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. We have 78 combined years of criminal defense experience and fierce ties to our community. Let us fight for your future.
At the Law Office of Jonathan Steele, we handle all criminal defense matters. No matter the charges against you, we can help you navigate them with thorough legal representation. Criminal cases are likely to be handled by the Sonoma County Criminal Superior Court, located at 600 Administrative Drive, in Room 105J, in Santa Rosa. Our firm has deep roots in the community and experience with these local courts.
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. Drivers can be arrested for a DUI even if they don’t meet this threshold, but if their driving was impaired by a substance.
Repeat DUI offenses 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, speeding, or a prior criminal record.
DUI offenses are illegal and dangerous. There were 20 fatal crashes in Sonoma County in 2021 that involved alcohol or drugs, and these accidents resulted in 21 fatalities. 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.
Domestic violence offenses include domestic battery and corporal injury inflicted on a spouse. While corporal injury requires an injury, domestic battery does not. Domestic battery can be committed with an uncontested touch. 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.
Theft offenses are a type of property crime. It involves the taking of someone else’s property, and includes offenses like:
There were 3,774 theft offenses in Sonoma County in 2024, including 1,054 shoplifting offenses. Theft offenses can be charged 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.
These violent offenses are harshly penalized, especially when there is a deadly weapon involved or someone was seriously injured. 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. It’s important to secure an aggressive defense that understands the importance of these cases.
Burglary involves breaking into a property with the intent to commit a felony or theft, and may not always involve the victim of the crime. Robbery involves taking someone’s property through threat or force. 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 they are charged harshly in California. Offenses include:
These offenses can result in thousands of dollars in fines and significant imprisonment penalties. The penalties rely 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.
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.
When you need an aggressive defense from a legal team that knows how to win, reach out to the Law Office of Jonathan Steele in Sonoma County.
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