Los Angeles Mayhem Defense Attorneys

Representing Those Accused of Mayhem in Los Angeles

An accusation of mayhem is nothing to laugh at. This kind of crime is incredibly violent, carries harsh penalties, and may leave you behind bars for the rest of your life. Even if you are not convicted, the accusation could destroy your reputation, harm your relationship with friends and family, and even lead to you losing your job. However, with a skilled L.A. legal team, you may be able to walk away from this trial with your life intact.

At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, we provide our clients with the best defense we can. When someone comes to our firm asking for help, we launch an investigation into their case, providing them with skilled and experienced guidance. If you have been accused of mayhem and are facing a trial, call our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at (213) 688-0460. We are ready to give you the support you need.

Defining Mayhem

The word “mayhem” gets thrown around in casual conversation. However, the legal definition is very specific. Under California law, the crime of mayhem is when someone unlawfully or maliciously deprives a victim of his or her limb or disables or disfigures the victim’s body in some way. Mayhem is a violent crime, and being charged with it can seriously impact your employment, relationships with family and friends, and reputation.

There is also the related charge of aggravated mayhem, which is considered a more serious crime. Similar to mayhem, one of the key elements of aggravated mayhem is disfiguring or disabling someone’s body in some way. That could involve stabbing someone’s eye, amputating a limb, or even cutting out the tongue. The difference between these two crimes is whether the damage was done intentionally. If it was an accident, then the charge would be mayhem. If it was done purposefully, no matter the motivation, then it would be aggravated mayhem. Whichever crime you are being charged with, chances are you are facing harsh penalties.

Penalties for Mayhem Charges

Both mayhem and aggravated mayhem are felonies. Since it is a violent crime, the prosecution will consider you a threat to the community and will do everything they can to get the maximum sentence. Even if the evidence against you is flimsy, you should never assume that you won’t be convicted. A conviction for mayhem means:

• Between two and eight years in prison
• Mandatory felony probation
• Fines of up to $10,000

The penalties for aggravated mayhem include:

• Up to life in prison with the possibility of parole
• Heavy fines

While life in prison is already a harsh sentence, your penalties could actually be enhanced if the alleged victim was part of a protected group. For mayhem committed against a protected individual, you could be facing more than 8 years in prison, and if you are convicted of aggravated mayhem, your chance of being sentenced to life skyrockets. Protected groups include people that are:

• Over the age of 65
• Under the age of 14
• Developmentally disabled
• Paralyzed
• Blind or deaf
• Pregnant

As a violent crime, mayhem falls under California’s Three Strikes law. Your first strike will result in the standard penalties, but a second strike will double your time behind bars. A third strike means that you will receive a sentence of twenty-five years to life in prison. So if you have already been convicted of a violent crime in the past, such as robbery or assault, then your penalties for a mayhem conviction will be far worse. If it’s your third strike, the rest of your life could be spent in prison.

However, the right defense can make a huge difference.

Finding the Right Defense

Considering how serious the penalties for mayhem and aggravated mayhem are, you may be concerned about your future. That is why you need to work with a top Los Angeles violent crime attorney who can build you a strong defense. There is nothing more important than poking holes in the prosecution’s arguments. Even if there is no viable defense for your innocence, there could still be ways to reduce the charges to a more minor crime. When it comes to mayhem, some of the better defenses include:

• You were acting in self-defense.
• You were defending others.
• You did not intentionally or maliciously cause harm.
• You are being falsely accused.
• Your identity has been mistaken and you are not the perpetrator.

Of course, not just any defense will do. You need one that fits your particular case. That will require an in-depth investigation led by a skilled attorney. While you do have the right to a public defender, it is very likely that the one assigned to you simply won’t have the time to dig into your case. The truth is that public defenders are massively overworked and can rarely give clients more than a few minutes of attention at a time. That is why you need to turn to a premier law firm that will make you the priority.

Working with an Aggressive Los Angeles Mayhem Defense Team

We at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP have years of experience fighting for our clients’ rights, and we are prepared to do the same for you. Going on trial for mayhem in Los Angeles can be complicated and emotional. You need a defense team that is ready to take on any mountain to get you the best possible outcome. As experienced L.A. criminal defense attorneys, we are ready to build the aggressive defense that you need. For a free initial consultation, call us at (213) 688-0460 today.