Whittier Criminal Defense Attorney | Gramling Law Group

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Whittier Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or a family member has been arrested or cited in Whittier, Gramling Law Group can help. Daniel Gramling is a former public defender who now defends DUI, domestic violence, drug, theft, assault, and felony cases for Whittier residents at the Norwalk and Downey courthouses. Fees are flat and quoted up front, communication is directly with the attorney, and every case is prepared as if it will be tried, because that is what produces the best offers.

Whether you live in Uptown Whittier, Friendly Hills, East Whittier, and the neighborhoods near Whittier College, or in La Habra, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Montebello, and La Mirada, the process is the same: a consultation, a flat-fee quote for the stage of the case you are facing, and one attorney who handles the matter from arraignment through resolution. Most of that work happens remotely, with in-person meetings available when a case calls for them.

Where Whittier Criminal Cases Are Heard

Whittier no longer has its own criminal courthouse, so criminal cases arising in Whittier, La Habra Heights, Pico Rivera, and Santa Fe Springs are generally heard at the Norwalk or Downey courthouses in southeast Los Angeles County. Some matters from the area are assigned to other regional courthouses, so confirm the courthouse printed on your citation or release paperwork.

Arrests in Whittier are made by the Whittier Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the California Highway Patrol on the 605 and 60. Each agency writes reports a little differently, and each has its own practices for body camera footage, breath and blood testing, and booking, so the first thing the firm does in any Whittier case is obtain the complete report, the dispatch log, and every recording that exists.

The date and location of your first appearance are printed on the citation, the bail receipt, or the release paperwork you received when you left custody. That date is not flexible, and failing to appear generates a warrant. Confirm the courthouse on the court's website and call the firm as early as possible so that an attorney can appear with you or, in many misdemeanor cases, for you.

Criminal Charges We Defend for Whittier Clients

DUI. A DUI arrest in Whittier produces two cases at once: the criminal charge under Vehicle Code section 23152 and a DMV administrative action that suspends your license unless a hearing is requested within ten days. The firm requests that hearing immediately, obtains the arrest report and the testing records, and evaluates whether the stop was lawful, whether the field sobriety tests were administered correctly, and whether the breath or blood evidence can be challenged. A first offense without injury is a misdemeanor; a DUI causing injury under Vehicle Code section 23153 can be charged as a felony.

Domestic violence charges. After a domestic violence arrest in Whittier, the prosecutor typically files Penal Code section 273.5 if there is a visible injury and Penal Code section 243, subdivision (e)(1), if there is not. Either charge brings a criminal protective order under Penal Code section 136.2, a firearm prohibition, and, on conviction, a batterer's intervention program and a presumption against custody under Family Code section 3044. The firm defends these cases with an eye on both the criminal exposure and the family law fallout.

Drug charges. Simple possession of most controlled substances is a misdemeanor under Health and Safety Code section 11350 and Health and Safety Code section 11377, but possession for sale under Health and Safety Code section 11351 and Health and Safety Code section 11378 is a felony, and the difference often comes down to packaging, quantity, and text messages. The firm challenges the search that produced the evidence and pursues diversion and treatment-based resolutions where they are available.

Theft and shoplifting. The firm handles petty theft under Penal Code section 484, shoplifting under Penal Code section 459.5, grand theft under Penal Code section 487, and burglary under Penal Code section 459 for Whittier clients. Many of these cases involve a store's loss prevention employees rather than police officers as the primary witnesses, and the value and intent elements are contestable. Diversion and civil compromise are available in many misdemeanor theft cases.

Assault and battery. The firm defends simple assault under Penal Code section 240, battery under Penal Code section 242, assault with a deadly weapon under Penal Code section 245, and criminal threats under Penal Code section 422. Many of these cases come down to who started it and whether the force used was reasonable, questions that are decided by the evidence the defense gathers in the first weeks after the arrest.

Warrants and probation violations. A missed court date in Whittier produces a bench warrant, and a violation of probation terms can bring a probation revocation hearing with the original sentence on the table. The firm clears warrants by calendaring the case and appearing with the client, and it defends probation violation allegations, which are decided under a lower standard of proof than a trial. Early termination of probation under Penal Code section 1203.3 is available for clients who have complied with their terms.

Expungement and diversion. The firm pursues misdemeanor diversion under Penal Code section 1001.95 and mental health diversion under Penal Code section 1001.36 for eligible Whittier clients, which end a case without a conviction. For people with old convictions, it files petitions under Penal Code section 1203.4 on form CR-180 and motions under Penal Code section 17, subdivision (b), to reduce felonies to misdemeanors, which restore rights and remove the conviction from most background checks.

What to Do After an Arrest in Whittier

Stop talking. The urge to explain yourself to the arresting officer, the booking deputy, or the detective who calls the next day is strong, and it is almost always a mistake. Under Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 you can end questioning by asking for an attorney, and you should. Everything else can wait until you have counsel.

If the arrest was for DUI, request the DMV hearing within ten days. The DMV suspension runs separately from the court case, and the ten-day window is not extended because you did not know about it. The firm makes that request the same day it is retained.

Retain counsel before the arraignment rather than after. The first appearance sets bail or release conditions, produces any protective order, and starts the clock on the preliminary hearing and trial rights, and decisions made there are hard to undo. In most misdemeanor cases the attorney can appear on your behalf under Penal Code section 977.

Why Whittier Clients Choose Gramling Law Group

A former public defender sees more criminal cases in a year than most private attorneys see in a decade, and that is the background Daniel Gramling brings to Whittier cases. He understands how the district attorney's office in Los Angeles County charges and negotiates, how the Norwalk courthouse schedules hearings, and how to prepare a case so that the prosecutor sees the weaknesses before the offer is made.

Fees are flat and quoted up front for each stage of the case, so a Whittier client knows the cost of the arraignment and pretrial stage, the motion stage, and the trial stage before committing to any of them. Limited scope representation is available for a single hearing or a single motion. Clients communicate directly with the attorney, not with a case manager, and the firm serves the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the rest of Southern California except San Diego County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will my Whittier criminal case be heard?

Criminal cases arising in Whittier are generally heard at the Norwalk and Downey courthouses. The courthouse and date are printed on your citation or release paperwork, and the firm confirms both before your first appearance because assignments vary by charge and arresting agency.

Do I have to go to court for a misdemeanor in Whittier?

Usually not for every hearing. Penal Code section 977 allows an attorney to appear for a defendant in most misdemeanor matters, which spares clients from missing work for routine court dates. Personal appearance is required in felony cases and in certain misdemeanors such as domestic violence, and the firm will tell you which dates you must attend.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Whittier?

Gramling Law Group quotes a flat fee up front for each stage of the case after a consultation, so you know the cost before signing. The fee depends on the charge, the courthouse, and whether the case is a misdemeanor or a felony, and limited scope options are available for a single hearing, a warrant recall, a DMV hearing, or an expungement.

Can a DUI or domestic violence charge in Whittier be dismissed?

It depends on the evidence. Cases are dismissed when a suppression motion succeeds, when a witness will not cooperate or is not credible, when the testing evidence has problems, or when the defendant completes diversion under Penal Code section 1001.95 or Penal Code section 1001.36. The firm reviews each of those paths in every Whittier case; no outcome can be guaranteed.

Call Gramling Law Group at (909) 654-4575 or request a flat-fee quote through this website to speak with a criminal defense attorney about your Whittier case. The firm serves the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Southern California, and it offers flat-fee and limited scope options for every stage of a criminal case.

This page is educational and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship until a written agreement is signed. It addresses California law only.

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Learn more about our criminal defense services serving the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, and Southern California.

Ready to talk? Request a flat-fee quote or call (909) 654-4575 to reach the attorney directly. Facing a family law matter too? See our Whittier divorce and family law attorney page, our DUI defense page, and our domestic violence restraining order page.