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2024

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Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Fresno

Our Recommended Top 14

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  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Fresno Criminal Defense Attorneys on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

357Reviewed

219Curated

14Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

191 W Shaw Ave Ste 208, Fresno, CA 93704

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.5 (14)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Gregory W. Fox is a criminal defense law firm that's located in Fresno. It provides representation to clients who've been charged with offenses such as drug crimes, domestic violence, gang crimes, or traffic violations. Attorney Gregory W. Fox also provides counsel and representation to those facing driving under the influence/driving while intoxicated charges. He is a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association and an Avvo Featured Criminal Defense Attorney.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gregory Fox - PrincipalActive19 yrs

5588 North Palm Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Gerald Schwab Jr. is a full-service criminal defense firm serving individuals in the Fresno area. Founder Gerald Schwab Jr. is a former prosecutor and probation officer and uses those experiences to fight for clients accused of or arrested for DUI, drug, sex, and theft crimes. From misdemeanors to serious felonies, Schwab works to obtain favorable resolutions in the form of reduced or alternative sentences. Additionally, the firm handles underage DUI cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gerald Schwab - PrincipalActive21 yrs

2300 Tulare St #120, Fresno, CA 93721

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (23)
Yelp
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Sam Salhab Law Office provides aggressive representation to Fresno residents who have been charged with criminal acts. It defends the legal rights of individuals facing state or federal crimes, including DUI, kidnapping, and tax evasion. The firm also offers criminal record expungement to help people improve their chances of purchasing homes and getting employed. Sam Salhab, the firm's principal attorney, represents clients in misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile matters. The legal practice offers special legal service arrangements for students and military personnel.

  • DWI/DUI

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Sam Salhab - PrincipalActive17 yrs

6103 N. First St. Suite 102, Fresno, CA 93710
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (79)
Facebook
5.0 (3)
Yelp
2.3 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Hernandez Law has been providing legal representation for individuals, employees, and both seniors and minors in Fresno and nearby areas since 1982. Its attorneys handle a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges, including weapon offenses, homicide, fraud, burglary, and domestic violence at state and federal levels. It also assists clients in applying for sentence reductions while defending drug possession charges. In addition, the firm handles personal injury and employment law cases. Hernandez Law's full team is also fluent in Spanish.

  • DWI/DUI

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Hernandez - PrincipalActive45 yrs

1060 Fulton St #811, Fresno, CA 93721
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (10)
Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Kendall Simsarian, Attorney, serves neighborhoods in and around the Fresno metro. He provides legal support to individuals who need defense against criminal charges and works to restore their record, good name, and dignity. Some of the cases he handles include property crimes, DUI defense, and appeals. He also accepts crime cases such as robbery and carjacking, assault and battery, threats and hate crimes, sex offenses, and kidnapping. Simsarian has been in service for more than 30 years. He also accommodates Spanish-speaking clients.

  • DWI/DUI

1060 Fulton Mall Suite 806, Fresno, CA 93721
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (35)
Avvo
4.7 (25)
Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Magill & Guzman Magill is a criminal defense law firm that assists clients in the Fresno area. Its attorneys defend those who were arrested for theft, fraud, domestic violence, assault and battery, sex offenses, and driving crimes and DUI. They help clients appeal at an administrative hearing to keep and maintain their professional licenses. They extend their legal services to personal injury victims. Charles Magill co-founded the law firm with his wife and law partner, Laura Guzman Magill, in 2002.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Juvenile Crimes
  • DWI/DUI

2333 Merced St, Fresno, CA 93721

Why choose this provider?

Real Lawyers at Affordable Prices is a law firm of criminal justice attorneys in Fresno that represents clients accused of driving under the influence, drug offenses, and domestic violence, specifically. Its attorneys work to help clients defend themselves as adequately as possible by using evidence and witnesses to build a case against the prosecution's accusations. If victory seems highly unlikely, the firm may opt to negotiate with prosecutors for leniency instead. This firm also provides criminal defense services for miscellaneous violent crimes and sex offenses.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Mark Coleman - PartnerActive40 yrs
Roger Taylor Nuttall - PartnerActive55 yrs

1225 E. Divisadero, 3rd floor, Fresno, CA 93721
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (8)
Avvo
5.0 (5)
Facebook
3.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office Of Jeremy M Dobbins handles clients' legal needs across Fresno and the surrounding cities. It represents individuals charged with criminal cases, including assault and battery, misdemeanors, felonies, and drugs, to defend their rights and reduce their legal consequences. It also caters to clients arrested for domestic violence and white-collar crimes. In addition to criminal defense, the law firm is available to resolve personal injury, elder abuse, civil rights, and employment and business law matters.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

2445 Capitol Street, Fresno, CA 93721

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (31)

Why choose this provider?

Hammerschmidt Law Corporation is a criminal defense law firm in Fresno that represents professionals in cases of white-collar crime, DUI's, drug charges, fraud, and cybercrime. The firm also represents clients with misdemeanor offenses, domestic violence charges, and murder or homicide. Jeffrey T. Hammerschmidt is certified by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law and is a member of the State Bar of California's criminal law section.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Hammerschmidt - PrincipalActive37 yrs

5151 North Palm Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (74)
Yelp
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

WeDefendFresno is a criminal defense law firm that fights for the rights of the accused in Fresno and neighboring communities. Its team represents persons facing criminal charges related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, sexual offenses, drug possession, and white-collar crimes. It also provides representation during a bail reduction hearing and post-conviction relief matters like expungements and parole or probation violation defense. Former clients recommend firm owner Yan Shrayberman for helping them get their charges dismissed.

  • DWI/DUI

1365 North Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (74)
Yelp
5.0 (4)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Caine Law Firm has been representing clients accused of crimes since 1999. This criminal lawyer in Fresno handles cases ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. The attorney represents those who are innocent of any wrongdoing and those who have made mistakes. The Caine Law Firm strives to protect the constitutional rights of clients and conducts its own investigations to ensure a fair, balanced story is presented in court.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Christopher Caine - Partner and FounderActive31 yrs

191 W Shaw Ave Ste 209, Fresno, CA 93704

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (87)
Facebook
5.0 (30)
Avvo
5.0 (19)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Johnathon Rooker provides criminal defense to residents of Fresno and its surrounding areas. Attorney Jonathon Rooker is experienced at handling criminal cases, including driving under the influence, theft, assault, and drug offenses. He is a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and holds memberships of the National College of DUI Defense and the California DUI Lawyers Association, and is admitted to practice in state and federal courts throughout California.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jonathan Rooker - PrincipalActive12 yrs

2014 Tulare St, Fresno, CA 93721

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (26)
Google
4.5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Serita Rios Attorney of Law aggressively represents the people of Fresno and its neighboring communities. The firm defends the rights of individuals who have been accused of a crime. It covers a wide range of criminal defense matters, including assault, burglary, domestic violence, possession of drugs or firearms, and fraud. Serita Rios, the firm's founder, is a criminal defense and trial attorney who has handled over 100 criminal cases in her 14 years of law experience.

  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence

1401 Fulton Street, Suite 906, Fresno, CA 93721

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (53)
Google
5.0 (37)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Najda Kazarian assists Fresno individuals in dealing with criminal accusations. Kazarian defends clients against criminal charges that range from DUI and traffic offenses to assault and violent crimes like kidnapping and arson. Experienced on the prosecution side, she develops strategies to reduce or dissolve consequences like heavy fines, lengthy probationary terms, and significant jail time. She holds an undergraduate study in Psychology and previously worked for the Fresno Public Defender’s Office.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Fresno, California?

    Call (559) 621-7000 to reach the Fresno Police Department for non-emergency concerns.

  • What is the Three Strikes Law, and how does it affect criminal cases in Fresno, CA?

    The Three Strikes Law refers to California's habitual offender law. Under this law, individuals who have been convicted of a violent or serious felony for the second time get double the amount of state prison time normally sentenced for their crime. Those who are convicted for the third time result in a state prison sentence of 25 years to life. If you may be facing this situation, a Fresno criminal defense attorney can help you evaluate your legal options.

  • Who is eligible to apply for the expungement of a criminal record in Fresno?

    Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in Fresno may apply for an expungement under these conditions:

    • The individual has completed probation
    • The individual is currently not facing a criminal charge
    • The individual is currently not on probation or serving time for a crime If the individual’s criminal conviction resulted in a state prison sentence, they are no longer eligible to apply for expungement. Also, certain crimes are barred from expungement, such as crimes involving minor victims.
  • Do you go to jail after pleading guilty to a crime in a plea hearing in Fresno, CA?

    It depends on the Fresno judge’s decision. It must be noted that the please hearing is an avenue to enter your plea (no contest, guilty, or not guilty) and decide on bail, but it is not the trial itself. After the plea hearing, the judge may choose: not to grant bail and put you in jail, set the amount of bail and put you in jail until you post bail, or release you and give the order to return to court.

  • Can a Fresno police officer arrest you without a warrant?

    Generally, no. However, Fresno police officers may arrest without a warrant in certain situations:

    • If the police officer knows you have an existing and enforceable arrest warrant that is in the hands of another officer
    • If the police officer has probable cause to believe that you are presently committing or have committed a felony
    • If the police officer witnesses you committing a misdemeanor
  • Can you face criminal charges in Fresno if you let a friend drive drunk which led to a DUI accident?

    No, you will not be held liable in this situation. In Fresno, you will only be liable if you gave alcohol to a minor and let that minor drive drunk. Generally, bystanders and even social hosts are not made accountable for the drunk individual's decision to drive. California’s Dram Shop laws also do not make individual/social hosts liable for providing impaired guests with alcohol.