Violent Crimes Lawyer
Simmrin Law Group
Within the broader criminal defense practice at Simmrin Law Group, violent crime cases occupy some of the most demanding ground the firm covers. Working from its office at 3500 W Olive Ave, Unit 314 in Burbank, the firm — led by attorney Michael "Mike" Simmrin — represents people accused of offenses such as assault, battery, domestic violence, and murder, charges that California treats among the most severely punished in the criminal system. This page profiles that specific aspect of the firm's work and how it fits alongside the wider range of matters Simmrin Law Group handles.
Where Violent Crime Defense Fits in the Firm's Work
Simmrin Law Group is a Burbank-based criminal defense firm that represents clients facing infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies at both the state and federal level. Violent crimes sit alongside the firm's other core practice areas — DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, sex crimes, white collar matters, and its distinct mental health work covering 5150 and 5250 holds. Because a violent crime conviction can carry consequences as severe as life in prison or the death penalty, this category calls for the highest level of legal care, and it draws on the same case-preparation methods the firm applies from arrest through resolution.
In plain language, the firm's role in these cases is to examine how the charge was built, test the prosecution's evidence, and protect the accused person's rights, reputation, and future. Many violent crime allegations turn on questions of intent, self-defense, or whether force was actually used or merely threatened — distinctions that shape the entire defense.
What These Charges Involve
California law separates several offenses that are often grouped together as "violent crimes," each with its own definitions and penalty ranges. Understanding those differences is central to how Simmrin Law Group evaluates a case. The table below outlines the categories described in the firm's own materials.
| Charge | What It Involves | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Assault | Willful force intended to cause bodily harm — no actual injury required | Ranges from misdemeanor (simple) assault to assault with a deadly weapon or firearm |
| Battery | Unlawful, willful use of force against another person | Penalties increase with serious injury, an officer victim, or domestic battery |
| Domestic Violence | Harassing, threatening, or harming a current or former romantic partner | Can affect child custody and spousal support beyond fines or incarceration |
| Murder | Killing another person with knowledge or intent that actions could cause death | First-degree (planned) and second-degree charges carry the most severe sentences |
As the firm explains, assault is distinguished from battery by whether force was actually applied, and someone who pushes, shoves, or strikes another person may face simple assault. Battery charges escalate when serious injury results. Domestic violence allegations can arise from threats or destruction of property, not only physical harm, and a conviction can complicate custody and support matters long after any sentence. Murder — considered the most serious offense — should not apply where a person acted in genuine self-defense, a point the firm raises when the facts support it.
How Simmrin Law Group Approaches a Violent Crime Case
The firm emphasizes acting quickly, since the Burbank court system can punish harshly even when someone is falsely accused. A typical path through a violent crime matter with the firm tends to follow a clear sequence:
- Begin with a free, no-obligation consultation to review the allegation and the circumstances of the arrest.
- Identify the exact charge and its classification — for example, simple assault versus assault with a deadly weapon, or first- versus second-degree murder.
- Examine the prosecution's evidence and how the case against the accused was assembled.
- Explore defenses the facts may support, including self-defense or a lack of the intent the law requires.
- Weigh the potential penalties and collateral consequences, such as effects on custody in domestic violence matters.
- Build and present a defense aimed at protecting the client's rights, reputation, and long-term future.
Serving Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles Region
Simmrin Law Group delivers this work from its Burbank office in Los Angeles County and serves a wide swath of surrounding communities. Those include Toluca Woods, Magnolia Park, Studio City, North Hollywood and the NoHo Arts District, Glendale, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Sun Valley, Hollywood, and the Hollywood Hills, along with neighborhoods reaching toward Beverly Hills and Hancock Park. The firm's footprint covers familiar landmarks across the area — from Warner Bros. Studios and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood to Universal Studios Hollywood, Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Los Angeles Zoo — giving clients across the region a local point of contact for serious charges.
What Distinguishes the Firm's Approach
Simmrin Law Group describes an approach that treats clients like family while working to shield them from the harshest outcomes the system allows. The firm maintains around-the-clock phone availability and offers free case evaluations, reflecting its emphasis on getting involved early — a priority that carries particular weight in violent crime matters, where the stakes can reach life imprisonment. For anyone facing assault, battery, domestic violence, or murder allegations in the Burbank area, the firm offers experienced criminal defense grounded in a detailed understanding of the local court system and California's penalties for violent offenses.
Getting here
From Hollywood Bowl
From the Hollywood Bowl, it's about 3.5 miles to Simmrin Law Group — roughly a 10-minute drive. Head out via N Cahuenga Blvd and Barham Blvd, then follow W Olive Ave to S Cordova St.
Common questions
What not to tell the attorney in CA 91505?
There is actually very little you should hold back from your own defense attorney, because conversations are protected by attorney-client privilege. The real caution is not lying or leaving out key facts, which can weaken your defense. Firms like Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 encourage full honesty during their free consultations, since an attorney can only build an effective strategy when they know the complete picture of your case.
What are the four types of violent crimes in CA 91505?
The FBI generally groups violent crimes into four categories: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. These offenses involve force or the threat of force against a person. Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 handles violent-crime matters including assault, battery, and domestic violence, representing clients facing these charges throughout Los Angeles County from arrest through resolution.
What's the worst felony you can get in CA 91505?
The most serious felony classification typically involves capital or first-degree offenses such as murder, which carry the harshest penalties including life imprisonment. In California, felonies are graded by severity, with violent and sex-related offenses among the most consequential. Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 defends people facing felony charges at both the state and federal level, guiding them through the Southern California legal system.
What's the worst felony you can do in CA 91505?
Homicide-related offenses are generally considered the most severe felonies, followed by serious violent and sex crimes, all of which carry lengthy sentences under California law. The consequences depend heavily on the specific charge and circumstances. Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 represents clients across a broad range of criminal matters, from violent offenses to sex crimes and federal charges, protecting their rights throughout the process.
What is the most common thing to go to jail for in CA 91505?
Drug-related offenses, DUI, and theft crimes are among the most common reasons people face jail time in the United States. These charges appear frequently in local courts. Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 handles many of these matters, including DUI cases for first, second, and third offenses, drug crimes, and theft crimes, serving communities from Burbank to Glendale and greater Los Angeles.
What tricks do lawyers use in CA 91505?
Rather than tricks, experienced defense attorneys rely on genuine strategy: scrutinizing evidence, challenging how it was gathered, questioning procedure, negotiating with prosecutors, and building a clear narrative for the client. Led by attorney Michael "Mike" Simmrin, Simmrin Law Group in Burbank, CA 91505 focuses on protecting clients' rights, reputation, and future, describing an approach that treats each client like family from arrest through resolution.