Avalon Criminal Defense Attorney
You got arrested on Catalina Island—drunk in public on the pier, DUI on a golf cart, drug possession at the beach. LA County Sheriff took you to Avalon Station, booked you, and gave you a notice to appear at Catalina Courthouse (215 Sumner Avenue). You’re back on the mainland now, terrified about having to return to the island for court. You’re facing criminal charges from what seemed like a vacation incident. Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second generation law firm with over 50 years of combined experience. Our managing partner, Todd Spodek, has many, many, years of experience defending clients arrested on Catalina Island. Todd has represented clients in high-profile cases covered by NY Post, Newsweek, and other national outlets – including Anna Delvey and juror misconduct allegations in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. You need to understand what happens at this remote island courthouse, whether you have to physically return for court, and how experienced Catalina defense attorneys resolve these cases without you ever going back to the island.
What Happened on Catalina Island
You got arrested by LA County Sheriff Avalon Station for one of the most common charges on the island: public intoxication under Penal Code § 647(f), DUI on a golf cart, possession of drugs, or taking undersized lobsters. The sheriff took you to Avalon Jail—a 25-bed facility right next to the courthouse at 215 Sumner Avenue. They booked you: fingerprints, photographs, background check, entered you into the computer system. Then they either released you on your own recognizance (OR) for first-time offenses, or you posted bail to get out.
They gave you a written notice to appear in court. The notice says you must appear at Catalina Courthouse on a specific Friday—criminal matters are only handled one day per week. The notice warns: failure to appear = separate misdemeanor charge under California Penal Code § 853.7, bench warrant issued immediately.
Don’t ignore it. Catalina Island has a crime rate of 1 in 49. LA County Sheriff and prosecutors don’t dismiss “vacation arrests” just because you live on the mainland. This is your Fifth Amendment moment: you should have told the sheriff “I want my lawyer” and said nothing else.
You Don’t Have to Return to Island
Catalina Courthouse at 215 Sumner Avenue is only open Fridays for criminal matters. There’s a single courtroom that handles 30-40 criminal cases every Friday, plus traffic court, civil matters, small claims, and juvenile cases. One judge assigned to the courthouse. If you live on the mainland, the thought of taking the ferry back to Catalina every time you have court is terrifying—$76-$84 round-trip ferry ride, 1 hour each way, time off work.
You don’t have to go back. Under California Penal Code § 977(a), your attorney can appear on your behalf for ANY misdemeanor charge. You stay on the mainland. Your attorney appears Friday at Catalina Courthouse for arraignment, pre-trial conferences, and negotiation with prosecutors.
This saves you multiple ferry trips. Instead of you taking 3-5 trips back to the island over 2-3 months ($250-$400 in ferry costs, days off work, childcare issues), your attorney handles everything while you stay home.
This is your Sixth Amendment right to counsel in action. The public defender at Catalina Courthouse handles dozens of cases every Friday. They can’t investigate your case, interview witnesses, or challenge the sheriff’s arrest. Private attorneys who appear regularly at Catalina Courthouse have relationships with the single judge, know the Deputy DA who covers island cases, and understand LA County Sheriff Avalon Station’s practices.
What Prosecutors Offer
The Deputy District Attorney assigned to Catalina makes settlement offers based on the charge and your criminal history. For first-time public intoxication (PC § 647f), prosecutors typically offer: plea to an infraction instead of misdemeanor, fine ($250-$500), no jail time. Case stays off your criminal record because infractions aren’t crimes. For drug possession (Health & Safety Code § 11350), prosecutors offer diversion programs—complete drug education classes and counseling, case gets dismissed entirely after 12-18 months. No conviction, no probation, clean record.
For DUI on a golf cart, prosecutors treat it the same as car DUI: license suspension (6 months for first offense), fines ($1,800-$2,000), DUI classes (3-9 months), probation (3-5 years). Golf carts on Catalina are considered motor vehicles under California Vehicle Code. Repeat offenses or violent charges: jail time is likely. Second DUI = 96 hours to 1 year jail. Assault and battery = county jail sentence.
Your attorney negotiates from strength when the sheriff’s case has weaknesses. No video evidence of your intoxication? Witness credibility issues—tourists who don’t want to return for trial? Illegal stop or search—did the sheriff have reasonable suspicion under the Fourth Amendment? Your background matters: no prior arrests, mainland employment, professional license at stake (doctor, nurse, teacher), immigration consequences, security clearance requirements. These are collateral consequences that give prosecutors reason to reduce charges or dismiss entirely.
Trial risk matters too. If you request trial, case transfers to Long Beach Courthouse. Months of delay. Prosecutor has to bring sheriff and witnesses to mainland for jury trial. Uncertainty of jury verdict. Deputy DA may prefer resolving case on island through favorable plea deal rather than risking trial loss. Your attorney can press this advantage: “We’re prepared to go to trial unless you reduce this to an infraction.”
This is where Fourth Amendment challenges matter. If LA County Sheriff stopped you without reasonable suspicion—just “suspicious behavior” on the pier—the stop violates the Fourth Amendment. Your attorney files motion to suppress all evidence from illegal stop. If judge grants motion, case dismissed. Prosecutors know this risk exists, which gives your attorney bargaining power before trial.
Then there’s the local knowledge issue. Catalina Courthouse operates differently than mainland courthouses. Court is only open Fridays for criminal matters. The attorney you hire must be available that specific day. There’s a single judge assigned to Catalina. Attorneys who appear regularly know his sentencing philosophy, how he rules on suppression motions, what he considers mitigating factors.
The Deputy DA who covers Catalina isn’t rotating—it’s the same prosecutor handling all island cases. Attorneys who practice regularly have negotiation relationships that matter. They know which cases the DA will reduce pre-filing versus which require formal charges. They understand LA County Sheriff Avalon Station’s practices: which arrests have Fourth Amendment weaknesses, which sheriff reports contain credibility issues, which cases involve tourists who won’t return for trial.
Ferry schedule coordination—your attorney can’t miss the last ferry back to mainland (court runs until 4:30pm, last ferry leaves around 6:00pm). No designated parking. Rapid-fire court calendar—when your case is called, attorney must be prepared immediately.
Attorneys who regularly appear at Catalina save you multiple expensive ferry trips. They appear under PC § 977(a) for all misdemeanors—you never have to return to island. They negotiate case resolution before trial, avoiding Long Beach transfer. Before charges are filed, experienced attorneys contact the DA early to present evidence and get the case rejected.
Unlike other law firms who only handle mainland cases and treat Catalina like any other courthouse, Spodek Law Group has many, many, years of experience specifically at Catalina Courthouse. We’ve represented tourists arrested for drug possession (case dismissed through suppression motion), DUI on golf cart (reduced to reckless driving), public intoxication (reduced to infraction, no criminal record). We understand how to negotiate with the Deputy DA who covers Catalina, appear on Fridays without you having to return, and resolve your case while you stay on the mainland.
Call us. 212-300-5196.