Criminal Law is a specialized field that is quite distinct from other areas of law from a procedural and legal standpoint. An experienced criminal attorney will have the specialized knowledge to handle the wide variety of issues that can be present in a criminal law case. Criminal law can be subdivided into a plethora of sub categories and each sub category will present different issues for the criminal attorney.

Crimes of violence 

Crimes of violence include crimes ranging from misdemeanor battery and assault to murder. This would include domestic violence, mayhem, criminal threats and even rape. They key factor that unites the various crimes in this subcategory is the allegation that one person used or attempted to use force on the person of another. The primary issues with these types of cases are identity when the victim does not personally know the accused and self defense. The dynamics become more elaborate depending on whether or not a weapon was used and if an actual injury was inflicted on the victim. 

Theft 

Theft crimes are united by the common factor that a person took or attempted to take the property of another. Theft crimes can range from petty theft to robbery. This would further include fraud, car theft, burglary and the various forms of robbery. The primary issues in theft generally include the identity of the perpetrator and the nature of the theft. For example when should a theft or burglary be considered a felony or a misdemeanor. If a person steals an item without the use of force and later uses force to escape or retain the property should that conduct be treated as a simple theft or robbery. 

Sex Crimes 

Sex Crimes are one of the most sensitive areas of the criminal justice system. The victims are usually sympathetic figures and law enforcement and sometimes the jury seek to protect them. Sex crimes include rape, child molestation and prostitution (including pimping and pandering) Identity of the offender and false accusations are often the most critical issues surrounding these types of crimes. Young children can be very impressionable and ideas can easily be implanted in there minds.  

Narcotics  

Narcotics and related cases make up a large portion of the criminal justice system. A person can be charged with simple possession, transportation cultivation/manufacturing and possession for sale. These various charges can apply to marijuana, cocaine and cocaine base, methamphetamine and molly, heroin and ecstasy. These types of cases can involve wiretaps, sealed search warrants, undercover operations and confidential informants. 

Gangs 

Gang members are often subjected to harsher penalties based on specific allegations for committing a crime for the benefit of a gang. Additionally, a person can be charged for being an active participant in a criminal street gang and for recruiting other people to join a gang. 

DUI/DWI (Driving Under the influence) 

Driving under the influence cases are one of the most pervasive charges in the criminal justice system. A DUI can be charged as a misdemeanor if their is no injury and and the accused does not have three or more prior DUI convictions. Most DUI case defenses focus on the basis for the traffic stop (if there was one) and the blood alcohol concentration tests results. 

Probation 

The majority of criminal convictions result in a grant of probation. Once a person is on probation they are subjected to court ordered terms and condition of probations. The court can make a person waive their fourth amendment right against unreasonable searched and seizures and attend classes and therapy related to their criminal conduct. If a person violates their conditions of probation they can be sent to jail and or prison. However, if a person successfully completes probation they may be eligible for an expungement. 

Criminal Attorney Donte T. Wyatt is experienced handling all types of criminal cases. As a deputy district attorney for the San Diego District Attorney's Office for more than a decade Criminal Attorney Wyatt has handled hundreds of cases ranging from DUI to homicides.