Compton Criminal Defense Lawyer

Sheriff’s deputies arrest you on Compton Boulevard Friday night—gang enhancement charges, they say you’re associated with gang because of where you live and who your friends are. You’re NOT in a gang but prosecutor adding gang enhancement under California Penal Code 186.22 means 10 extra years MANDATORY. You’re booked at Compton Sheriff’s Station (301 S. Willowbrook Ave), arraignment Monday at Compton Courthouse (200 W. Compton Blvd). You’re thinking “how much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California, can I afford this or am I stuck with public defender who has 500 cases and seven minutes to review my file?”

How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost?

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California? Hourly rates vary by experience—entry-level defense attorneys charge $250 to $350 per hour, mid-level experienced attorneys charge $350 to $500 per hour, senior trial s charge $500 to $750 per hour, top-tier attorneys charge $750 to $1,200+ per hour. Flat fees depend on charge complexity—simple misdemeanor like petty theft or simple possession runs $2,500 to $7,500, complex misdemeanor like DUI or domestic violence runs $5,000 to $15,000, felony drug possession runs $10,000 to $25,000, felony theft or fraud runs $15,000 to $40,000, violent felony runs $25,000 to $75,000, gang enhancement cases run $25,000 to $75,000+ because require gang expert witnesses to challenge prosecution’s gang evidence. What you get at each price point—at $2,500 to $7,500 you get basic representation covering arraignment and plea negotiations, at $10,000 to $25,000 you get full investigation including suppression motions, at $25,000 to $50,000 for gang cases you get gang expert witness (former LAPD gang detective or criminologist) who can testify “wearing red t-shirt and living in Compton doesn’t make you gang member,” at $50,000+ you get private investigators, jury consultants, aggressive pretrial motions to strike gang enhancement. The Los Angeles County Public Defender is free if you qualify based on income, but average public defender at Compton courthouse handles 500 active cases—they have seven minutes to review your file before arraignment, they cannot spend 20 hours investigating gang enhancement claims, they cannot hire $10,000 gang expert to challenge prosecution’s gang expert. Private attorney billing $500 per hour can hire gang expert to testify prosecution’s evidence is insufficient—you wore red shirt once, you were photographed with cousin who IS gang member, that doesn’t prove YOU are active participant in gang or that YOUR crime was committed for benefit of gang. Is that equal justice under law when access to gang expert depends on your ability to write $25,000 check?

How Much is a Retainer?

How much is a retainer for a criminal defense lawyer? Retainer is advance payment deposited into attorney’s trust account—attorney bills hourly against retainer balance, either refunds unused portion or requires additional payment if retainer runs out. Typical retainer amounts—misdemeanor cases require $5,000 to $15,000, felony cases require $15,000 to $50,000+, gang enhancement cases require $25,000 to $50,000+ because require gang expert witness and extensive investigation. How billing works—you pay $25,000 retainer for gang case, attorney bills 50 hours at $400/hour ($20,000), hires gang expert for $5,000, retainer covers it. If attorney bills 60 hours ($24,000) plus $5,000 gang expert ($29,000 total), you owe additional $4,000. Flat fees are predictable but higher upfront, hourly retainers are cheaper if case resolves quickly. Read retainer agreement carefully—some attorneys include non-refundable retainer clauses. Retainer system advantages defendants who can pay $25,000 upfront for gang expert—Compton residents who cannot afford retainer get appointed counsel with no budget for gang experts. You’re charged with assault with gang enhancement—wealthy defendant pays $50,000 for former LAPD gang detective to testify “this defendant shows no signs of gang membership,” gets gang enhancement stricken, faces 4 years instead of 14 years. You cannot afford gang expert, public defender has no budget, jury hears prosecution gang expert, no defense expert to refute, you’re convicted with gang enhancement, 14 years. Same crime, same courthouse, different outcome based solely on ability to pay for gang expert witness.

How to Pick the Criminal Defense Lawyer

How to pick the criminal defense lawyer? Start with Compton courthouse experience—has this attorney tried cases at Compton courthouse, does this attorney know judges who sit at Compton branch, does this attorney know DA prosecutors who handle gang cases at Compton, has this attorney filed motions to strike gang enhancements at Compton and knows how local judges rule on gang motions? Local experience matters because gang prosecution is intensely local—different DA offices have different policies on gang enhancements, different judges have different views on what evidence proves gang membership, Compton courthouse handles MANY, MANY gang cases compared to other LA County courthouses, attorney who practices at Compton knows local gang injunctions, knows which prosecutors routinely overcharge gang enhancements, knows which judges are skeptical of weak gang evidence. Gang enhancement expertise is CRITICAL—has this attorney defended PC 186.22 gang enhancement cases specifically, does this attorney understand gang law (prosecutor must prove you’re active participant in criminal street gang AND you committed crime for benefit of or in association with gang AND to promote criminal conduct by gang members), does this attorney have relationships with gang expert witnesses (former gang detectives, criminologists, sociologists who can testify about gang culture and challenge prosecution’s gang expert), can this attorney file motion to strike gang enhancement and argue “prosecution’s evidence is insufficient—living in Compton and wearing certain colors doesn’t prove active gang participation”? Trial experience is critical—has this attorney taken gang cases to jury trial, or do they just negotiate plea bargains? Attorney who has never tried gang case to verdict has no leverage in plea negotiations because prosecutor knows they won’t actually go to trial. Communication and fee transparency are non-negotiable—does this attorney respond to calls and emails, explain gang enhancement penalties clearly, provide written retainer agreement with itemized billing showing gang expert costs? Red flags—attorney promises specific outcomes (“I guarantee I can beat gang enhancement”—no ethical attorney can promise outcomes, gang enhancement cases are highly fact-specific), attorney has no gang enhancement experience (only does DUI and drug cases, has never challenged gang allegations), attorney has no Compton courthouse experience (practices in different county, doesn’t know local gang prosecutors or judges), attorney provides vague fee structure (won’t explain gang expert costs upfront, won’t provide written retainer agreement showing expert witness fees).

Is $400 an Hour a Lot for a Lawyer?

Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer? $400 per hour is MID-LEVEL experienced attorney in Los Angeles County—not entry-level, not top-tier. Entry-level attorneys charge $250 to $350 per hour, senior trial s charge $500 to $750 per hour, top-tier attorneys charge $750 to $1,200+ per hour. What $400/hour gets you—attorney with 10 to 15 years experience, has tried gang enhancement cases to jury verdict, can handle motion practice (motion to strike gang enhancement under PC 186.22(g), motion to exclude gang expert testimony, Pitchess motion for police gang records), can hire gang expert witness to challenge prosecution’s gang allegations (former LAPD gang detective who testifies “prosecution’s evidence is weak, defendant shows no indicia of gang membership”), knows Compton courthouse judges and DA gang prosecutors, understands local gang injunctions and how they affect charges. When worth paying more for $750/hour top-tier attorney—complex gang conspiracy with multiple co-defendants, extensive wiretap evidence, RICO charges, charges carrying life sentence. When you can pay less for $250 to $300/hour entry-level attorney—simple misdemeanor without gang enhancement, first offense, prosecutor offering reasonable plea deal, no gang allegations. The hourly rate question isn’t “is $400/hour expensive”—question is “what am I getting for $400/hour and is that value worth it for MY gang case?” You’re facing assault with gang enhancement—base crime is 4 years, gang enhancement adds 10 years MANDATORY, total exposure 14 years. You need attorney who can file motion to strike gang enhancement and hire gang expert to testify prosecution’s evidence is insufficient—$400/hour attorney with gang enhancement experience and relationships with gang experts is worth it. You’re facing simple possession misdemeanor, no gang enhancement, prosecutor offering drug diversion program (no conviction if you complete program)—you don’t need $750/hour top-tier gang attorney, $300/hour entry-level attorney can negotiate that plea. Hourly rates create access inequality—wealthy defendant pays $50,000 for top-tier gang defense team (gang expert witness who’s former LAPD gang detective, private investigator to interview witnesses about defendant’s lack of gang involvement, jury consultant who knows how to pick jurors skeptical of gang evidence), working-class defendant gets public defender with 500 cases and no budget for gang expert. Same Compton courthouse, same gang enhancement charges, different outcomes based solely on ability to pay hourly rate for gang expert who can challenge prosecution’s gang allegations. California State Bar rules require fees be reasonable, but “reasonable” doesn’t guarantee equal access to gang experts who can make difference between 4-year sentence and 14-year sentence.

212-300-5196.