The Kenney Legal Defense Corporation is a full-service Orange County criminal defense law firm headed by criminal lawyer in Orange County California Karren Kenney. The firm defends clients throughout the area who have been charged with a wide variety of crimes. Led by an accomplished and tenacious attorney with more than two decades of legal experience, our firm is dedicated to helping clients mount the strongest possible defense and seek every opportunity to reduce or drop charges. We understand how stressful and difficult it can be for a person to face serious criminal charges, and we will be with you every step of the way during these trying times.
Whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony, being charged with a crime is a serious matter that can have significant consequences like fines and imprisonment. Not only may your own future be at stake in a criminal prosecution, but also that of loved ones who depend on you for emotional and financial support. That’s why it’s crucial to seek the counsel and advice of a seasoned, aggressive criminal lawyer and criminal attorney.
Criminal Lawyer in Orange County California Handling Felony and Misdemeanor Cases
At Kenney Legal Defense, we handle the full range of criminal cases. Criminal Lawyer Karren Kenney handles criminal matters that includes:
- White collar crime
- Fraud
- Federal offenses
- DUI , hit and run, and other driving offenses
- Theft crimes
- Drug crimes
- Violent crimes
- Homicide, including first-degree murder, manslaughter, and vehicular manslaughter
- Internet crimes, including possession of child pornography, credit card fraud, and phishing scams
- Juvenile defense
The California Penal Code defines three types of criminal offenses criminal lawyer Karren Kenney handles: infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Infractions are the least serious type of offenses, and they are punishable only by a fine (not imprisonment). Misdemeanors are punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment for up to one year in city or county jail, while felonies are the most serious type of criminal offense punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison. Federal crimes are defined by federal statutes and are distinct from state crimes. A criminal defense attorney can explain the charges against you, advise whether they are federal or state offenses, and help you put forward an aggressive defense.
Criminal Lawyer in Orange County California Ready to Fight for You
Attorney Karren Kenney personally handles each and every case that the firm takes on. A former Senior Deputy Public Defender in California, Ms. Kenney is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer who has extensive experience defending a wide range of complex cases through trial. Ms. Kenney has never prosecuted anyone: she has dedicated her career to defending the accused. She is well respected among clients and in the legal community and was named Public Defender of the Year by her colleagues for her tenacity and commitment. Unlike other criminal defense lawyers and firms, Criminal Lawyer Orange County, Ms. Kenney will handle your case from start to finish and will not delegate work to other, less experienced lawyers.
COMMON CRIMINAL DEFENSES
While criminal prosecutors are entrusted with public duties to seek the truth and pursue convictions in a manner that’s just and honorable, it’s important for those charged to understand that the state and federal governments don’t always have their best interests in mind. A criminal lawyer orange county needs to make sure her client’s rights are not violated. Fortunately, there are a number of safeguards and defenses available to the criminally accused. Chief among them is that their guilt must be established “beyond a reasonable doubt” in order to be convicted. That’s a far more difficult standard to meet than in civil cases, where liability must simply be shown by a “preponderance of the evidence.” The federal Constitution imposes other procedural safeguards, including the right to confront witnesses, the right to due process, and the right to a speedy and public trial, among others. The California constitution similarly enumerates safeguards to protect the accused from an overzealous government.
Search and seizure issues also regularly come up in criminal cases, particularly those related to alleged drug and criminal offenses. Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, in order to stop you on the street and pat you down, pull over your car and look inside or kick down your door and rifle through the things in your house, police officers must have a certain amount of tangible suspicion (“probable cause,” or in some limited circumstances, “reasonable suspicion”) to support such moves. If they can’t prove that such suspicion existed before they executed the search, the Constitution requires that any evidence gained must later be thrown out and cannot be considered by the judge or jury.
If you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge, you need an aggressive criminal lawyer in Orange County on your side. With offices in Costa Mesa, we serve clients throughout Southern California, including in Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and San Diego County. Call (855) 505-5588 or contact us online for a free consultation.