Kings County Manslaughter Lawyer

Kings County Manslaughter Attorney

If you are facing a manslaughter charge, then you should consider speaking with a Kings County manslaughter lawyer. A criminal conviction can have deleterious effects on different areas of your life, including housing and stable employment. Consulting with a criminal defense lawyer can help you understand the legal defenses that may be available to you.

Every member of the team at the Carlos Navarrete Law Firm can provide you with resources and advice regarding your legal rights. You do not have to stand up against the power of the state by yourself. A knowledgeable and skilled criminal defense attorney can provide you with legal representation that can help you do everything within your power to avoid a criminal conviction.

In 2024, 59.7% of felony arrests in California resulted in a conviction. Your case could go either way, but when you have an attorney, you can optimize the chances you have of getting a more favorable outcome in your case.

Penalties Associated with a Manslaughter Conviction in California

In California, manslaughter is also referred to as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. Understanding the legal consequences of a manslaughter conviction can help you determine how to develop a sound defense strategy. There are three types of manslaughter defined under the California Penal Code. The penalties associated with each type are listed below:

• Voluntary manslaughter. State prison for up to 11 years.
• Involuntary manslaughter. Imprisonment for up to four years.
• Vehicular manslaughter. County jail for no more than one year or state prison or up to six years in state prison; while intoxicated is punishable by up to four years in county jail; gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison.

Manslaughter charges are felonies. If you are convicted of this offense, you may face fines from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. If a defendant used a deadly weapon during the offense or has a prior criminal record, then a manslaughter conviction may be subject to sentence enhancements. Discussing your case with a Kings County manslaughter lawyer provides you with an increased chance of minimizing your charges and resulting penalties.

Long-Term Consequences of a Manslaughter Conviction

A felony conviction in California goes on your permanent criminal record. This can result in the loss of professional licensing, the loss of custody of your child, the inability to own a firearm, and even difficulty finding stable housing.

The stigma associated with a felony conviction may also affect your ability to obtain full-time employment. It is necessary to understand these consequences so you can appreciate the severity of a felony conviction. If you are charged with manslaughter in California, hire a manslaughter lawyer to protect your rights and advocate on your behalf.

How Retaining a Kings County Manslaughter Attorney Can Benefit Your Manslaughter Case

Retaining legal counsel can help you obtain objectivity regarding the charges filed against you. A criminal defense attorney enables you to understand the implications of your manslaughter case, including those listed below:

• Witness statements
• Police investigations
• Autopsy reports
• Forensic testing
• Accident reconstruction

The state must prove every element of a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, a skilled criminal defense lawyer can analyze the evidence the state plans to use against a defendant in prosecution. An attorney may file a motion to suppress evidence if it was seized in a manner that violated the defendant’s constitutional rights.

If your case is not resolved via a plea negotiation, a criminal defense attorney can represent you in litigation. Your lawyer then has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses who testify against you and provide you with crucial guidance and advice to navigate your case in an ideal manner. Having a qualified legal advocate by your side means your rights are protected.

Hire a Kings County Manslaughter Lawyer Who Is Well-Versed in Manslaughter Laws

Being charged with manslaughter can alter every part of your life. If you want to learn more about the legal defenses applicable to a manslaughter charge in California, hire a manslaughter lawyer to represent you. Retaining legal counsel provides you with the benefits of the attorney-client relationship, and you can speak candidly with your lawyer about the facts of your case.

About Us

Attorney Carlos Navarrete earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno. He obtained his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has been named as a top 100 criminal defense trial lawyer, and he has 23 years of experience practicing law in Kings County and Lake County.

Manslaughter Statistics

Between 2015 and 2024, the FBI reported 11,005 federal incidents of negligent manslaughter. They also reported a 14.9% decrease in non-negligent manslaughter nationwide in 2024. If you’re facing manslaughter charges in Kings County, don’t wait to contact a Kings County manslaughter attorney about your case. A local criminal defense attorney has familiarity with Kings County Superior Court in Hanford and can guide you throughout your case.

FAQs About Kings County, CA Manslaughter Laws

Are Sentence Enhancements Applicable to Manslaughter Charges in California?

Manslaughter convictions may involve sentence enhancements depending on whether the defendant used a firearm during the act, had a previous criminal record, or caused great bodily injury to the victim. Other sentence enhancement factors include hate crime enhancements and gang affiliation enhancements. Some of these sentence enhancements may add several years to any period of incarceration.

What Not to Tell the Attorney?

Clients should not lie to their attorney or ask their attorney to participate in a crime or fraud. All clients should be honest and open with their attorneys regarding the facts associated with their cases. However, clients should not ask their attorney to violate the ethical rules that lawyers must abide by.

What Are the Three Types of Manslaughter?

The three types of manslaughter in California are vehicular manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and voluntary manslaughter. Manslaughter charges include the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought, and manslaughter is distinguished from common law murder. Vehicular manslaughter is specific to deaths involving the use of an automobile. Voluntary manslaughter involves intent, often occurring suddenly following a confrontation or in the heat of passion. Involuntary manslaughter does not involve intent.

What Is the Longest You Can Get for Manslaughter?

Under California law, the maximum sentence for manslaughter is eleven years of incarceration in a state prison. Involuntary manslaughter is associated with a maximum of four years of incarceration in a state prison. A conviction for vehicular manslaughter may carry a maximum of 10 years of incarceration in a state prison. Aggravating factors can further inflate sentencing. Consult with a manslaughter defense attorney to learn more about any potential sentence related to your case.

Contact a Kings County Manslaughter Lawyer Who Gets Results

A manslaughter charge does not have to derail your life. The most productive thing you can do is seek out the advice of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. They can assess which legal defenses may apply to the charges filed against you. Working with legal counsel enables you to obtain some objectivity regarding your case and provides confidence in your defense.

The team at the Carlos Navarrete Law Firm can explain California manslaughter law to you as well as your options. We can discuss potential plea negotiations that the prosecution may accept and identify any weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence against you. These things take time, though, so the sooner you call, the more time we have to prepare your case. Contact a criminal defense attorney in Kings County who gets results.