Former Deputy District Attorney
Los Angeles County Attorneys
How Los Angeles County’s Legal Landscape Affects Your Case
When criminal charges or a serious injury upend your life, the quality of your legal representation shapes everything that follows. Los Angeles County operates one of the most complex legal systems in the country; its courts handle a large volume of cases each year across numerous courthouse locations, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is the largest local prosecutorial office in the United States. Having an attorney who understands that environment can make a meaningful difference in your outcome.
At Lucero, PC, we serve clients throughout Los Angeles County and the surrounding region from our office in La Verne, California. We handle criminal defense and personal injury matters, and we approach every case with the same commitment: clear guidance, honest assessment, and representation built around your specific situation. Call us at 909-503-4856 to speak with our attorney today.
Los Angeles County’s sheer scale, encompassing numerous courthouses, a district attorney’s office with hundreds of prosecutors, and some of the most active criminal dockets in California, means that familiarity with its specific courts, procedures, and personnel is not a minor advantage.
The county encompasses 88 cities and serves a population that reflects remarkable diversity, making it one of the most geographically and jurisdictionally varied counties in the nation. Criminal cases are handled at various courthouses throughout Los Angeles County depending on the location and nature of the alleged offense, including courthouses serving the eastern portion of the county.
California’s criminal and civil rules apply uniformly statewide, but how those rules play out in practice varies by courthouse. Arraignment schedules, plea offer timelines, and judicial temperament all differ. Our attorney practices in these courts regularly, which means we understand the practical realities that general legal knowledge alone cannot provide.
Our Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
California classifies crimes as infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Misdemeanors generally carry a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.
DUI Defense
California Vehicle Code Section 23152 makes it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, or while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Felony DUI
When a DUI results in injury to another person, involves prior DUI convictions, or meets other statutory criteria, it can be charged as a felony.
Drug Crimes
California’s drug laws cover possession, possession for sale, transportation, and manufacturing of controlled substances.
Violent Crimes
Assault, battery, domestic violence, robbery, and weapons charges are prosecuted aggressively in Los Angeles County.
Theft Crimes
California distinguishes petty theft from grand theft based on the value of the property taken.
White Collar Crimes
Financial crimes including fraud, embezzlement, and related offenses are prosecuted by both the Los Angeles County District Attorney and federal authorities.
Personal Injury
California’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury.
Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common sources of serious injury in Los Angeles County.
Criminal Defense in Los Angeles County
In Los Angeles County, criminal charges range from misdemeanors prosecuted in superior court to serious felonies that can result in decades of state prison time, and the approach to defending each category of charge is fundamentally different.
California classifies crimes as infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Misdemeanors generally carry a maximum sentence of one year in county jail, while felonies can result in state prison sentences measured in years or decades. Some offenses, known as “wobblers,” can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances and the prosecutor’s discretion.
The criminal defense practice at Lucero, PC covers a range of charges that clients across Los Angeles County face:
- DUI Defense: California Vehicle Code Section 23152 makes it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, or while impaired by alcohol or drugs. DUI charges carry consequences that extend beyond criminal court, including DMV proceedings that can result in license suspension independent of any conviction. Our Los Angeles County DUI Defense Attorney page explains those parallel processes in detail.
- Felony DUI: When a DUI results in injury to another person, involves prior DUI convictions, or meets other statutory criteria, it can be charged as a felony under California Vehicle Code Section 23153. Felony DUI convictions can carry state prison exposure, and certain felony DUI convictions may qualify as strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law depending on the circumstances.
- Drug Crimes: California’s drug laws cover possession, possession for sale, transportation, and manufacturing of controlled substances. Penalties vary significantly based on the substance, the quantity, and whether the charge is filed as a misdemeanor or felony.
- Violent Crimes: Assault, battery, domestic violence, robbery, and weapons charges are prosecuted aggressively in Los Angeles County. Many carry sentence enhancements that can dramatically increase the time a defendant faces.
- Theft Crimes: California distinguishes petty theft from grand theft based on the value of the property taken. Grand theft generally applies when the value of the property exceeds $950, although California law also identifies certain circumstances in which theft may constitute grand theft regardless of value, such as theft of certain property or theft from the person.
- White Collar and Fraud Crimes: Financial crimes including fraud, embezzlement, and related offenses are prosecuted by both the Los Angeles County District Attorney and federal authorities, depending on the conduct involved.
Our Client Success Stories
Understanding Felony vs. Misdemeanor Classification
When a case is filed, classification matters immediately and persistently. A felony conviction affects civil rights, including firearm ownership, voting rights in some circumstances, and professional licensing, long after any sentence is served. Misdemeanor convictions, while less severe, still appear on criminal records and can affect employment, housing, and immigration status.
The defense strategy differs accordingly. In misdemeanor cases, resolution through a plea, diversion, or dismissal may be achievable without a preliminary hearing. In felony cases, the prosecution generally must establish probable cause through a preliminary hearing or proceed by grand jury indictment before the case can proceed to trial. That preliminary hearing is itself a strategic opportunity.
Meet Our Team
Christopher Lucero
Founder, Attorney
Christopher Lucero is a former Deputy District Attorney who now focuses his practice on criminal and DUI defense. He represents clients in La Verne, at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse, and across Southern California, working directly with clients from the first consultation through resolution.
Speak With a Los Angeles County Attorney at Lucero, PC
Serious legal matters, whether a criminal charge or a significant injury claim, demand representation that is both substantively knowledgeable and responsive to your individual circumstances. Lucero, PC serves clients throughout Los Angeles County and the greater Southern California region, handling criminal defense and personal injury cases with the care and attention each client deserves.
To discuss your matter, contact our law firm today. Our attorney is available to speak with you directly. Call 909-503-4856 or reach us through our website. Our office is located at 2220 3rd St, La Verne, CA 91750.
What Happens After a Criminal Arrest in Los Angeles County
The process following an arrest in Los Angeles County generally proceeds through several defined stages:
- Booking and arraignment: After arrest, a defendant who remains in custody generally must be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay and within the time required by California law, subject to statutory exceptions.
- Bail determination: The court sets bail based on the county’s bail schedule, the seriousness of the charges, and factors specific to the defendant. Bail can be contested at arraignment or a separate hearing.
- Preliminary hearing (felonies): In felony cases, a defendant who is in custody generally has the right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of arraignment, unless the statutory time period is waived or an applicable exception applies. This hearing tests the prosecution’s evidence before any trial.
- Pre-trial proceedings: Motions to suppress evidence, challenges to the admissibility of statements, and discovery disputes are resolved during this phase. A strong pre-trial motion can result in evidence exclusion that fundamentally changes the case.
- Resolution or trial: Most cases resolve through a negotiated plea. Cases that do not settle proceed to a jury trial, where the prosecution must prove every element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Why Choose Us
Former Deputy District Attorney
Christopher Lucero served as a Southern California Deputy District Attorney. He understands how criminal and DUI cases are built, and he uses that perspective to examine the evidence and challenge the case against you.
10+ Years of Experience
More than ten years of experience in criminal and DUI matters in Southern California courts, from first-offense misdemeanors to serious felony charges.
Regularly Appears at the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse
Attorney Lucero regularly represents clients at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse and in Los Angeles County courts, including the Pomona courthouse that serves La Verne and the eastern county.
24/7 Direct Access to Your Attorney
Every case receives personal attention. You work directly with your attorney, and we build a strategy around the specific facts of your situation.
Spanish-Speaking Services Available
Spanish-speaking services are available, so you and your family can discuss the case and follow each step of the process in the language you are most comfortable with.
Free, Confidential Consultation
We offer free, confidential consultations so you can understand your legal standing and ask questions without financial pressure or obligation.
Personal Injury Claims in Los Angeles County
When someone is injured through another party’s negligence in Los Angeles County, California law provides a path to compensation, but that path has deadlines, procedural requirements, and evidentiary demands that make legal assistance critical from the outset.
California’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Missing that deadline ordinarily bars the claim entirely, regardless of how serious the injury or how clear the other party’s fault. Claims for personal injury or death against California public entities generally require a government claim to be presented within six months after the claim accrues, subject to statutory exceptions and other requirements.
Personal injury matters we handle for clients in Los Angeles County include:
- Car Accidents: Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common sources of serious injury in Los Angeles County. California follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning a plaintiff’s own degree of fault reduces, but does not necessarily eliminate, their recovery. Evidence from the scene, medical records, and accident reconstruction all bear directly on the outcome.
- Wrongful Death: When negligence causes a fatality, California law permits certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim. Eligible plaintiffs in a wrongful death action may seek damages permitted by California law, which can include financial support the deceased would have provided, loss of companionship, and other recoverable economic and non-economic damages.
- Other Injury Matters: Premises liability, product liability, and other negligence-based claims follow similar frameworks: the plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach caused the plaintiff’s damages.
Compensation in a personal injury case can include medical expenses (past and future), lost income, loss of earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. California does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, though there are specific caps in medical malpractice matters.
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Serving Communities Across Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire
Lucero, PC is located in La Verne, California, serving clients throughout Los Angeles County and adjacent communities in the Inland Empire, including Rancho Cucamonga and the surrounding area.
The eastern portion of Los Angeles County, including communities like Pomona, Covina, Glendora, and La Verne itself, is served primarily by the Pomona courthouse system. Our office’s location means we are well-positioned to represent clients whose cases are heard in that courthouse, as well as courthouses throughout the county.
We also serve clients in San Bernardino County communities, including Rancho Cucamonga. Whether your matter arises in Los Angeles city, the eastern county cities, or the adjacent Inland Empire region, our law firm is positioned to provide substantive representation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles County Legal Matters
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