Riverside Manslaughter Defense Lawyer

Facing an accusation of any criminal action is a serious situation, and there are few criminal offenses as serious as taking another person’s life. California state law defines “homicide” as a violent crime committed by an individual that results in the death of another person. The term “manslaughter” is often conflated with “murder,” but these two terms describe different offenses that entail the same tragic results. At the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado, we can help you or a loved one understand your legal options after an arrest for manslaughter. Depending on the circumstances of the situation, the accused can face many years or even life in prison and other substantial penalties.

Our team has years of experience in criminal defense representation. We will carefully review the charges against you and help you determine the best approach to crafting your defense. We understand that facing serious criminal charges for manslaughter is an incredibly stressful and daunting experience. It’s easy to feel alienated and uncertain about your future when you potentially face years in prison. We adapt our approach based on our client’s individual needs. Whether you need to prove your innocence or simply minimize your sentencing as much as possible, we can help.

The main reason why so many defendants stick with public defenders is the cost of legal representation. Attorneys’ fees can be quite expensive, and most criminal defense attorneys bill their time by the hour. Therefore, the more work a case requires, the more it will cost the client in legal fees. At the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado, we know how daunting the potentially high cost of legal fees may be and do everything we can to streamline our services as much as possible for our clients. You can expect full transparency in your billing when you choose the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado.

Manslaughter is a type of homicide charge. While murder is another similar type of homicide charge, manslaughter typically pertains to unintentional deaths caused by intentional actions. Consider a few examples to understand the differences between murder and manslaughter:

• A person plans to kill another person and carries out the act with the intention of killing the victim. This is murder in the first degree as it was a premeditated action with the specific desired outcome of killing the victim.
• A person plans to harm, but not kill, another person and engages in a harmful action against them. The victim dies from the experience even though the aggressor did not intend to kill them. This would qualify as murder in the second degree.
• When a person kills another person “in the heat of passion” or without any preconceived notion of killing the victim, this constitutes voluntary manslaughter. This offense is very similar to second-degree murder, but the difference is that second-degree murder applies when the aggressor is fully aware of the potential consequences of their actions.
• A person is operating construction equipment under the influence of alcohol and mishandles the controls, killing another person. Since this death occurred due to negligence and a wanton disregard for the safety of others, the offender faces involuntary manslaughter charges.
• A drunk driver hits and kills a pedestrian. This would qualify as vehicular manslaughter.

Ultimately, the main differences between murder and manslaughter include premeditation, malice aforethought, and cognizance of the potential consequences of one’s actions. Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person kills another person intentionally without planning the incident. Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a person kills another person without any intention of killing them but by consciously engaging in a dangerous action that shows disregard for the safety of others.

Once you hire a Riverside manslaughter defense lawyer to handle your case, they should begin your representation by interviewing you and learning as much as they can about the situation in question. Depending on how your arrest unfolded and the details of the situation, an experienced attorney may be able to quickly identify procedural issues with your case that may work in your favor. In the event you have been wrongfully accused, your attorney’s priority will likely shift to establishing your alibi and gathering exculpatory evidence that dismantles the prosecution’s case against you. If you experienced any due process or civil rights violations during the arrest and booking processes, your attorney will help you address these issues as well.

Any criminal case begins with arrest and booking, followed by arraignment. After a suspect is booked, the state will file charges against them, and the arraignment is the formal reading of these charges. At this point, the judge will set a bail amount for the defendant. Bail amount typically hinges on the severity of the offenses in question. Since manslaughter charges are quite serious, it is not uncommon for judges handling these cases to set high bail amounts. If the defendant cannot post bail, they must remain in custody until their first hearing. Some cases may involve a separate bail hearing that will take place prior to the defendant’s arraignment.

The arraignment involves the judge formally reading the charges against the defendant, and the defendant may enter their plea. If the defendant pleads guilty, the case will proceed to sentencing. If the defendant pleads “no contest,” they are not admitting fault for the crime but accept the court’s punishment. It is important to note that judges generally treat “no contest” pleas the same way they would treat “guilty” pleas, and pleading no contest generally does not serve a defendant’s best interests. When a defendant pleads “not guilty,” the trial process commences, and the prosecution must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.