Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney
Hillcrest is a lively, gay-friendly, urban neighborhood. It is known for its diversity, annual block parties, award-winning restaurants, neighborhood festivals, and trendy shops. As a huge entertainment community, Monder Law Group has vast experience representing Hillcrest residents in criminal cases dealing with public intoxication, DUIs, assaults, and sex offenses. With our office located just ten minutes away, our legal team of experts are available if you would like to discuss your particular circumstances over the phone or would prefer to schedule an appointment to come in person. Contact Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney Vik Monder now at (619)405-0063 to ensure the best defense in your case!
Your Attorney Must Have a Set of Specialized Skills
Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney Vik Monder received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of San Diego in Finance, where he learned financial literacy and honed his negotiating skills. He then went on to pursue his Juris Doctorate at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he mastered the rules of evidence and criminal procedure, developing his analytical and research skills. In search of becoming the best criminal defense attorney, he went on to obtain a Masters in Criminal Trial Advocacy from California Western School of Law. There he received specialized legal training in criminal trial advocacy and federal motion writing. These particular skills set in addition to his specialized legal training and superior understanding of the criminal justice system make Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney Vik Monder a force to be reckoned with in court!
You Need an Advocate You Can Trust in Your Corner
Monder Law Group has established trust in the Hillcrest legal community by defending diversity and promoting acceptance. At Monder Law Group we know first-hand that criminal defense is not an abstract practice but is about defending all people, as the strategic legal decisions we make effect lives. Having acquired this knowledge after rigorous legal training and years of trial experience, Attorney Vik Monder opened his own criminal defense practice based on this principle. At Monder Law Group, our team of legal experts are made up of legal professionals with analytical ability, research expertise, technological affinity, superior communication skills and strong sense of ethical responsibility. Together we all work to keep you informed of new developments in your case, manage your expectations, offer timely responses to your inquiries, and provide you with the competent legal advice you deserve. As a result of his successful criminal defense practice, commitment to his clients and mastery of advocacy in the courtroom, Attorney Vik Monder has become one of the youngest high-profile criminal defense attorneys in San Diego. When you are facing impossible odds and it is your liberty that is on the line, you only want to have the best in your corner, contact Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney Vik Monder now at (619)405-0063!
Your Attorney Should be Familiar with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office
The Office of the District Attorney is composed of the Bureau of Investigation Division, Case Issuance Division, Pretrial and Disposition Division, and Superior Court Division. An experienced criminal defense attorney practicing out of San Diego must be familiar with the criminal divisions of the District Attorney’s Office. Familiarity requires that the attorney know what offenses are prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office and which division is responsible for what aspect of the criminal case. Having vast experience successfully negotiating and trying cases against the District Attorney’s Office, Attorney Vik Monder has extensive knowledge of the inter-workings of its criminal divisions. Beginning with the Bureau of Investigation Division which is the law enforcement component of the District Attorney’s Office. This division is made up of 113 DA Investigators, 45 PA Investigators and 24 support staff. Together they provide fingerprint analysis and develop all felony criminal cases. It is important that your criminal defense attorney establish open communication with these individuals because they are responsible for the filing of criminal complaints with the Case Issuance Division. If you retain Attorney Vik Monder early on in your case, he will immediately begin working with the lead DA Investigator. The defense’s goal is to provide mitigation on your behalf for the DA Investigator to consider before deciding to file charges against you. If you retain Attorney Vik Monder after the investigation against you has been closed, mitigation will be submitted to the issuing attorney in the Case Issuance Division instead. The Case Issuance Division is responsible for screening all felony criminal complaints filed by law enforcement agencies and the Bureau of Investigation Division. Upon further review, the issuing attorney assigned to your case will make the final determination whether or not to prosecute the case and if so what charges to file. It is important that you understand that the criminal complaint request that was filed by law enforcement agencies with the Case Issuance Division is only a recommendation of the charges. The issuing attorney assigned to your case can choose to file all the recommended charges or decide to file less charges or additional charges. Once the issuing attorney makes the determination to prosecute you, your case will be assigned to the Pretrial and Disposition Division. The Pretrial and Disposition Division will handle your felony arraignment, bail reviews, preliminary examinations, suppression motions, plea negotiations, and change of plea proceedings.
Understanding the Arraignment Process
An arraignment is the first proceeding in the criminal justice system; it is when the prosecutorial agency formally files criminal charges against a defendant. Pursuant to the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, as a defendant in a criminal proceeding you have the right to be represented by an attorney, the right against self-incrimination, the right to a trial by jury, the right to produce and confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy trial. If you have been arrested by a law enforcement agency and are in custody pending a criminal prosecution, this means that the constitution guarantees you freedom from any unnecessary delays in your prosecution. In San Diego, there are two prosecutorial agencies, the Office of the City Attorney and the District Attorney’s Office. Waiting to be arraigned by either agency while in custody for over 48 hours is considered to be an unnecessary delay in prosecution. This means that the Case Issuance Department in the City Attorney’s Office or the Pretrial and Disposition Division in the District Attorney’s Office has 48 hours from the time of your arrest to arraign you. Please keep in mind that the 48 hours excludes weekends and court holidays. Failure to meet the deadline to arraign you within 48 hours will result in your immediate release from custody. However, it is important to note that this does not prevent either prosecutorial agency from filing criminal charges against you at a later time. Once arraigned, the judge will inform you of the specific charges against you, read you your constitutional rights, determine your bail schedule, and ask you to enter a plea. It is crucial that you have a Hillcrest Criminal Defense Attorney who will begin preparing for your arraignment hearing immediately following your arrest. At Monder Law Group, our legal team of experts will schedule a legal visit with you in jail to explain the charges that you are facing, ensure that you plead not guilty, and propose a bail pitch to modify or exonerate your bail altogether. We will also meet with your loved ones to explain to them what to expect at your arraignment, gather ample evidence to make our bail pitch, and arrange for the appropriate family members and friends to come to your arraignment hearing.
Misdemeanor vs. Felony Arraignment
Misdemeanor arraignment and felony arraignment may differ in three important aspects: the prosecuting agency involved, the department where the arraignment hearing will take place, and whether or not the defendant is required to be physically present before the court. If you have been charged by the Office of the City Attorney for a misdemeanor offense that occurred in the Hillcrest neighborhood, your arraignment will take place in Department 1 of the Downtown San Diego Courthouse. As the defendant in a misdemeanor case, you will not be required to physically appear at your arraignment. Attorney Vik Monder can ask the judge to appear on your behalf as the attorney of record on your case. Whereas, if you have been charged by the Office of the District Attorney for a felony offense that occurred in the Hillcrest neighborhood, your arraignment will take place in Department 12 of the Downtown San Diego Courthouse. As the defendant in a felony case, your physical presence is mandatory at your arraignment hearing. Failure to personally appear at a felony arraignment will result in a bench warrant issued out for your arrest. Do not put yourself in this kind of predicament! Contact Monder Law Group at (619)405-0063 immediately following your arrest so that Attorney Vik Monder and his team of legal experts may begin preparing for your arraignment hearing now.
