Criminal Defense

People who need their problems solved through creative negotiation, tough and sophisticated litigation, or an intelligent, hard-fought trial.

Criminal Defense

• Aiding, Abetting, Accessory, Conspiracy
• Appeals
• Capital Crimes/Capital Cases
• Environmental Violations
• Felonies
• Grand Jury Proceedings
• Juvenile Crimes
• False Identification
• Truancy
• Military Crimes (UCMJ)
• Misdemeanors
• Parole
• Probation
• Perjury
• Plea Negotiation
• Search & Seizure
• Victims' Rights
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

Abuse

• Animal Abuse
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Elder Abuse

Automotive

• DUI
• Felony Auto Accidents
• Traffic - Moving Violations
• Open Container
• Driving with a Suspended License
• Driving without a License

Computer Crimes

• Hacking
• Malicious Code
• Unauthorized Access

Criminal Records

• Expungement or Expunction

Drugs

• Drug Cultivation & Manufacturing
• Drug Possession
• Intent to Distribute Drugs
• Intent to Sell Drugs
• Medical Marijuana

Firearms & Weapons

• Constitutional Rights Defense
• Illegal Possession or Transportation
• Other Weapons & Devices

Fraud & Financial Crimes

• Bank Fraud
• Checks & Credit Cards
• Corporate Espionage & Sabotage
• Embezzlement
• Extortion
• Forgery
• Identity Theft
• Insurance Claims
• Money Laundering
• Racketeering & RICO
• Smuggling
• Tax Evasion & Fraud
• Wire Transfer

Property Crimes

• Arson
• Burglary
• Embezzlement
• Larceny
• Shoplifting
• Theft
• Trespass
• Vandalism

Sex Crimes

• Abduction
• Child Abuse
• Indecent Exposure
• Prostitution, Solicitation, & Pandering
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Stalking
• Trafficking in Women

Violent Crimes

• Assault & Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Extortion
• Kidnapping
• Manslaughter
• Murder
• Robbery

Real Estate

People who need their problems solved through creative negotiation, tough and sophisticated litigation, or an intelligent, hard-fought trial.

Real Estate

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

Commercial Real Estate

• Building Codes
• Buying & Selling
• Condemnation
• Condominiums & Cooperatives
• Construction Defects
• Eminent Domain
• Homeowners' Associations
• Insurance
• Land Contracts
• Land Use & Zoning
• Mechanics' Liens
• Property Taxes
• Renting & Leasing
• Title Insurance
• Title Litigation
• Landlord
• Tenant
• Tenants' Rights

Residential Real Estate

• Building Codes
• Buying & Selling
• Condemnation
• Condominiums & Cooperatives
• Construction Defects
• Eminent Domain
• Homeowners' Associations
• Insurance
• Land Contracts
• Land Use & Zoning
• Mechanics' Liens
• Mold Claims
• Property Taxes
• Renting & Leasing
• Title Insurance
• Title Litigation
• Landlord
• Tenant
• Tenants' Rights

Employment & Labor Relations

People who need their problems solved through creative negotiation, tough and sophisticated litigation, or an intelligent, hard-fought trial.

Employment & Labor Relations

• Workers' Compensation
• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

Employees

• Affirmative Action
• Age Discrimination
• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Compensation, Benefits, & Pensions
• Disability Discrimination
• Discipline/Suspension
• Emotional Distress
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
• Employee Rights
• Employment Contracts
• Equal Pay Act (EPA)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Government Employees
• Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
• Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
• Race Discrimination
• Racial Harassment
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
• Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
• Severance Packages
• Sex Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Termination
• Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act
• Wage & Hour Laws
• Whistleblower
• Wrongful Termination

CA, Dec 2003
Bar Number: 226777

All California courts and the Federal United States District Court, Northern District of California.

California Bar Association and Sonoma County Bar Association.

I attend continuing legal education seminars that address ethics, bias, and the topics that will best improve my ability to help my clients. I will travel or take courses online if I can't find what I need locally. The California Bar Association requires 25 credits every three years. My 25 credits are due on February 2, 2010; as of July 15, 2009, I already had 46.5.

One of my clients was arrested for felony domestic violence after hitting her husband in the face hard enough to open up a bloody cut by his eye. After interviewing the client and the 'victim,' I helped them prepare a written statement. After discussions with the District Attorney that involved the contents of the statement, I persuaded the D.A. not to file any charges at all.

Another one of my clients, who had a prior drug conviction and who had already been through a diversion program and substance abuse treatment, was arrested with substantial amounts of Ecstasy, methamphetamine, hashish, Vicodin, hallucinogenic drugs, and marijuana - as well as empty plastic baggies, a large amount of cash in small bills, and a digital scale. He was charged with nine felony drug charges, including narcotics trafficking, and two misdemeanor drug charges, and faced a maximum sentence of 27 years in prison. My client's first attorney took a large initial payment. Then the attorney demanded more money, telling the client "You're going to go to prison if you don't come up with another $3,500!" and abandoned the client when he refused to pay the extra cash. I was hired two days before the next court date and managed to get nine of the eleven charges dismissed. More importantly, I persuaded the court to sentence my client to just nine months of jail time, and to allow him to serve that 'jail' time in his own home on an ankle monitor.

1

California

The Applegate Law Office focuses on efficient, effective representation.  I provide my clients with exactly the help that they need. As a former prosecutor in Ukiah and Willits, I am familiar with Mendocino County's courts. My office is centrally located in Santa Rosa and serves all of the North Bay - Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake, Napa, and Marin counties.

A criminal arrest is a serious problem. From domestic violence to drugs to DUI, fraud to firearm or weapons charges, sex crimes to shoplifting, the Applegate Law Office is ready to handle your criminal case. Any criminal matter that could lead to a misdemeanor, a felony, or a parole or probation violation is a problem that matters to you.

If a problem is big enough to matter to you, it is big enough to matter to me - and no problem is too big for me to tackle. Whether you're trying to keep your license or stay out of prison, I can help. And with a free consultation and a wide range of payment options, you can let your needs, not your budget, make the decision for you. Call so I can start protecting your rights and your freedom now.

I founded the Applegate Law Office in June 2009. I have been practicing law in California since 2003, and I have spent most of those years practicing law in the North Bay.

I spent four years practicing civil and family law before becoming a criminal prosecutor. After prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases, including DUI, property crime, violent crime, elder abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence, I decided to put my training, experience, and U.C. Hastings education to work in the most important arena there is - protecting individual rights from errors or abuses committed by the State.

(707) 843-3964

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Messages checked and answered after-hours.

Yes

Many criminal cases are done on a fixed-rate basis. For instance, a 'typical' domestic violence case costs between $2,000 and $3,000 to resolve before trial. A 'typical' first-offense DUI costs $1,500 to $2,500 to resolve before trial. Crimes like felonies or a multiple-offense DUI can cost substantially more. Please keep in mind that these rates are for 'typical' cases - each case is unique, and the rate will depend on the facts. There may be an additional charge for a DMV hearing, a suppression motion, or other atypical situations. Discounts are offered for clients referred through Nolo and for people who meet certain other criteria.

A flat fee is not always appropriate. In that case, Applegate Law Office charges $200 to $250 an hour, depending on the nature and complexity of the issues involved. Again, each case is unique, and discounts are offered for clients referred through Nolo and for people who meet certain other criteria.

There is a free initial consultation for any case. The first appointment usually lasts half an hour - long enough for us to determine if we can help you, and for you to decide if you wish to retain the office.

Retainer amounts depend on how long and expensive the case is likely to be. For a flat-fee case, the retainer is the fee - one payment, and you're done. Most hourly cases require a retainer of $1,500 to $3,500 to make a realistic start. All retainer funds are deposited into an escrow account and remain there until they are earned by the Applegate Law Office. All of the funds that we don't earn are promptly returned to the client when the matter is concluded.