Criminal Law

Mr. Peckham has a vast array of experience in Criminal Defense. He has worked as a constitutional lawyer with the ACLU, and as a San Diego County contract lawyer for criminal indigent defendants accused of felonies and misdemeanors. Mr. Peckham has tried over 100 criminal jury trials including the most serious felonies. He has tried murder cases in every jurisdiction in the county. Mr. Peckham has a reputation for being an excellent trial attorney and has the respect of prosecutors in the District Attorney's office throughout the county.

Mr. Peckham's fees are reasonable and often based upon the ability of the client to pay for the services. Our offices also accept credit cards and can develop payment plans so that no person will be left without representation. Our fees are often set in graduated payment as the case progresses. If the case settles early, the fee will be less.

Fees are dependent upon the severity of the offense (whether it is a felony or misdemeanor), complexity of the case and the time required to defend the client.

The principal difference between felonies and misdemeanors is the severity of the offense and the punishment associated with each offense. Felony crimes are more serious crimes. Felonies are often identified as capital offenses under the old English law. All capital offenses in Old England were punished by death. Modernly and especially in the United States, the range of punishment for felonies extends from the imposition of the death penalty to a suspended sentence that may include some custody time and a fine.

Misdemeanor crimes are less serious offenses and can be punished by up to one year in county jail. Most misdemeanor convictions result in the imposition of probation with terms that could include some time in jail, community service, rehabilitation classes, volunteer work or a fine.

Both the State of California and the United States prosecute persons for crimes that are identified as either felonies or misdemeanors.

Whether a person is charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, the attorney's principal goal is to minimize the impact the charge would have on the person's life. We look at each case differently and evaluate the cases based upon their facts. We defend the client and attempt to have the matter dismissed. It is our goal to fully inform the client of a possible and a likely outcome for the offense charged. Too often we find that when we meet the clients for their first appointment they have an elevated fear of possible consequences that is far in excess of reality.