Santa Cruz DUI, Drugs, Theft, Violent Crimes

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can guide you through the criminal justice system and minimize the penalties you may face. The extent of this will vary from case to case and is a fact-driven issue because there is no "one size fits all" defense for criminal cases. With Santa Cruz Defense Attorney John W. Thornton on your side, a defense strategy will be tailor-made for your circumstances. Criminal courts can become extremely complex to navigate and, depending on the type of charges you face, there may be other administrative bodies you must confront. In the case of a DUI arrest, for instance, there is a criminal component and a DMV administrative process. The interaction of the DMV case and the criminal case can become complicated. A local attorney with 30 plus years of experience knows how to handle these separate processes to avoid potential pitfalls. Additionally, when you call John W. Thornton, your case will be handled directly by Mr. Thornton who has handled more than 2,500 DUI cases in the Santa Cruz area. Some of the details he will consider when creating your defense:

• The reason the police stopped you may have been unlawful
• The police may not have read your rights or explained the sobriety test effectively
• A breathalyzer or other device to test BAC may have been faulty
• Prosecutors may not have the evidence needed to convict
• Your charges may be reduced significantly with the right legal defense