1. Law Offices of Matthew G. Kaestner
Practice Focus: Criminal law defense exclusively, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, domestic violence, three strikes cases, white collar crime, conspiracy, gang cases, drug manufacturing and distribution, fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, and DUI defense.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, capital murder cases, drug offenses, violent crimes, white collar crimes, domestic violence, theft crimes, weapons charges, gang-related offenses, search warrant challenges, and wiretap cases.
Legal Services: Trial defense, preliminary hearings, arraignment representation, motion practice including motions to suppress evidence, plea negotiations, search warrant challenges, wiretap defense, diversion program eligibility assessment, and post-conviction relief.
Background: Matthew Kaestner has practiced criminal law for over 35 years. He is certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization since 1999. He is one of only three criminal law specialists with offices in Long Beach. Mr. Kaestner was featured in the National Registry of Exonerations for his work freeing a man wrongfully convicted of murder by a Long Beach jury. He has lectured at the Los Angeles County Bar Association ICDA seminar on handling wiretap cases. California State Bar Number: 122492.
Location: One World Trade Center, Long Beach, CA 90831
Contact: (562) 437-0200 | https://www.lbcrimlaw.com
Consultation: Mr. Kaestner personally takes calls and handles all aspects of each case from initial consultation through trial or resolution.
2. Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, civil rights, police misconduct, personal injury, business litigation, employment law, and professional license defense.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI defense, homicide cases, criminal threats, assault, theft, drug offenses, and civil rights violations arising from police misconduct.
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, criminal record expungement, civil rights litigation, police misconduct claims, employment dispute resolution, and appellate representation.
Background: Robin D. Perry has practiced law for over 25 years. He received his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where he won the American Jurisprudence Award in trial advocacy. Prior to opening his own practice, he worked as a litigation attorney at a multinational firm and served as a Deputy District Attorney, prosecuting cases ranging from DUI to homicide. He was named 2024 Long Beach Bar Association Lawyer of the Year. He served as President of the Long Beach Bar Association and is current Chair of the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. Admitted to practice in the State of California, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. California State Bar Number: 181686.
Location: 100 Oceangate, Suite 525, Long Beach, CA 90802
Contact: (562) 216-2944 | [email protected] | https://www.lordp.net
Consultation: Free consultation available. Office is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
3. McCready Law Group
Practice Focus: Criminal defense with emphasis on DUI/DWI, domestic violence, drug crimes, violent felonies, murder, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, white collar crimes, theft, weapons violations, sex crimes, and juvenile delinquency.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, federal cases, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, assault and battery, drug possession and sales, theft and burglary, weapons charges, sex crimes, murder and manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, embezzlement, parole and probation violations, and juvenile cases.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, bench trials, motion practice, DMV hearings, expungements, record sealing, strike prior conviction dismissals, immigration consequences consultation, and expert witness testimony on field sobriety tests.
Background: Zachary McCready served in the Los Angeles Police Department for 8 years as a traffic accident investigator before becoming an attorney in 2007. He has over 17 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney. He is certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2018, a designation held by less than 1% of California attorneys. He received his J.D. from Whittier College School of Law in 2005 and his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Thomas A. Edison State College in 2001. He has tried over 30 criminal cases, handled over 3,000 criminal cases, and testified as an expert witness on Standardized Field Sobriety Tests in 5 counties. Member of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California DUI Lawyers Association, Long Beach Bar Association, and Orange County Bar Association. California State Bar Number: 249885.
Location: 3701 Long Beach Boulevard, Suite 324, Long Beach, CA 90807
Contact: (562) 364-7350 | [email protected] | https://zacharymccreadylaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available. Office hours extend into evening and weekends.
4. Law Office of Salvador Sanchez
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, immigration law, and personal injury representation for individuals in Long Beach and surrounding areas.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, gun possession charges, domestic violence, burglary and robbery, assault and battery, drug violations, restraining order hearings, and immigration-related criminal matters.
Legal Services: Trial defense, administrative hearings, restraining order defense, plea negotiations, strategies to reduce or drop mandatory offenses, and immigration consequences consultation.
Background: Salvador Sanchez established his law office in 2016 and advocates for the rights of individuals in Long Beach and nearby areas. He handles cases involving criminal defense, immigration, and personal injury law disputes. He represents defendants during administrative and restraining order hearings. California State Bar Number: 290617.
Location: 100 Oceangate, Suite 525, Long Beach, CA 90802
Contact: (310) 892-7837 | [email protected] | https://www.310lawyer.com
Consultation: Contact office for consultation availability.
5. Kenney Legal Defense Corporation
Practice Focus: Federal and state criminal defense, white collar crime, fraud defense, DUI, juvenile offenses, and corporate criminal defense.
Case Types Handled: Federal crimes, felonies, misdemeanors, white collar crimes, fraud (wire fraud, investment fraud, healthcare fraud, insurance fraud), DUI/DWI, juvenile offenses, assault and battery, resisting arrest, domestic violence, and money laundering.
Legal Services: Federal court representation, state court defense, grand jury representation, pre-indictment investigation defense, fraud examination, trial defense, and plea negotiations.
Background: Karren Kenney has been practicing law since 1994. Prior to starting Kenney Legal Defense in 2012, she served as a Senior Deputy Public Defender in Orange County, California, where she gained extensive jury trial experience. She has tried over 100 trials to verdict in state and federal courts. In 2018, she became a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. She handles all types of fraud cases in civil and criminal courts. Active in the Orange County Bar Association Access to Justice Task Force and Volunteer Mentoring Program, and on the pro bono panel with the Public Law Center in Orange County. Member of the State Bar of California, Federal Bar Association, and Orange County Bar Association. California State Bar Number: 174872.
Location: Costa Mesa, CA (serves Long Beach and surrounding areas)
Contact: (855) 505-5588 | https://www.kenneylegaldefense.us
Consultation: Free one-hour consultation available.
Criminal Defense Regulations in California
California attorneys must be admitted to the State Bar of California to practice law. The California Bar Exam is offered twice annually in February and July, and California has adopted the Uniform Bar Examination. Applicants must pass the bar examination and a separate character and fitness evaluation.
The State Bar of California offers Criminal Law Specialist certification through the Board of Legal Specialization. To become certified, attorneys must demonstrate substantial experience in criminal law, pass a written examination, and receive favorable evaluations from attorneys and judges familiar with their work. Less than 1% of California attorneys hold this certification.
California requires all active attorneys to complete 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every three years. Requirements include at least 12.5 participatory hours, 4 hours of legal ethics, 2 hours on elimination of bias (including 1 hour on implicit bias and bias-reducing strategies), 2 hours on competence issues (including 1 hour on substance abuse or mental health prevention and detection), 1 hour on technology in law practice, and 1 hour on civility in the legal profession. Certified specialists must complete additional advanced-level education in their specialty area.
California public defender services are provided through county public defender offices for defendants who cannot afford private counsel. Eligibility is determined based on financial need, typically using federal poverty guidelines.
Attorney advertising in California is regulated by the California Rules of Professional Conduct. Attorneys may advertise but must not make false or misleading statements. All communications must include the name of at least one attorney responsible for the content.
California maintains strong attorney-client privilege protections under Evidence Code Section 954, which protects confidential communications between attorney and client from disclosure.
California uses a determinate sentencing system for most felonies, with crimes classified by punishment range rather than letter or number grades. Felonies are punishable by imprisonment in state prison, while misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in county jail. “Wobbler” offenses can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors at the prosecutor’s discretion.
California does not have the death penalty in effect. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive moratorium on executions.
California provides expungement and record sealing under Penal Code Section 1203.4 for eligible offenders who have completed probation. Under SB 731 (Clean Slate Law), effective 2023, certain non-serious, non-violent, non-sexual felony convictions are automatically sealed after completion of sentence and a waiting period without new convictions. Proposition 47 (2014) reclassified certain felonies to misdemeanors and allows retroactive resentencing. Wobbler felonies may be reduced to misdemeanors under Penal Code Section 17(b) before expungement.
California has various mandatory minimum sentencing provisions, including enhancements for firearm use and prior strike convictions under the Three Strikes Law. The Three Strikes Law requires 25 years to life for a third serious or violent felony conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after an arrest in Long Beach?
Following an arrest in Long Beach, you will typically be booked at the Long Beach City Jail located at 400 West Broadway. Arraignment hearings for Long Beach cases are held at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse at 275 Magnolia Avenue in Long Beach. At arraignment, the court will inform you of the charges, your constitutional rights, and you will enter a plea. For misdemeanors, arraignment typically occurs within 48 hours of arrest (excluding weekends and holidays). For felonies, you must be arraigned within 48 hours, and a preliminary hearing must be held within 10 court days if you remain in custody.
How does bail work in Los Angeles County for Long Beach arrests?
Bail amounts in Long Beach are set according to the Los Angeles County Bail Schedule. The bail schedule establishes presumptive bail amounts for each offense. Judges may deviate from scheduled amounts based on factors including flight risk, danger to the community, ties to the community, and criminal history. You may post bail through a bail bond company (typically 10% of the bail amount as a non-refundable fee), cash bail, or property bond. A bail hearing can be requested to argue for reduced bail or own recognizance release.
What are the penalties for a first-time DUI conviction in California?
A first-time DUI offense in California is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Penalties include 3 to 5 years of informal probation, fines ranging from $390 to $1,000 plus penalty assessments (total typically $1,500 to $2,600), a 6-month driver’s license suspension, completion of a 3-month to 9-month alcohol education program (depending on blood alcohol level), possible jail time of up to 6 months (though first offenders often receive little to no jail time), and installation of an ignition interlock device for 6 months. If blood alcohol content was 0.15% or higher, enhanced penalties may apply.
Does California offer diversion programs for criminal charges?
California has expanded diversion options in recent years. Judicial diversion under Penal Code Section 1001.95 allows judges to grant pretrial diversion for most misdemeanors for up to 24 months. Mental health diversion under Penal Code Section 1001.36 is available for defendants with qualifying mental health conditions for felonies and misdemeanors. Military diversion under Penal Code Section 1001.80 is available for veterans and active military members with service-related trauma. Drug diversion under Proposition 36 and Penal Code Section 1000 provides treatment alternatives for certain drug offenses. Successful completion of diversion results in dismissal of charges and eligibility for record sealing.
How can I get my criminal record expunged in California?
California offers several pathways to clear or limit access to criminal records. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4 expungement, if you successfully completed probation (or obtained early termination) and were not sentenced to state prison, you may petition to withdraw your guilty plea and have the case dismissed. For wobbler felonies, you may first request reduction to a misdemeanor under Penal Code Section 17(b). Under the Clean Slate Law (SB 731), eligible conviction records are automatically sealed by the California Department of Justice for non-serious, non-violent, non-sexual offenses after completion of sentence and a specified waiting period (four years for automatic relief, two years for petition). Arrest records without conviction are automatically sealed after one year for misdemeanors and three years for felonies. Certain offenses, including those requiring sex offender registration, are not eligible for expungement.