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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Chula Vista, CA

Our Recommended Top 19

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

177Reviewed

113Curated

19Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

402 W. Broadway, Suite 1300, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (26)
Facebook
5.0 (8)
FindLaw
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

David Silldorf Law is a criminal defense firm serving clients in Chula Vista. It handles cases involving federal crimes such as alien smuggling, drug crimes, gun charges, human trafficking, racketeering, and white-collar crimes. The firm also provides representation and advice on state felony offenses, including murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, theft charges, and home-invasion robbery. Its lawyer, David Silldorf, is qualified to handle appointments arising under the Criminal Justice Act by the Federal U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

  • Drug Crimes

585 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (86)
Yelp
4.9 (59)
Avvo
4.9 (28)

Why choose this provider?

Daniel Smith and Jon Pettis are the attorneys of San Diego Defenders and that they have combined 55 years of experience, 30 years and 25 years respectively, defending clients accused of criminal activity in the surrounding counties. The attorneys represent civilian and military clients accused of a wide range of crimes, including DUI, domestic violence, and theft. They also have experience at trial in drug-related cases, such as possession, trafficking, manufacturing, and selling, and in getting felonies reduced to misdemeanors.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Daniel Smith - FounderActive34 yrs

734 Broadway Unit 1, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Immigration Legal Services of Chula Vista assists underserved and marginalized communities in the metro. It seeks legal protection for individuals and businesses accused of illegal conduct. Some of the criminal defense matters that the firm has previously worked on include assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, drug charges, and sex crimes. In addition, the firm handles immigration, labor and employment, and personal injury law concerns. Sole practitioner James Stephen Davis has been in practice for more than two decades.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Drug Crimes

2400 Fenton Street, Chula Vista, CA 91914
WebsiteLicense: 298649

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (36)
Avvo
4.7 (18)
Facebook
4.7 (10)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Troy P. Owens, Jr. provides legal services to clients in Chula Vista seeking assistance. The criminal defense lawyers of the firm can represent clients facing criminal charges including accusations of drug offenses, assault, and battery. The lawyers of the firm can also handle cases of prostitution and gang violence. The law firm also takes cases involving personal injury. Troy P. Owens, Jr. earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Troy Owens - PrincipalActive10 yrs

401 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (15)
Facebook
5.0 (4)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Matthew H. Springmeyer represents people in Chula Vista who have been accused and charged with criminal offenses. The firm's goal is to give clients specialized legal assistance, as well as candid and honest assessments of their cases to assist them in making informed decisions about their future. Its team handles a wide array of services, including domestic violence, DUI charges, murder, theft, and federal crimes. Founder Matthew Springmeyer worked for the San Diego County Public Defender prior to opening the firm.

  • Expungement
  • Domestic Violence
  • DWI/DUI

Symphony Tower Llc 750 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (85)
Yelp
3.4 (5)

Why choose this provider?

The San Diego DUI Attorney helps clients prevent the automatic suspension of their driver's license through the legal services it offers in the San Diego and Chula Vista areas. This criminal law firm evaluates the circumstances of its clients' situation and provides them with options on the most suitable defense they can use. Moreover, it uses all available tools to support the cases of its clients, including witness interviews, evidence analysis, and private investigation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Taibi - Of CounselActive32 yrs

2221 Camino del Rio S #305d, San Diego, CA 92108

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (15)
Avvo
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Salmu Law Firm, APLC, represents clients facing criminal offense cases in the Chula Vista metro. The firm defends its clients from various cases including assault and battery, DUI, domestic violence, possession of drugs, possession of a concealed weapon without a permit, and theft. It handles personal injury cases involving brain injuries, car and motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, and wrongful death. Salmu Law Firm was awarded the San Diego's Best by the Union-Tribune Readers Poll in 2016.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Theft & Burglary

401 West A Street, Suite 1150, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (16)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of John D. Kirby is a firm serving Chula Vista and the surrounding communities. It handles a wide range of national and international criminal law cases including drug trafficking, federal seizures, asset forfeiture, and grow houses and meth labs. Its practitioner, John D. Kirby, utilizes his background as a former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office in representing clients in state and federal courts. He also handles white-collar crimes and criminal appeals and litigation. Spanish services are available.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Drug Crimes

750 B Street, Suite 2820, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (23)
Facebook
5.0 (11)
Yelp
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong APLC is a criminal defense firm that represents clients from Chula Vista and other cities in the San Diego metropolitan area. The firm represents individuals accused of criminal offenses, including drug cases, juvenile crimes, white-collar crimes, and DUIs. Managing partner Kerry Armstrong is one of San Diego County's few board-certified specialists in criminal defense. He was named "Trial Attorney of the Year" for 2012 by the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association.

  • DWI/DUI

110 West C Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (27)
Google
4.7 (18)

Why choose this provider?

Turner Law provides aggressive representation to clients in the Chula Vista metro and the surrounding communities. It handles various types of criminal defense cases, such as assault and battery; burglary; domestic violence; drug manufacturing, possession, and trafficking; and DUI. The firm also works on claims related to embezzlement, homicide, juvenile offenses, and white-collar crimes. Greg Turner, the founding attorney, has represented more than 1,500 clients facing criminal charges since starting his legal career 20 years ago.

  • DWI/DUI

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jason Turner - FounderActive25 yrs

401 West A Street Suite 1150, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (40)
Google
5.0 (11)
Yelp
5.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Domenic J. Lombardo is a criminal defense lawyer serving clients in Chula Vista and the surrounding areas. He represents individuals in state and federal courts for cases involving domestic violence, identity theft, juvenile defense, restraining orders, probation violation, and child pornography. Lombardo has been providing criminal defense and rehabilitation for 29 years. He helps students enter the workforce in the future by providing services such as sealing juvenile records, reducing felonies to misdemeanors, and obtaining certificates of rehabilitation.

925 B Street, Suite 402, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (31)

Why choose this provider?

Brian E. Watkins & Associates Attorneys at Law offers criminal defense services to the residents of Chula Vista. The firm handles cases of domestic violence, assault, and weapons incidents. It also defends people in non-violent offenses such as embezzlement and fraud. Its cases were featured on major news outlets like CNN and CBS and included acquittals of drug possession charges. Founder and principal attorney Brian E. Watkins has been practicing law since 1997 and was involved in suits over cops’ excessive use of force.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Brian Watkins - Founder & PrincipalActive27 yrs

185 West F Street, Suite 100-D, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (20)

Why choose this provider?

Lawstache Law Firm has been serving Chula Vista and its surrounding communities since 2012. It provides criminal defense services to individuals charged with state and federal offenses such as illegal immigration, domestic violence, theft, and white-collar crimes like securities fraud. One of its lawyers, Anton Vialtsin, investigates the evidence against his clients and works with professionals from other industries to counteract the prosecution's theory of the case. He previously worked for the state government and private employers prior to opening a private practice.

  • DWI/DUI

531 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (6)
Yelp
4.5 (6)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of William D. Daley serves clients in Chula Vista and nearby communities. It represents individuals facing criminal charges for murder, DUIs, domestic violence, theft, sexual offenses, and drug offenses. It also helps those with criminal convictions get expungement under California law. In addition, it assists with family law and personal injury cases. William has been in practice since 1975 and is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court. He is a San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association member.

945 Fourth Ave, Suite 416, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (38)
Google
4.9 (11)

Why choose this provider?

Goldman Legal serves clients living in Chula Vista who are facing criminal charges. The firm handles offenses such as assault and battery, drug offenses, and probation violations. The team obtains remedial measures including temporary restraining orders that keep harassers at bay during and after trial. In addition, it provides routine defense pleadings and pursues petitions for expungement for clients who have had their cases dismissed. Principal attorney Jennifer R. Goldman has a criminal justice administration background and is also licensed in the District of Columbia.

  • DWI/DUI

427 C St #306, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (36)
Yelp
4.1 (26)
Avvo
3.7 (12)

Why choose this provider?

George H. Ramos, Jr. is a law firm that has been representing clients in the Chula Vista area since 2002. It primarily handles criminal cases involving drugs, theft, DUI, domestic violence, and white-collar crimes. Its attorneys are available 24/7 to provide legal counsel during police questioning and prepare a defense for trials. They also help with restraining orders and expungement proceedings. Lead counsel George Ramos Jr. is a former prosecutor with more than 25 years of legal experience.

  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes

750 B St Suite #1710, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (24)
Yelp
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Bernal Law is a practice that serves clients in Chula Vista and the neighboring communities. It provides criminal defense against domestic violence, DUI offenses, drug crimes, and tax evasion. It also represents clients in violent crimes, including home invasion, manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual assault, and homicide. In addition, the firm handles white-collar crimes, such as embezzlement, extortion, money laundering, insurance and securities fraud, and counterfeiting. Principal attorney Pedro Bernal served as a deputy attorney in the San Diego District Attorney’s Office.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Pedro Bernal - PrincipalActive12 yrs

501 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (128)
Google
5.0 (122)
Yelp
5.0 (26)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Anna R. Yum help clients protect their future through the legal services it offers in the San Diego and Chula Vista areas. The law firm can help clients in every step of the criminal law process, including the pre-arrest questioning, booking, arraignment, preliminary hearing, motion hearings, and trial. Its founder, Anna R. Yum, is a former prosecutor who leverages her knowledge of the criminal justice system to provide a credible defense for the law firm's clients.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Anna Yum - PrincipalActive19 yrs

1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

McKenzie Scott protects the rights of the accused in Chula Vista and its surrounding communities. It defends clients in cases involving federal crimes, serious state charges, SEC, and grand jury investigations. Its team supports clients from the investigative phase of their cases to discovery review, motion drafting and creation, negotiations with the prosecutorial agency, and trial preparation and presentation. Other areas of practice include personal injury, civil rights, and police misconduct. Tim Scott, one of the firm's partners, co-authored the Ninth Circuit Criminal Handbook.

  • ALL CRIMINAL CASES
  • All Crimes
  • Internet Crime

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Timothy Scott - Cofounder and Managing AttorneyActive23 yrs

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
David Silldorf Law
402 W. Broadway, Suite 1300, San Diego, CA 92101
San Diego Defenders
585 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Immigration Legal Services of Chula Vista
734 Broadway Unit 1, Chula Vista, CA 91910
The Law Office of Troy P. Owens, Jr.
2400 Fenton Street, Chula Vista, CA 91914
Law Office of Matthew H. Springmeyer
401 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910
San Diego DUI Attorney
Symphony Tower Llc 750 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Salmu Law Firm, APLC
2221 Camino del Rio S #305d, San Diego, CA 92108
The Law Offices of John D Kirby
401 West A Street, Suite 1150, San Diego, CA 92101
Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong APLC
750 B Street, Suite 2820, San Diego, CA 92101
Turner Law
110 West C Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Domenic J. Lombardo
401 West A Street Suite 1150, San Diego, CA 92101
Brian E Watkins & Associates Attorneys at Law
925 B Street, Suite 402, San Diego, CA 92101
Lawstache Law Firm
185 West F Street, Suite 100-D, San Diego, CA 92101
Law Offices of William D. Daley
531 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Goldman Legal
945 Fourth Ave, Suite 416, San Diego, CA 92101
George H. Ramos, Jr.
427 C St #306, San Diego, CA 92101
Bernal Law
750 B St Suite #1710, San Diego, CA 92101
Law Offices of Anna R. Yum
501 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
McKenzie Scott Civil Rights & Criminal Defense Lawyers
1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101

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 Chula Vista, California?

    Call (619) 691-5151 to report non-emergencies to the local police station in Chula Vista, California.

  • Can a person be charged with a felony for possessing a small amount of drugs in Chula Vista, California?

    Yes. In Chula Vista, California, possession of drugs is considered a felony, regardless of the quantity involved. The penalties for basic drug possession charges include a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment. However, for an individual to be charged with drug possession, the authorities must have sufficient evidence to support the accusation.

  • When is marijuana possession illegal in Chula Vista, California?

    Marijuana possession is considered illegal in Chula Vista, California in certain circumstances, such as growing more than six plants, selling or importing it into the state. The possession of marijuana is only legal for medical use, and only if it has been purchased from stores licensed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. Failure to follow these rules can result in criminal charges.

  • What are the common defense strategies used for fighting criminal charges in Chula Vista, California?

    The common defense strategies for fighting criminal charges in Chula Vista, California include mistaken identity, deception, lack of evidence, dubious witnesses, and false evidence. Defendants use these arguments to weaken the prosecution's case and create reasonable doubt in the judge or jury's mind. However, it is strongly advised to seek legal counsel to build a strong defense strategy against the charges.

  • What factors increase DUI penalties in Chula Vista, California?

    Several factors may lead to increased DUI penalties in Chula Vista, California, including having a 0.15% or higher BAC level and causing an accident. People driving under the influence may also face severe penalties if they are under 21 years old, they were speeding, and if they have a passenger who's under 14 years old. Drivers who refuse to take a breath or chemical test may also face serious charges.

  • Is assault considered misdemeanor in Chula Vista, California?

    Yes, assaults are usually classified as misdemeanors in Chula Vista, California. However, if a person uses a deadly weapon like a knife or gun, it becomes a felony punishable by up to four years of prison time. Moreover, charges can increase if the victim of assault is a police officer.