If you have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense, you need a Sonoma County criminal defense lawyer.
At the Law Office of Jonathan Steele, you can secure the support of dedicated, strategic, and reassuring criminal defense attorneys. It can be overwhelming to be in this situation. We want to help. Attorney Jonathan B. Steele has handled DUI and criminal defense cases for over 25 years, and our team has 78 combined years of criminal defense experience and strong ties to our community. Let us fight for your future.
A Sonoma County criminal defense lawyer represents people charged with misdemeanors and felonies in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Your lawyer can explain the charges, protect your rights at every hearing, check whether the police stop or search was legal, and work toward a dismissal, a reduced charge, diversion, or a fair plea offer. The best path depends on the facts of your case.
At the Law Office of Jonathan Steele, we handle a wide range of criminal defense matters. No matter the charges against you, we can help you understand them and build a defense with thorough legal representation. Criminal cases in Sonoma County are heard by the Sonoma County Superior Court Criminal Division. The Criminal Division Clerk’s Office is in the Hall of Justice at 625 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa. Our firm has deep roots in the community and experience with these local courts.
The court now uses a master calendar for criminal cases, so hearing times and courtrooms can change. You can check the daily criminal calendar before each court date.
Every case is different, but most criminal cases in Sonoma County follow the same basic steps:
Driving under the influence (DUI) is the offense of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. There are legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for drivers. Under Vehicle Code 23152, the limit is 0.08% for most adult drivers and 0.04% for commercial drivers. Drivers under 21 can face penalties at DMV penalties at 0.01% or higher and a separate offense at 0.05% or higher. Drivers can be arrested for a DUI even if they don’t meet this threshold, if their driving was impaired by a substance.
Repeat DUI offenses can come with much more severe penalties. Other aggravating factors can also worsen the penalties you face. This includes the presence of a minor under 14 in the vehicle, an especially high BAC (0.15% or higher), speeding, or a prior criminal record.
DUI offenses are illegal and dangerous. In 2023, 382 people were killed or injured in alcohol-involved crashes in Sonoma County, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The California DMV also tracks local fatal crashes involving alcohol or drugs. The penalties for a DUI are much more severe if you injure or kill someone in an accident while you are under the influence.
However, an arrest does not mean a conviction. There are options to defend against DUI charges. Your attorney can review the legality of the stop and whether any evidence is faulty. In some DUI cases, there are options to mitigate the charges against you. In others, you could see the case against you dropped.
A DUI arrest also starts a separate case with the California DMV. In most cases, you have only 10 days from your arrest to request a DMV hearing to fight a license suspension. If your case leads to a DUI program, the Sonoma County court makes only one referral to the First Offender Drinking Driver Program, so enrolling on time matters. Learn more about our DUI defense.
Domestic violence offenses include domestic battery and corporal injury inflicted on a spouse or partner. While corporal injury (Penal Code 273.5) requires an injury, domestic battery does not. Domestic battery under Penal Code 243(e)(1) can be charged for any willful and unlawful touching done in a harmful or offensive way, even if it leaves no mark. In Sonoma County, there were 1,902 calls to law enforcement agencies related to domestic violence in 2024.
Domestic violence is a very serious issue. However, there are many individuals who are charged because of a misunderstanding, mutual violence, or because a law enforcement officer misread a situation. If you are being charged with domestic violence, you need an experienced defense attorney. These offenses can harm your life and your reputation. An attorney can also help with a restraining order defense. Read more about our domestic violence defense services.
Theft offenses are a type of property crime. It involves the taking of someone else’s property, and includes offenses like:
Theft is common. California reported 471,841 larceny-theft offenses in 2025, including 121,339 shoplifting offenses, according to the California DOJ. You can look up local figures on the DOJ’s crime data dashboard. Related charges can also be filed if you received stolen property that you knew was stolen or believed was stolen. If you are charged with theft, there are several potential defenses to consider, including a lack of knowledge or a lack of intent. An attorney can help you assess the right defense for your unique case.
Theft laws changed in December 2024. Under Proposition 36, a theft under $950 can now be charged as a felony if you have two or more prior theft convictions (Penal Code 666.1). Prosecutors can also add together the value of several thefts to reach the $950 felony line (Penal Code 490.3). Before Prop 36, most thefts under $950 could only be charged as misdemeanors. See our theft defense page for more.
These violent offenses can be harshly penalized, especially when there is a deadly weapon involved or someone was seriously injured. Simple assault and battery are usually misdemeanors, but assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code 245) can be charged as a felony. Defenses to these charges can consider your intent behind the offense, whether you were defending yourself or others, and other factors unique to your case.
Sex offenses include prostitution, sexual assault, rape, statutory rape, offenses against minors, child pornography, and other offenses. These charges bring a significant social stigma. Conviction of some of these offenses can require you to register as a sex offender. California uses a three-tier registry. Depending on the tier, some people can later ask the court to end registration after 10 or 20 years, while the highest tier is for life. You need a defense that understands what is at stake in these cases.
Burglary under Penal Code 459 means entering a home, building, or locked vehicle with the intent to commit theft or a felony. No breaking in is required, and no one else has to be there. Robbery involves taking someone’s property from their person or presence through force or fear (Penal Code 211). Robbery and home burglary can count as strikes under California’s Three Strikes law. You need an effective defense against these charges.
These offenses are financial crimes. They include offenses like:
Fraud offenses include identity theft, credit card fraud, wire and mail fraud, insurance fraud, and more. White collar crimes not only have significant criminal consequences, but they also often require you to pay restitution to the victims of the offense. It is essential that you work with an attorney who has decades of experience in the criminal justice system.
There are many drug-related charges, and some are charged harshly in California. Offenses include:
These offenses can result in thousands of dollars in fines and significant imprisonment penalties. The penalties often depend on the amount of a controlled substance involved in the offense, as well as the categorization of that substance. Substances that are considered more dangerous and likely to be abused are more harshly penalized. An attorney can help you consider possible defenses to your unique charges.
Prop 36 also created a new “treatment-mandated felony” (Health and Safety Code 11395). If you have two or more prior drug convictions, possession of drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, or meth can be charged as a felony. If you complete the treatment program, the charge can be dismissed. Felony drug arrest rate in California rose 44.7% from 2024 to 2025. Sonoma County also runs a Drug and Alcohol Court that may be an option for some people whose charges are tied to addiction.
Homicide offenses include murder and manslaughter. These are some of the most serious offenses you can be charged with. It is crucial that you hire a dedicated criminal defense attorney to understand the charges you face and work to mitigate or avoid them.
Not every case has to end in a conviction. Depending on the charge and your record, you may qualify for a program that can lead to a dismissal or reduced charge if you complete it. Options can include:
An attorney can tell you whether you may qualify and ask the court to consider these options. If you already have a past conviction, you may be able to clear it through expungement.
From our office at 720 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, we represent people charged with crimes across Sonoma County. This includes Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Cotati, and Cloverdale. See all areas we serve.
A misdemeanor can still lead to jail, fines, probation, and a criminal record, so it is wise to talk to a lawyer before your first court date. A lawyer may be able to get the charge reduced, dismissed, or sent to diversion.
The judge reads the charges, and you enter a plea. The judge may also decide bail or release terms.
Yes. Charges can be dropped or reduced if the evidence is weak, a search was illegal, or the prosecutor agrees to a deal or diversion.
In most cases, you have 10 days from the date of your arrest. If you miss that window, your license suspension may take effect without a hearing.
Usually it is a misdemeanor. Under Prop 36, it can be charged as a felony if you have two or more prior theft convictions.
Talk to a lawyer first. The court runs a clear warrant calendar on weekdays, and you must check in at the Criminal Division Clerk’s Office before 8:30 a.m.
Many people can ask the court to dismiss a past conviction under Penal Code 1203.4 after completing probation. Some offenses and sentences follow different rules.
When you need a strong defense from a legal team with over 25 years of criminal defense experience, reach out to the Law Office of Jonathan Steele in Sonoma County. Call (707) 578-3296 to schedule your free consultation.
The information on this page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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