The Challenge
A book author and former newspaper editor was charged with felony criminal negligence under California Penal Code 399 after his large dog bit a child on the face and neck. Authorities alleged the dog had a history of aggression toward children, and due to the severity of the injuries and the animal’s history, prosecutors sought a state prison sentence.
Our Strategy
After lengthy court proceedings, we presented mitigating evidence regarding our client’s background and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Through persistent advocacy at sentencing, we were able to persuade the judge that incarceration was unnecessary. Our client was ultimately sentenced to probation and house arrest, avoiding the prison term sought by the prosecution.
Media Coverage
The Result
PROBATION AND HOUSE ARREST INSTEAD OF PRISON.
Your Case Belongs at the Southwest Justice Center.
Your Defense Belongs Here.
If you were arrested in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Winchester, or French Valley, your future will likely be decided at the Southwest Justice Center (SWJC) on Auld Road. In these courtrooms, local knowledge is the ultimate advantage. Since 1999, Nic Cocis has been a weekly fixture in the SWJC, appearing before the same judges and negotiating with the same Riverside County prosecutors for over 25 years. We don’t just know the law — we know the specific nuances, procedural quirks, and judicial tendencies of the Southwest District. Whether you are facing a felony or a misdemeanor, you need a firm that treats the Southwest Justice Center as its home turf.
