Felony Attorney in Orange County
Orange County Felony Defense Built on Former-Prosecutor Experience
The Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor has defended clients against serious criminal charges since 1979. Our team includes former prosecutors and public defenders with an average of more than 20 years of experience, among them a former Orange County District Attorney and a former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney who understand exactly how charging decisions are made and where they can be challenged.
Our Orange County felony lawyer understands that facing a criminal charge can feel overwhelming. Our job is to cut through that and focus on what can actually be done.
If you’re facing felony charges in Orange County, CA, contact The Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor now at (562) 330-4173. The earlier we get involved, the more options we have to work with.
Why Our Credentials Matter for Felony Defense
Facing felony charges can leave you with difficult questions about what happens next and who you can trust to handle your defense. Experience matters, but so does having a legal team that takes the time to understand the circumstances of your case and build a strategy around your specific needs.
Choose us for our:
- Recognized criminal defense experience: The American Bar Association Journal has featured our firm twice for our work in criminal defense.
- A role in attorney education: We are the sole California law firm approved by the State Bar to offer continuing legal education to other attorneys.
- Established legal scholarship: Our founder, Lawrence Taylor, authored Drunk Driving Defense, now in its Ninth Edition, a legal text that has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Individualized guidance: We take the time to understand your circumstances, explain your options, and develop a defense strategy tailored to the facts of your felony case.
Our offices in Huntington Beach, Irvine, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and Long Beach put us within reach across Southern California, with felony matters handled through the Orange County court system.
How California Classifies Felony Charges
Under California law, a felony is generally any offense punishable by more than one year in county jail or by a state prison sentence. The most serious felonies can carry life in prison. That exposure separates felonies from misdemeanors in both severity and long-term consequences.
Types of felonies we handle include:
- Assault and battery
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes and drug possession
- Felony DUI
- Hit and run
- Homicide
- Sex crimes and statutory rape
- Theft and fraud
Some offenses are “wobblers,” meaning they can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts and the defendant’s prior record. A wobbler charged as a felony can sometimes be reduced to a misdemeanor at sentencing or after probation. A straight felony, by contrast, must be charged and sentenced as a felony regardless of circumstances.
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Charges Dismissed Original charge - Drunk Driving
Vista - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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Reduced to Reckless Driving (fine) Original charge - Drunk Driving
San Fernando Valley - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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Jury Trial – Not Guilty Original charge - Drunk Driving
Barstow - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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Reduced to Wet Reckless Original Charge - Drunk Driving
Baldwin Park - Facing Jail time, fines and license suspension
7/23/24
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Reduced to Wet Reckless Original Charge - Drunk driving
Riverside - Facing Jail time, fines and license suspension
3/26/24
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Reduced to Exhibition of Speed (fine) Original charge - Drunk Driving
Los Angeles - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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Jury Trial: Not Guilty Original charge - Drunk Driving (.21%)
Los Angeles - 1-year jail, fine, license suspension.
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Reduced to Exhibition of Speed (fine) Original charge - Drunk Driving
Los Angeles - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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Reduced to Dismissed Original charges – Drunk Driving
Long Beach- Facing jail time, fines and license suspension
5/16/25
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Reduced to Reckless Driving (fine) Original charge - Drunk Driving w/ Drugs
Westminster - 6 months jail, fine, license suspension.
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DUI Dismissed, Plea to Hit-and-Run (Fine) Original charge - DUI & Hit-And-Run (.30%)
Vista - Facing 1-year jail, fine, license suspension.
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Reduced to Misdemeanor DUI (fine, no jail) Original charge - Felony DUI w/ Injury
Rancho Cucamonga - Facing 18 months prison, loss of license.
Felony Penalties & Collateral Consequences in California
The difference between a felony and a misdemeanor isn’t just the length of a sentence. Misdemeanor convictions typically result in county jail time of up to one year. Felony convictions can mean state prison, and that exposure grows quickly when sentencing enhancements apply.
Prison Exposure & Sentencing Enhancements
A felony DUI causing injury can add three to six years in state prison when the victim suffers great bodily injury. Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated carries a state prison term of four, six, or 10 years. California’s Three Strikes Law compounds that exposure significantly for anyone with prior serious or violent felony convictions on their record.
Long-Term Collateral Consequences
The consequences don’t end at release. A felony conviction follows a person through background checks for employment, professional licensing, and housing. Even when a case resolves favorably, the path to record expungement requires time and legal steps that vary by offense. Understanding the full scope of what’s at stake is part of how we evaluate every case from the start.
Contact a Felony Defense Attorney in Orange County Before You Say Anything
Reaching out to a defense attorney early after a felony arrest gives us the ability to advise you before statements are made, before evidence disappears, and before procedural deadlines close off options that might otherwise be available. Waiting costs more than time.
Call our felony defense team in Orange County, CA, today at (562) 330-4173. We’re here to help you understand where you stand and what comes next.
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“I received counsel in a sensitive legal matter from Lawrence Taylor Sr., and his advice was spot on. I did some research and I also know that the senior Mr. Taylor is in the top echelon in his field. He has written text books on DUI and he has taught the t”Jerry S.
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“When you need to get a lawyer, you aren't usually in a great situation. I wasn't at least. Christopher and his team never made me feel ashamed, they just help me get through a situation where stuff happens.”Jessica S.
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“Truly great team of lawyers. Handled everything the very best they could. Can definitely rely on them.”Nick T.
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“Im am so glad that I read the reviews of Taylor and Taylor after my first "incident" and immediately contacted them. Chris was great at calming my nerves as this was my 1st offense and at a .06 it was right on the line on a trial or pleading it o”Suzi J.
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Where the Fight Begins
Uncompromising defense for charges that demand experienced, fearless advocacy
Our FAQ
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Can a DUI Be Reduced to Reckless Driving?
In some cases, yes. Whether that’s realistic depends on provable facts, legal issues, and how the evidence holds up after review and motion practice where appropriate.
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How Are Drug DUI Cases Different?
Drug DUIs often rely on different assumptions and different proof. These cases require careful review of the stop, the claimed “symptoms,” and the basis for impairment conclusions.
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Does a High BAC Automatically Mean I’m Guilty?
No. The prosecution still has to prove a lawful stop and a reliable investigation. Test results are procedure-driven, and the defense often turns on whether the testing and documentation are dependable enough to support the state’s conclusion.
