Defending a violent crime in Los Angeles is one of the most difficult things a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney will ever do, especially when the crime involves potential gang related activities. The City of Los Angeles has a particular set of laws that add years of prison time, fines and probation to the sentence of anyone who is affiliated with a gang. If a violent crime involves a gun, innocent bystanders, gang affiliation and prior convictions, it could lead to a life sentence or worse for anyone convicted of such a crime. This is why having a skilled Defense Attorney working for you is vital; he could mean the difference between spending twenty or more years in prison and being able to walk away with probation or less. A recent case in the San Fernando Valley highlights just how important it is for a person to have a qualified lawyer. An ex-convict opened fire at a Granada Hills church carnival in May 2008 and wounded the mother of his son and two volunteers. He was convicted of two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a firearm, as well as one count of being a felon with a firearm. The man is a former member of the North Hollywood Boyz gang and was on parole at the time for assault with a deadly weapon. He walked into his son's school fundraiser at St. John Baptist de la Salle Church with a .22 caliber semiautomic rifle tucked into a tennis bag. He fired several rounds at his ex-girlfriend as she was setting up a carnival booth because he and the woman were involved in a custody dispute. The woman was hit in the elbow and a man was shot in the chest. Another person was hit in the leg. During the shooting, five parents, including an off-duty police officers, tackled and disarmed the man. The man most likely did not hire a private Attorney, meaning he had a public defender representing him. The man had a history of domestic disputes with the ex-girlfriend and with officials at the church. The girl had gone so far as to get a restraining order against him from church property. If you or someone you know needs legal representation, contact the Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin, LLP at 877-781-1570. Tagged as: violent crimes defense