California Felony & Misdemeanor Defense

Every Charge Level Requires Strategic Defense

Many defendants make the critical mistake of treating misdemeanor charges as minor inconveniences not worth fighting. A misdemeanor conviction creates a permanent criminal record that appears on background checks for life, can cost you professional licenses, affect immigration status, and complicate child custody proceedings. Randal Shrout defends every case — from infractions to life felonies — with the same analytical precision.

The most powerful weapon in California criminal defense is the "wobbler." Hundreds of offenses under the California Penal Code can be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the prosecutor's charging decision. By presenting strong mitigation evidence, character letters, employment records, and legal argument early — at the charging stage, at the preliminary hearing, and at sentencing — we push prosecutors toward misdemeanor treatment. That single charging decision can mean the difference between a misdemeanor background check entry and a felony record that follows you for life.

AB 109 (Criminal Justice Realignment) fundamentally changed where felony sentences are served in California. Many non-serious, non-violent felons now serve time in county jail rather than state prison. Understanding the realignment framework — and qualifying your case for county jail instead of state prison — requires an attorney who works California courts daily.

Post-conviction relief is another area where many attorneys fall short. Under PC 17(b), many felonies can be reduced to misdemeanors after probation completion. Under PC 1203.4, convictions can be dismissed (expunged). Prop 47 allows certain prior felony convictions to be reclassified as misdemeanors even years later. We counsel clients on these options from day one — because how a case resolves shapes what relief is available afterward.