As a former Deputy Public Defender in Riverside County, Mr. Donath has always been on the defense side of the law.
Top 100 Trial Attorneys in California 2012-2014, 2008 Trial Attorney of the Year by the Riverside County Public Defender's Office, and dozens of other awards and accolades.
Your lawyer should have a passion for defense, not just a passion for money. Reputation, vigor, and determination go a long way in this business.
As a former Deputy Public Defender in Riverside County, Mr. Donath has always been on the defense side of the law.
Top 100 Trial Attorneys in California 2012-2014, 2008 Trial Attorney of the Year by the Riverside County Public Defender's Office, and dozens of other awards and accolades.
Your lawyer should have a passion for defense, not just a passion for money. Reputation, vigor, and determination go a long way in this business.
Posted in Criminal Defense,Sex Crimes on June 9, 2022
A crude but honest definition of sodomy is simply “anal sex.” In the state of California, sodomy is a crime when it occurs between an adult and a minor or if it occurs in the context of non-consensual anal sex between adults. “Anal sex” under California law involves the penetration of one person’s penis into…
Read MorePosted in California Law,Criminal Defense on June 9, 2022
Blackmail, the common term for extortion, is a serious crime in the state of California. If convicted, defendants risk time behind bars and significant fines. Under California Penal Code, blackmail and extortion are one in the same and thus governed by the state’s extortion laws. If you are facing a blackmail charge, you need to…
Read MorePosted in California Law,Criminal Defense on May 8, 2022
You risk being charged with a gun crime if you carry a loaded gun in your car in California. As a rule, the only way that you can legally transport a firearm in California is if the firearm is unloaded and either locked in the trunk or inside a container inside the vehicle. Whether as…
Read MorePosted in Criminal Defense on April 24, 2022
Nonviolent offenses committed solely for financial gain are cataloged under an encompassing umbrella known as “white-collar crime.” If you watched the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the life of convicted white-collar criminal Jordan Belfort, then you have had a fairly accurate primer on white-collar crime. Belfort was convicted in 1999 of…
Read MorePosted in Criminal Defense on April 11, 2022
When a judge sentences a defendant in a criminal case, you may hear the term “restitution” tossed around as part of the penalty phase of the case. Restitution is money paid to crime victims to compensate them for their losses. It is quite common for defendants to be required to pay restitution to help make…
Read MorePosted in California Law,Criminal Defense on March 21, 2022
If you find yourself involved in an incident involving pepper spray in California, the legal ramifications could be complicated. That is because it is legal to purchase, own, and use pepper spray if used in self-defense, which can be subjectively arguable from case to case. It is essential to understand the more specific details and…
Read MorePosted in Criminal Defense,General FAQ'S,Sentencing on February 25, 2022
Few crimes carry as severe penalties as murder charges. When you have been arrested and accused of murder, you can expect your entire life to be upheaved. The consequences of a murder conviction could haunt you for the rest of your life. It is essential that you have an aggressive California murder lawyer defending you….
Read MorePosted in California Law,Criminal Defense,Drug FAQ'S on February 10, 2022
The majority of drug crimes in California rely on controlled substances being involved. However, you may not be sure what a controlled substance is or why you are being charged with a drug offense in the first place. Controlled substances are illegal for individuals to possess or consume under state and federal law. When you…
Read MorePosted in Criminal Defense,Drug FAQ'S on February 3, 2022
When you are arrested on drug-related charges, you may not initially be concerned if the drugs in question were fake or counterfeit. However, you may be surprised to learn that selling counterfeit drugs is illegal under state and federal law. The consequences of a conviction could haunt you for the rest of your life. Make…
Read MorePosted in Criminal Defense,General FAQ'S,Statistics on February 1, 2022
Watch any legal drama on TV and you are bound to hear the terms “competency” and “sanity” bounced around. Perhaps you may hear “not guilty by reason of insanity” after a dramatic courtroom showdown between your favorite actors, or the plot may feature a defendant who is “not competent to stand trial.” So, what is…
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