The Challenge
A mini-market owner was charged with felony assault after a physical altercation with a juvenile caught stealing from the store. The juvenile sustained significant injuries, including a broken nose and chipped teeth. Because of the disparity in size and the severity of the injuries, the prosecutor aggressively pursued a felony conviction and a custodial jail sentence.
Our Strategy
We employed a private investigator to re-examine the incident and interview witnesses. These statements directly contradicted the juvenile’s account and provided a more accurate context of the struggle. By presenting this evidence to the court, we demonstrated that a felony charge did not fit the reality of the encounter. We successfully convinced the judge to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor. As a result, the client avoided a felony record and all jail time.
The Result
FELONY REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR; NO JAIL TIME
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.
