1. Fakhimi and Associates
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI defense, drug crimes, domestic violence, federal crimes, employment litigation, and civil rights cases.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, federal crimes, DUI/DWI, drug possession, drug distribution, drug trafficking, assault, robbery, homicide, domestic violence, white collar crimes, sex crimes, and juvenile offenses.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, preliminary hearings, plea negotiations, federal court defense, motion practice, appeals, and investigation defense.
Background: Founded by Houman Fakhimi, California State Bar Number 195638. Mr. Fakhimi graduated with honors from the University of California, Irvine in 1992 and earned his J.D. from Whittier Law School in 1998. He has over two decades of legal experience and personally oversees all litigation carried out by the firm. He is a member of the California Public Defenders Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the Association of Federal Defense Attorneys. The firm has received recognition from Finance Monthly as Criminal Lawyer of the Year and maintains a Clients’ Choice rating on Avvo.
Location: 3 Hutton Centre Dr, Suite 620, Santa Ana, CA 92707
Contact: (714) 705-6701 | [email protected] | https://www.fakhimi.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
2. Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo
Practice Focus: Exclusively criminal defense practice for over 30 years, including DUI/DWI, domestic violence, drug offenses, violent crimes, theft, juvenile law, military justice (UCMJ), and restraining orders.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, assault and battery, drug possession, drug sales, vehicular manslaughter, murder, juvenile crimes, elder abuse, speed contests, driving on suspended license, and military criminal defense.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury and bench trials, DMV administrative hearings, plea negotiations, pretrial motions, motion to suppress evidence, probation violation defense, and expungements.
Background: William W. Bruzzo earned his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1992 and his B.A. from the University of Rochester in 1989. He began his legal career in 1993 as a military lawyer in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of Major before his honorable discharge in 2000. He is admitted to the California State Bar, the Pennsylvania State Bar, and the Federal Bar for the Central District of Southern California. He has represented clients in Superior Courts throughout Southern California including Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. Mr. Bruzzo continues to defend service members accused under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Location: 17592 Irvine Blvd, Tustin, CA 92780 (serving Santa Ana and Orange County)
Contact: (714) 547-4636 | https://www.bruzzolaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
3. Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Practice Focus: Criminal defense and DUI defense throughout Southern California, handling cases from federal charges to state misdemeanors.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug crimes, robbery, assault, domestic violence, theft crimes, white collar crimes, and fraud.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, preliminary hearings, motion practice including motions to suppress evidence, plea negotiations, DMV administrative hearings, and federal court defense.
Background: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley has been providing criminal defense services in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County for many years. The firm works with licensed private investigators to gather evidence independently from police reports and obtain recorded statements and physical evidence in early investigation stages. The firm has handled numerous cases in the Central Justice Center and courts throughout Orange County, achieving full acquittals in jury and bench trials and winning pretrial motions. The firm also handles diversionary programs and plea negotiations when appropriate.
Location: 1851 East 1st Street, Suite 900, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Contact: (714) 881-5448 | https://www.chesleylawyers.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
4. Chudnovsky Law
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI defense, professional license defense, and criminal immigration matters. Focus on defending licensed professionals including nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers facing criminal charges.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, domestic violence, theft crimes, fraud, professional licensing matters, Board of Registered Nursing cases, Medical Board of California investigations, DEA investigations, and criminal immigration consequences.
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, DMV administrative hearings, professional license defense, immigration consequence analysis, jury trials, motion practice, and expungements.
Background: The firm includes attorneys Tsion Chudnovsky with more than 20 years of experience focusing on criminal defense, DUI, and immigration law (fluent in Spanish and nationally recognized for criminal defense for non-U.S. citizens), and Robert K. Weinberg, a former Orange County Prosecutor with over 30 years of experience handling more than 5,000 cases and jury trials. The firm has achieved recognition as Top 100 Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers and rated among the best criminal defense attorneys in Orange County by Expertise.com. The attorneys regularly appear at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Location: Santa Ana, CA (serving Orange County)
Contact: (949) 750-2500 | https://toplawyer.law
Consultation: Free consultation available. Hablamos Español. Affordable fees and payment plans offered.
5. Thomas Tears, Attorney at Law
Practice Focus: Exclusively criminal defense for over 45 years, including DUI/DWI, drug offenses, theft crimes, violent crimes, sex offenses, and traffic violations.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug possession, drug sales, theft, burglary, robbery, assault, domestic violence, sex crimes, weapons charges, and traffic offenses.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, bench trials, motion practice, plea negotiations, DMV hearings, and expungements.
Background: Thomas Tears earned his J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles and his undergraduate degree from St. Peter’s College. He has been fighting for clients in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County for over 45 years, earning a reputation with judges and prosecutors in local courts. His office has always been located in Orange County, and he has successfully handled more than 5,000 felony and misdemeanor cases in Santa Ana and surrounding areas. Mr. Tears has also served clients in nearly every county in California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside County, and has practiced criminal defense pro hac vice in Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, and Hawaii. He handles each case personally and is available by phone around the clock.
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Contact: (714) 550-1101 | https://www.thomastears.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available.
Criminal Defense Regulations in California
California attorneys must pass the California Bar Examination and be admitted by the State Bar of California to practice law. The State Bar of California is the licensing and regulatory body that oversees attorney conduct, maintains disciplinary records, and enforces the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The State Bar offers a Criminal Law Specialist certification through its Board of Legal Specialization. Attorneys seeking this designation must demonstrate substantial experience in criminal law, pass a written examination, fulfill ongoing continuing legal education requirements, and receive favorable evaluations from judges and fellow attorneys familiar with their work.
California operates a county-based public defender system. In Orange County, the Public Defender’s Office provides representation to individuals who cannot afford private counsel. Eligibility for a public defender is determined at arraignment based on financial need, typically using federal poverty guidelines as a reference.
Attorney advertising in California is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and Business and Professions Code. Attorneys must avoid false, misleading, or deceptive communications and cannot guarantee specific case outcomes.
California requires attorneys to complete 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every three years, including required hours in legal ethics, competence issues including elimination of bias, and recognition of substance abuse.
The attorney-client privilege in California is codified in Evidence Code sections 950-962, providing strong protections for confidential communications between attorneys and their clients.
California categorizes felonies using a determinate sentencing structure with specific terms for each offense rather than a letter-grade classification system. Felony sentences generally range from 16 months to life imprisonment depending on the offense. Wobblers are offenses that may be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors at the prosecutor’s discretion. Misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.
California has speedy trial requirements under Penal Code section 1382: felony trials must begin within 60 days of arraignment on the information or indictment, and misdemeanor trials must begin within 30 days if the defendant is in custody or 45 days if released.
California’s bail system operates under the Uniform Bail Schedule, which sets presumptive bail amounts for various offenses. Judges have discretion to deviate from the schedule based on factors including flight risk and public safety.
California does not have the death penalty for new sentences following the Governor’s moratorium, though individuals remain on death row from prior sentences.
Expungement in California is governed by Penal Code section 1203.4 and related statutes. Individuals who completed probation successfully may petition for dismissal of their conviction. Recent legislation including the Clean Slate Act (AB 1076) and SB 731 has expanded automatic expungement for certain offenses. Felonies that resulted in state prison sentences may now qualify for expungement relief under certain conditions. Sex offenses requiring registration and certain violent or serious felonies remain ineligible for expungement.
California has three-strikes sentencing enhancements under Penal Code sections 667 and 1170.12, which impose increased sentences for defendants with prior serious or violent felony convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where are criminal cases heard in Santa Ana and which court will handle my case?
A: The Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, is the primary criminal courthouse serving Santa Ana and much of Orange County. This is where most felony and misdemeanor arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials take place. The Community Court at 909 N. Main Street in Santa Ana handles certain quality-of-life offenses with an emphasis on social services. In-custody arraignments may occur at the Orange County Jail courtroom (Dept. CJI) at 550 N. Flower Street. Most criminal matters in Santa Ana are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, though the Santa Ana City Attorney may prosecute certain infractions and misdemeanors. You can verify your court date and case information through the Orange County Superior Court’s online case information system.
Q: What are the current Santa Ana jail facilities and how does bail work in Orange County?
A: If you are arrested in Santa Ana, you may be detained at the Santa Ana Police Jail located at 62 Civic Center Plaza, the Central Men’s Jail at 550 N. Flower Street, the Central Women’s Jail at the same location, or the Theo Lacy Facility at 501 The City Drive South in Orange. Bail in Orange County is initially set according to the Uniform Bail Schedule adopted by Orange County Superior Court judges, which is updated annually. The 2025 Bail Schedule establishes presumptive bail amounts for each offense category. At arraignment, the judge may adjust bail based on factors including the seriousness of the charges, your ties to the community, criminal history, and flight risk. For certain serious or violent felonies, you may not be entitled to bail before arraignment. In domestic violence cases, you typically cannot post bail until after the initial court appearance. The standard bail bond premium in California is 10% of the total bail amount.
Q: What diversion programs are available for first-time drug offenders in Orange County?
A: Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ) under Penal Code section 1000 is available for certain first-time drug possession offenses. If you qualify, you plead guilty but the court defers entry of judgment while you complete an 18-month drug education or treatment program. Upon successful completion, your charges are dismissed and you become eligible to have the arrest record expunged. Proposition 36 (the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act) provides an alternative to incarceration for certain non-violent drug offenses, allowing treatment instead of jail time. Drug Court programs in Orange County provide intensive supervision and treatment for repeat offenders with substance abuse issues. Additionally, under California law, simple possession of controlled substances for personal use has been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor for most offenses following the passage of Proposition 47, making more offenders eligible for alternative sentencing. The court and prosecution must agree to diversion, and an experienced criminal defense attorney can advocate for your participation.
Q: If convicted of domestic violence in Orange County, what are the mandatory requirements?
A: A domestic violence conviction in Orange County triggers several mandatory requirements. You will be required to complete a 52-week batterer’s intervention program approved by the court. These programs meet weekly and involve group counseling focused on accountability and changing behavior patterns. The Orange County Probation Department maintains a list of approved programs in the county. Additionally, you may face protective orders prohibiting contact with the victim, surrender of any firearms in your possession, fines and fees, potential jail time ranging from no jail for a first offense misdemeanor up to four years for felony corporal injury on a spouse, and a period of probation typically lasting three to five years. A domestic violence conviction cannot be expunged through standard procedures, although certain relief may be available through the Certificate of Rehabilitation process. Notably, domestic violence cases are one of the rare criminal matters where California courts have not offered standard diversion programs, though mental health diversion under Penal Code section 1001.36 may be available in limited circumstances.
Q: How do I find out if an attorney is licensed and in good standing with the California State Bar?
A: You can verify any California attorney’s license status through the State Bar of California’s online Attorney Search tool at apps.calbar.ca.gov. This free public database allows you to search by name or bar number and provides information including the attorney’s current license status (active, inactive, suspended, or disbarred), disciplinary history, bar admission date, and contact information. An attorney must show “Active” status to legally practice law in California. The State Bar website also provides information about any pending or past disciplinary actions against the attorney. Before hiring a criminal defense attorney in Orange County, you should verify their license status, inquire about their experience handling cases similar to yours, ask about their familiarity with the Orange County courts and prosecutors, and discuss their fee structure and payment options.