanent felony records, mandatory minimum sentences, and lifelong consequences that extend far beyond incarceration. At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive, strategic defense representation for clients facing violent crime allegations throughout Los Angeles County.
Violent crime prosecutions in Glendale are handled with exceptional intensity through the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Whether you’re charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, mayhem, or any other violent felony under California Penal Code Section 667.5(c)[1], you need experienced criminal defense counsel who understands the stakes, knows the Glendale Courthouse[2], and has a proven record of protecting clients’ rights and freedom.
Understanding the local crime landscape in Glendale provides critical context. According to recent statistics, Glendale’s violent crime rate stands at approximately 150 per 100,000 residents[3], which is 59.4% lower than the national average of 369 per 100,000. The chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Glendale is 1 in 435[4], making it substantially safer than most California cities. Despite these relatively low rates, when violent crime charges are filed, prosecutors pursue convictions aggressively, particularly when cases involve weapons, gang allegations, or serious bodily injury.
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California law specifically defines “violent felonies” under Penal Code Section 667.5(c)[1]. This statute provides a definitive list of offenses that carry enhanced penalties, count as “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes Law, and require defendants to serve at least 85% of their prison sentences with severely limited good-time credits.
Understanding this legal distinction is crucial because not all crimes that seem “violent” to a layperson qualify as violent felonies under California law. For example, while assault with a deadly weapon qualifies, simple assault does not. The specific statutory designation determines your exposure to strikes, minimum custody time, and eligibility for early release programs.
Violent felonies under California Penal Code 667.5(c) include:
Each of these offenses carries severe consequences, and conviction for any violent felony counts as a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law, potentially doubling sentences for subsequent felonies and mandating 25-years-to-life for a third strike.
Our criminal defense practice handles the full spectrum of violent crime allegations in Glendale and throughout Los Angeles County. Here are the most common violent crime charges we defend:
California Penal Code Section 187[5] defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being with “malice aforethought.” Murder charges represent the most serious criminal allegations in California’s legal system.
First-Degree Murder: This includes all premeditated killings (those planned in advance), killings by poison, torture, lying in wait, or killings committed during specified dangerous felonies (the “felony murder rule”). First-degree murder carries potential penalties of:
Special circumstances that can elevate first-degree murder to LWOP or death penalty include multiple victims, prior murder convictions, murder for financial gain, murder by bomb, murder of a peace officer or prosecutor, murder while lying in wait, murder by torture, and murder to prevent testimony.
Second-Degree Murder: This encompasses all other murders with malice aforethought that don’t qualify as first-degree. Second-degree murder carries penalties of 15 years to life in state prison.
Felony Murder Rule: Under California’s felony murder rule, if someone dies during the commission of certain dangerous felonies (robbery, burglary, rape, kidnapping, arson, carjacking, or mayhem), all participants can be charged with first-degree murder—even if they didn’t personally kill anyone and didn’t intend for anyone to die. Recent reforms have limited felony murder prosecutions, but this doctrine still poses significant risks.
Voluntary manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without malice aforethought. It typically arises in two contexts:
Voluntary manslaughter is often charged when prosecutors cannot prove premeditation required for murder, or when defense counsel successfully demonstrates mitigating circumstances. Penalties include 3, 6, or 11 years in California state prison.
California law punishes attempts to commit murder even when the killing is unsuccessful. To convict on attempted murder charges, prosecutors must prove:
Attempted First-Degree Murder: Carries a sentence of life in state prison with possibility of parole after serving 85% of a minimum 7-year term.
Attempted Second-Degree Murder: Carries a maximum sentence of 5, 7, or 9 years in state prison.
Attempted murder charges often arise from shootings where the victim survives, stabbings, poisonings, or other acts clearly intended to cause death. The critical element prosecutors must prove is specific intent to kill—mere intent to harm is insufficient.
Robbery[6] is the taking of personal property from another person’s possession, accomplished by force or fear. Robbery is always a felony in California and is classified as a violent crime regardless of whether anyone is actually injured.
First-Degree Robbery: Robbery of a driver or passenger of a bus, taxi, cable car, streetcar, subway, or other transportation for hire; robbery occurring in an inhabited dwelling; robbery of someone using an ATM. Penalties: 3, 4, or 6 years in state prison.
Second-Degree Robbery: All other robberies. Penalties: 2, 3, or 5 years in state prison.
Robbery carries substantial sentence enhancements when committed:
Because robbery is defined as taking property “from the person” of another, even snatching a purse can constitute robbery if any force is used. The “force or fear” element distinguishes robbery from theft—prosecutors must prove that force was used or that the victim was placed in fear.
Carjacking is the taking of a motor vehicle from another person’s possession by force or fear with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the person of possession. This violent felony carries a sentence of 3, 5, or 9 years in state prison.
Carjacking charges frequently accompany robbery charges when vehicles are taken. The crime is complete when the vehicle is taken from the victim’s immediate presence, even if the defendant is apprehended moments later.
Kidnapping[8] is moving another person a substantial distance using force or fear, without that person’s consent. Simple kidnapping carries 3, 5, or 8 years in state prison.
Enhanced kidnapping penalties apply when:
The “substantial distance” element is critical—moving someone just a few feet is generally insufficient. Courts examine whether the movement substantially increased the risk of harm to the victim.
Mayhem is unlawfully and maliciously disabling, disfiguring, or making useless another person’s body part. This includes permanently disfiguring someone’s appearance or removing, disabling, or making useless their tongue, eye, ear, nose, or limb.
Mayhem is a violent felony carrying 2, 4, or 8 years in state prison. It requires proof of malicious intent to maim or disfigure—not merely to injure. Mayhem charges often arise from assaults involving cutting, biting off body parts, permanent scarring, or injuries causing permanent disfigurement.
While simple assault is not a violent felony, assault with a deadly weapon (ADW)[9] is one of the most commonly charged violent crimes. A “deadly weapon” includes firearms, knives, bottles, vehicles, dogs, or even hands and feet in certain circumstances.
ADW is a wobbler (can be charged as felony or misdemeanor). Felony ADW carries:
ADW becomes a violent felony when it results in great bodily injury. Prosecutors aggressively pursue ADW charges in cases involving weapons, domestic violence, or injuries requiring medical treatment.
Arson is the willful and malicious setting of a fire. When arson causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn, it qualifies as a violent felony carrying 3, 5, or 8 years in state prison.
Arson becomes even more serious when it causes:
Arson investigations involve fire experts, origin and cause determinations, and complex scientific evidence. These cases require defense attorneys with experience challenging forensic arson evidence.
Understanding what to expect when facing violent crime charges helps you make informed decisions and reduces anxiety about the unknown. Here’s how violent crime prosecutions typically proceed through the Glendale court system:
Violent crime investigations often begin with emergency calls to the Glendale Police Department[10]. Detectives conduct extensive investigations including:
In serious violent crime cases, detectives may seek search warrants for your home, vehicle, phone records, and electronic devices. They may conduct interrogations designed to elicit incriminating statements. Understanding your right to remain silent and your right to counsel is critical—do not speak to police without an attorney present, no matter what they promise.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reviews investigations and determines whether to file charges. For violent felonies, this decision is made by experienced prosecutors in specialized units (Major Crimes, Homicide, Gangs). Prosecutors consider:
Unlike misdemeanors which can be filed by citation, violent felonies require a formal complaint. Prosecutors often overcharge initially—filing the most serious charges supported by any interpretation of the evidence—expecting to negotiate down later.
Your first court appearance is the arraignment, held at the Glendale Courthouse located at 600 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206[2]. At arraignment:
For violent felonies, bail is often set extremely high or denied entirely. Having an experienced attorney argue for reasonable bail or OR release can make the difference between fighting your case from jail or from home.
Felony cases proceed to preliminary hearing, a mini-trial where prosecutors must demonstrate probable cause that a crime was committed and you committed it. The preliminary hearing is a critical opportunity for your defense attorney to:
If the judge finds probable cause, you’re “held to answer” and the case proceeds to Superior Court for trial. If probable cause is not established, charges may be dismissed or reduced.
After preliminary hearing, the case transfers to Superior Court for trial proceedings. The pretrial phase includes:
Arraignment on Information: You’re formally arraigned on the charges as they exist after preliminary hearing.
Discovery: Your attorney receives all evidence the prosecution intends to use, including police reports, witness statements, forensic reports, photographs, videos, and expert reports. Discovery is ongoing throughout the case.
Motions: Your defense team files strategic pretrial motions including:
Plea Negotiations: Your attorney engages in ongoing negotiations with prosecutors. For violent felonies, negotiations often focus on:
The strength of your defense case—and your attorney’s reputation—significantly impacts negotiation leverage.
If acceptable resolution cannot be reached, your case proceeds to jury trial. Violent felony trials are complex, often lasting weeks or months. Your defense attorney:
The prosecution bears the burden of proving every element of every charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Your attorney’s job is creating reasonable doubt through aggressive cross-examination, contradictory evidence, and alternative explanations.
If convicted, sentencing occurs at a separate hearing. Violent felonies often carry determinate sentences (specific term of years) or indeterminate sentences (range with parole eligibility). Your attorney presents mitigation evidence including:
The judge considers aggravating and mitigating factors in determining where within the statutory range to sentence you.
Every violent crime case is unique, requiring defense strategies tailored to the specific facts, evidence, and charges. However, several defenses frequently prove effective:
Self-defense is a complete defense to violent crime charges when you reasonably believed you or another person was in imminent danger of suffering bodily injury and reasonably believed that immediate use of force was necessary to defend against that danger, and you used no more force than reasonably necessary.
In California, you have no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense. You can stand your ground and use reasonable force to protect yourself. Self-defense extends to defending others—you can use reasonable force to protect third parties from imminent harm.
Critical elements your attorney must establish:
Self-defense is particularly powerful in cases involving mutual combat, domestic violence allegations, and bar fights. Your attorney will gather evidence including:
Many violent crimes require specific intent. For example:
If your attorney can demonstrate that you lacked the required mental state—perhaps you intended to frighten but not kill, or intended to injure but not maim—you cannot be convicted of the charged offense. You may still face lesser charges (e.g., assault instead of attempted murder), but the penalties are dramatically reduced.
Unfortunately, false accusations of violent crimes occur more frequently than many realize. Motivations include:
Your defense attorney will investigate the accuser’s credibility, motive to fabricate, history of false allegations, inconsistencies in their account, and lack of corroborating evidence. Character witnesses, alibi evidence, and contradictory physical evidence can demonstrate that accusations are false.
The prosecution must prove every element of every charge beyond a reasonable doubt—the highest burden in American law. Your attorney may demonstrate insufficiency by:
If the prosecution cannot meet their burden, you must be acquitted.
Some violent crimes cannot be committed accidentally. However, for crimes that can occur unintentionally, accident is a complete defense. For example:
If the alleged victim’s injuries resulted from a genuine accident rather than intentional act, you cannot be convicted of intentional violent crimes.
If police violated your constitutional rights, evidence obtained may be suppressed:
Suppression of critical evidence often leads to case dismissal or dramatically improved negotiating position.
The decision to hire an attorney for violent crime charges is not optional—it’s essential to protecting your freedom and future. Here’s why:
Violent felony convictions result in:
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is one of the largest prosecution agencies in the world, with specialized units handling violent crimes. They have:
Facing this alone is futile. You need experienced defense counsel who can match the prosecution’s resources and expertise.
The sooner you retain an attorney, the better your outcome. Early intervention allows your attorney to:
Violent crime defense requires specialized knowledge and experience. Your attorney must understand:
An inexperienced attorney—or public defender juggling hundreds of cases—cannot provide the level of representation your case demands.
When your freedom and future are on the line, your choice of criminal defense attorney is the most important decision you’ll make. Here’s why clients facing violent crime charges throughout Los Angeles County trust Tu Defensor Criminalista:
We have successfully defended hundreds of clients facing violent crime charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, assault with deadly weapon, and other serious felonies. Our results include:
We have extensive experience defending violent crime cases at the Glendale Courthouse[2]. We know the judges, understand local prosecutors’ approaches, and have established professional relationships that benefit our clients. We understand the specific procedures, local rules, and practical realities of defending cases in this courthouse.
From the moment you retain us, we begin building your defense:
We don’t simply react to the prosecution’s case—we proactively build the strongest possible defense.
You are not a file number. We limit our caseload to ensure every client receives the individualized attention they deserve. When you call our office, you speak with an attorney who knows your case intimately, understands your concerns, and can answer your questions.
We provide comprehensive legal representation in both English and Spanish. Language should never be a barrier to quality legal representation, and our bilingual staff ensures you and your family can communicate in the language you’re most comfortable with.
Violent crime arrests happen at all hours. We offer 24/7 availability for emergencies, arrests, and urgent consultations. When you need us, we’re here.
We offer a free initial consultation where we’ll:
There’s no obligation—just an opportunity to understand your situation and make an informed decision about representation.
Understanding the local crime context in Glendale helps frame your case. While Glendale’s overall violent crime rate of 150 per 100,000 residents is significantly lower than the national average[3], certain areas and circumstances see higher rates of violent crime.
According to City of Glendale crime statistics[11], the city has experienced fluctuations in violent crime rates, with recent data showing 4 homicides in 2024[12], representing an increase from previous years. The Glendale Police Department[10] actively investigates violent crimes with specialized detective units.
Historically, Glendale has dealt with gang-related violence, though gang activity has decreased significantly since the 1990s. The city once had more than 30 gangs but now has only five documented gangs[13]. The West Side Locos 13 and Avenues gang have been identified as primary sources of gang-related violent crime. When violent crimes involve gang allegations, prosecutors add severe gang enhancements under Penal Code 186.22[14], adding 2-10 years to sentences.
Despite being safer than many California cities, when violent crimes occur in Glendale, they’re prosecuted with the full resources of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Understanding the local context helps your defense attorney anticipate prosecution strategies and build appropriate defenses.
Murder requires “malice aforethought”—either an intent to kill or reckless disregard for human life. Manslaughter is an unlawful killing without malice, typically occurring in the heat of passion or through criminal negligence. Murder carries 15-years-to-life or 25-years-to-life, while voluntary manslaughter carries 3, 6, or 11 years.
Yes, under California’s felony murder rule. If someone dies during the commission of certain dangerous felonies (robbery, burglary, rape, kidnapping, arson, carjacking), all participants can be charged with first-degree murder even if they didn’t personally kill anyone. Recent reforms have limited this doctrine, but it still applies in many circumstances.
California’s Three Strikes Law requires enhanced sentences for defendants with prior “strike” convictions. A second strike doubles the sentence for any subsequent felony. A third strike mandates 25-years-to-life regardless of the third offense. All violent felonies under Penal Code 667.5(c) count as strikes.
Enhancements are additional penalties added to base sentences based on specific circumstances. Common enhancements include:
• Gun use (10, 20, or 25-years-to-life under PC 12022.53)
• Great bodily injury (3-6 additional years)
• Gang allegations (2-10 additional years)
• Prior prison terms (1 year each)
Enhancements can triple or quadruple your total sentence.
Almost certainly. Violent felonies carry presumptive state prison sentences. While some wobbler offenses can be reduced to misdemeanors, most violent felonies under PC 667.5(c) are straight felonies requiring prison. Additionally, violent felonies are not eligible for probation except in unusual cases.
Violent crime cases typically take 12-24 months from arrest to resolution, though some take longer. Murder cases often take 2-3 years. The timeline depends on case complexity, number of defendants, discovery volume, motion practice, and court congestion. Exercising your right to speedy trial can accelerate the process but may compromise defense preparation.
Absolutely not. Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Politely tell police you’re invoking your right to remain silent and want an attorney. Do not answer any questions or try to “explain your side.” Everything you say will be used against you. Police are trained interrogators skilled at eliciting incriminating statements. Protect yourself by remaining silent until you have legal counsel.
Witnesses lie for many reasons—fear, pressure from police, desire to protect themselves or others, revenge, or mistaken memory. Your defense attorney will investigate witness credibility, expose inconsistencies through cross-examination, demonstrate motive to fabricate, and present contradictory evidence. Many violent crime cases are won by destroying witness credibility.
Yes. Experienced defense attorneys get violent crime charges reduced or dismissed regularly through:
• Demonstrating insufficient evidence
• Suppressing evidence obtained through constitutional violations
• Exposing witness credibility problems
• Negotiating charge reductions in exchange for pleas
• Winning dismissals at preliminary hearing
• Securing not guilty verdicts at trial
1. Invoke your right to remain silent immediately
2. Request an attorney
3. Do not consent to any searches
4. Do not answer any questions, sign any statements, or discuss your case with anyone except your attorney
5. Contact an experienced violent crimes defense attorney immediately—call us 24/7 at (888) 315-3326
Legal fees vary based on case complexity, severity of charges, and whether the case goes to trial. Violent crime cases require significant resources—investigation, experts, motion practice, and trial preparation. We offer competitive rates and flexible payment plans. During your free consultation, we’ll discuss fees transparently and work to make quality representation accessible. Remember: the cost of inadequate representation is far higher than the cost of experienced counsel.
The preliminary hearing is a critical stage where prosecutors must demonstrate probable cause that a crime was committed and you committed it. Your attorney can cross-examine witnesses, challenge evidence, and argue for dismissal or charge reduction. This is often the first opportunity to see the prosecution’s evidence and lock witnesses into testimony.
Bail eligibility depends on the specific charges. Some violent crimes allow bail (set very high), while others (murder, violent crimes with prior strikes) may result in no-bail holds. Your attorney can argue for reasonable bail or OR release, presenting evidence of community ties, lack of flight risk, and constitutional bail rights.
Trial outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, and quality of legal representation. The prosecution must prove every element beyond reasonable doubt—a very high burden. With thorough investigation, effective cross-examination, and compelling defense presentation, many violent crime cases result in acquittals or hung juries. Your attorney can assess your specific trial prospects during consultation.
Innocent people are charged with crimes every day through mistaken identity, false accusations, or misinterpretation of evidence. If you’re innocent, it’s even more critical to have experienced counsel who can investigate thoroughly, expose the truth, and present your innocence compellingly to prosecutors or jury. Never assume that “the truth will come out”—you must have an attorney who will fight for that truth.
Technically yes, but this would be catastrophic. Violent crime cases involve complex legal issues, rules of evidence, forensic science, and trial advocacy that require years of training and experience. Representing yourself against experienced prosecutors is professional suicide. As the saying goes, “A person who represents themselves has a fool for a client.”
If you’ve been served with a Violent Crimes in Glendale, time is running out. Don’t face this crisis alone. Contact Tu Defensor Criminalista immediately for a free, confidential consultation about your case.
Attorney Armando Josué Cespedes is rated 5.0 on Avvo, with 34 five-star reviews from clients praising his dedication, professionalism, and results. Many note how his trial skills and attention to detail led to reduced charges or outright dismissals.
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