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Overview Of Arson Charges In California

Okabe & Haushalter Apr 11, 2011 Arson

In the state of California, criminal charges pertaining to arson are taken extremely seriously and are given serious treatment by law enforcement and prosecutors alike. According to state law, arson is considered the willful and knowing action of setting fire to a burning, property or structure. Even the counseling of a person to set fire to a building is punishable by law.

Typically, arson is tried as a felony, and extenuating factors will determine the length of the incarceration given as a punishment. For example, arson that resulted in great bodily injury will be charged as a felony and will cause the defendant to be facing incarceration in state prison for up to nine years.

On top of the criminal act of arson, there are several factors that can be considered enhancements that will lengthen the amount of time that the convicted will spend in jail. These include the following:

  • If the defendant has a previous felony on their record pertaining to arson
  • If emergency personnel suffered great bodily injury
  • If more than one victim suffered great bodily injured
  • If more than one building suffered structural damage
  • If a device was used to accelerate or delay ignition

If you or a loved one are currently facing criminal charges relating to arson, it is important that there is a serious criminal defense attorney on your side to provide serious legal assistance. At Okabe & Haushalter, our legal team knows the importance of the way these types of cases are handled and are therefore relentless thorough in our legal footwork. Contact a Los Angeles arson defense lawyer from our firm today to learn more about how we could help – we know the tricks of the defense trade and you can trust that we will utilize them for your benefit.