San Francisco Bay Area Criminal Lawyer

We handle a wide variety of criminal cases for a wide variety of clients. We have handled almost every type of criminal case, from serious felony cases in which the client is facing life in prison, to misdemeanor cases in which the client is facing six months or less. Our clients have included business executives, tech workers, real estate brokers, college students, attorneys, police officers, nurses, firefighters, and regular citizens. Whether you are accused of a crime of violence, sex crime, white collar crime, or a DUI, our San Francisco criminal attorney is available to assist. Here are some of our practice areas.

Our office has extensive experience defending DUI cases. If you are charged with a misdemeanor first DUI, or a serious felony DUI with injury, our office has the knowledge and training to assist you. DUI cases involve complex legal issues and scientific evidence. There is significant case law related to vehicle stops and DUI arrests. Mr. Sullivan has litigated and won motions to suppress in DUI cases. He has won DUI cases at trial. There is scientific data that must be analyzed in a DUI case, particularly if you consented to a blood draw. DUI blood testing involves trace quantitative analysis of your blood through the use of gas chromatography. DUI cases involving accidents may involve accident reconstruction experts. DUI cases involving injuries will require analysis of medical records and data. We also handle DMV hearings for our clients.

Domestic violence cases are aggressively prosecuted in the San Francisco area, but our criminal attorney can help you fight a charge just as aggressively. The district attorney often has a specialized domestic violence unit, and there are domestic violence courts. If you have been arrested for domestic violence, you need to hire an attorney experienced in the defense of this type of case. Our office has taken domestic violence cases to trial, and won dismissals at the pre-trial and trial level. Domestic violence and domestic battery cases can impact child custody, citizenship and immigration, and professional licenses. Protective orders may be entered against you barring you from your home. Domestic violence charges can include battery, assault, criminal threats, and stalking. A conviction for domestic violence will result in a requirement that you complete a 52-week batterer intervention program and can carry substantial jail or prison time, depending on the severity of the accusations against you.

Sex crimes and sexual assault charges can include rape, child molestation, lewd conduct, sexual battery, indecent exposure, and other types of sexual misconduct allegations. These types of crimes can carry lifetime sex registration and lengthy prison terms. Many allegations involving crimes against children carry penalties including life in prison. These types of cases can be some of the most difficult and complicated charges to defend. Our San Francisco criminal lawyer has years of experience defending individuals accused of rape, child molestation, and sexual battery. We have obtained exceptional results for our clients in these types of cases, through hard work and intensive investigation and litigation. We have sought out experts nationwide to assist our clients in sexual offense cases, including highly regarded forensic social workers and psychologists. We have experience litigating the necessary motions to seek out and obtain all relevant records and to examine all available evidence in these types of cases.

White collar crimes include all types of financial crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, and forgery. Our office has years of experience defending individuals accused of white collar crimes, and assisting clients with professional licensing issues that are often associated with these types of cases. Our office has won dismissals of white collar cases at the investigation stage, through the presentation of favorable evidence to law enforcement. We have won dismissals in state court fraud matters before the preliminary hearing. We have litigated motions to suppress and motions to compel discovery in white collar cases in state court prior to trial. Additionally, our office has represented witnesses involved in federal white collar prosecutions.

Firearm offenses may include felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, or negligent discharge of a firearm. Firearms cases can involve fingerprint evidence, DNA evidence, and other types of complex forensic issues. There are enhancements associated with use of a firearm that can increase the potential prison term for many offenses. If you have been accused of a firearm offense you need experienced legal counsel. We have negotiated many favorable dispositions in firearms cases to avoid substantial penalties, and have litigated numerous search and seizure motions related to firearms. Serving people throughout the San Francisco area, our criminal lawyer has won dismissals at the pre-filing stage in serious felony firearm cases by intensive and early investigation into licensing matters and firearm registration issues.

If you have been arrested for a violent crime, involving injury to another person, you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. Many altercations, even if you are not the primary aggressor, can lead to serious injuries or even death. Bar fights can turn into serious criminal cases. If you have been arrested for a violent crime, extensive investigation must be conducted. Witnesses must be located and interviewed. All available medical records must be obtained and analyzed by your own expert witnesses or consultants. Our office has years of experience helping individuals accused of violent crimes. We have obtained favorable results in these type of cases for our clients. Your case may be a self-defense case or defense of others, or there may be other significant mitigating circumstances that must be raised to effectively defend you. Video evidence often exists and must be tracked down as soon as possible.

Computer crimes can include unlawful access to computer systems, and all types of online sexual offenses. Our office has defended cases involving computer crime allegations at the trial stage and in post-conviction proceedings. We have worked extensively with computer forensic experts on the defense of these types of cases. We have also litigated motions to suppress and traverse warrants in computer crime cases. Due to our years of experience working on these types of cases, we have developed the ability to analyze the potential issues in your case. Not all attorneys have the basic technical understanding needed to defend this type of case and may not be able to spot issues that could be important to your defense. If you are facing allegations related to the use or misuse of a computer in the San Francisco area, our criminal attorney is able to assist you in mounting your legal defense and working with the appropriate experts.

Drug crimes can include possession or possession for sale of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and illegal prescription drugs. Our office has defended clients accused of growing marijuana and the sale of large quantities of marijuana. Our office has defended clients accused of the sale and transportation of cocaine and prescription drugs. Even with the movement towards decriminalization of some drugs, the penalties for many drug crimes can still be harsh. In some local Bay Area counties drug crimes can still carry prison sentences. If you have been arrested for the sale or distribution of any drugs, you need to hire an experienced criminal lawyer. Many drug cases involve search or seizure issues and may involve challenging search warrants. Recently, our office won a motion challenging a flawed search warrant and the drugs found in the house were suppressed. In another recent cocaine sales case, our office convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the entire case on the grounds that the search of the vehicle was unlawful under current case law.

Theft offenses may include burglary, robbery, or shoplifting. Burglary can involve allegations of stealing property from a commercial business or from a private residence. All types of theft accusations can carry serious consequences. Some theft crimes, like robbery, can include prison terms. If a gun was used during a robbery, the potential prison sentence can be many years. If you are facing felony or misdemeanor theft allegations, you need to hire experienced legal counsel. These types of offenses may require seeking all available video evidence, cell phone location data, and other records. Investigation of all witnesses and issues should be started as soon as possible by a criminal lawyer in the San Francisco area.

The Law Office of Matt Sullivan is ready to assist you with your criminal law case. Please call our office today at (415) 770-0146 or use our online form to set up a confidential consultation regarding your criminal matter.