The Challenge
An off-duty Sheriff’s Deputy was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (PC 245) and brandishing a firearm (PC 417) following a verbal dispute. Initial investigators labeled the Deputy as the aggressor, concluding he did not act in self-defense. Beyond the criminal charges, a conviction for brandishing a firearm would have triggered a mandatory ban on firearm ownership, resulting in the immediate and permanent loss of the Deputy’s career.
Our Strategy
We conducted an independent investigation into the incident and presented our findings to the District Attorney’s Office. As a result, the felony assault charge was dismissed. To protect the client’s career, we focused on the specific requirements of Penal Code section 29860, which provides a narrow path for peace officers to petition for the preservation of firearm rights. Through extensive advocacy with the prosecutor and the Judge, we successfully demonstrated that the Deputy met all statutory criteria. The court granted the petition, allowing the Deputy to retain his firearm rights and his profession.
The Result
ASSAULT CHARGE DISMISSED; FIREARM RIGHTS PRESERVED
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.
