Riverside Murder Attorney

Speak to an Experienced Riverside Murder Attorney at Wallin & Klarich (187 PC)

Murder is one of the most serious crimes you could be accused of in Riverside County. If you are convicted of murder, you could face 15 years to life in state prison. When you are facing murder charges under 187 PC, you need an experienced Riverside murder attorney who can defend you aggressively in the local courts.

Riverside County judges handle allegations of murder with the utmost seriousness. At Wallin & Klarich, our Riverside murder attorneys bring that same urgency and determination to defending you. Our skilled criminal defense lawyers have been successfully representing clients accused of murder for more than 40+ years. Let us help you now.

Contact our Riverside murder defense attorneys today at (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation regarding your case.

Why You Should Choose Our Riverside Murder Attorneys

Wallin & Klarich has developed a track record of success when it comes to handling murder and other serious cases in Riverside County through aggressive defense and high quality service. Our success has helped us accumulate numerous awards and achievements, including a 5 out of 5 AV rating on Lawyers.com, a 10 out of 10 rating on AVVO.com, and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Our experienced Riverside murder attorneys understand the valid legal defenses to murder, and we are committed to helping you achieve the most favorable result possible in your case. You don’t have to take our word for it. Watch and read these testimonials from real clients facing serious criminal charges:

“I was referred to Wallin & Klarich after I was charged with murder in Riverside. I made a horrible decision to go along with a person who I thought was a friend. However, I had no idea it would result in the death of another person. I was charged with murder based on my involvement. Wallin & Klarich put a lot of time and effort into my case and prepared an excellent defense for me. I really feel like I would be in jail today if I had not called Wallin & Klarich. Thanks to their incredible efforts, I am a free man.”

-W.C.

“Thank you Wallin & Klarich for believing in me. Your attorneys were there for me when I was accused of murder in Riverside County. I thought the evidence was stacked against me, but Wallin & Klarich assured me that they would do everything they could for me. In the end, I got a result that was much better than I ever could’ve hoped for and I will have a chance to redeem myself.”

-Q.S.

“I was charged with murder when I was defending myself and my family. I was scared for my life and I wasn’t thinking straight, but how could I be charged with a crime when it wasn’t me who was the assailant? I hired Wallin & Klarich to represent me and they immediately got to work. They listened to my side of the story and let me express myself and my frustration. They were extremely patient and understanding through this difficult time. In the end, my attorney was able to get me a very favorable plea deal that included no jail time. I was able to be there with my wife and kids. Thank you, Wallin & Klarich.”

-D.M.

What is the Crime of Murder in Riverside? (Penal Code 187)

Under Penal Code 187, you could be charged with the crime of murder if you caused the death of another person or fetus with “malice aforethought.”
What is malice aforethought? This term exists in two forms:

• The conscious intent to cause death or great bodily harm to another person before making the act of committing the crime; or
• The intent to willfully act with callous and disregard for the dangerous consequences to human life

The term “malice aforethought” is often confused with “premeditated murder,” but these phrases have different meanings. Premeditated murder is considered “first degree murder,” which is one of the most serious criminal offenses you could be charged with in California.

However, the law does not require that you harbor any ill will or hatred toward the victim in order to be convicted of murder. You could be convicted of second degree murder by killing someone with malice aforethought but without premeditation or deliberation.

To be convicted of murder under 187 PC, the prosecution must prove each of the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

• Your actions caused the death of another person or fetus
• Your mental state at the time of the act constituted malice aforethought, and
• You had no valid excuse or justification for your actions

If you or someone you love has been accused of murder, you should seek the help of an experienced Riverside murder attorney at Wallin & Klarich. Our skilled lawyers may be able to raise reasonable doubt that the alleged act meets all of the elements required to convict you.

What Happens After You are Arrested for Murder in Riverside?

If your loved one was arrested for murder in Riverside County, he or she is likely being held in custody at the jail facility closest to where the arrest took place. For information on locating an individual who has been arrested in Riverside County, visit our Riverside jail information page.

The arraignment is the first court hearing after an arrest for murder. At the arraignment, you will be informed as to the specific crime you are alleged to have committed. You will also be:

• Informed of issues relating to bail or release
• Informed of any future court date
• Allowed to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest

You will want an attorney to represent you at your arraignment. Our skilled murder defense attorneys will advise you on how to approach your arraignment and provide a voice for you in Riverside County court.

Sentence for Murder Conviction in Riverside

The penalties you face if you are convicted of murder in Riverside County depend upon the type of murder you are convicted of:

• First degree murder under PC 187 is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
• Second degree murder carries a punishment of 15 years to life in state prison.
• Capital murder, which is another form of first degree murder, is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP) or the death penalty. You could be convicted of capital murder if the murder you committed involves one of the following special circumstances:
  • You murdered someone for financial gain
  • You murdered more than one victim
  • You murdered a police officer, firefighter, prosecutor, judge, juror or elected official
  • You murdered a witness to prevent that witness from testifying against you or someone else
  • You murdered someone while in the act of committing any of the felonies listed under the felony murder rule
  • Your motivation for murdering the victim was his or her race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or disability
  • You committed murder by firing a gun from vehicle (drive-by shooting); or
  • Your motivation for murder was to benefit a criminal street gang

In addition to facing time in state prison, you could be fined a maximum of $10,000 if you are convicted of murder in Riverside.

You will also receive a strike on your criminal record under the Three Strikes law. If you have a prior strike on your record and you are convicted of a second strike crime, your sentence for the new criminal offense could double. If you have two prior strikes on your record and you are convicted of a third strike, you face 25 years to life in prison.

These penalties are extremely severe. That is why you should not face them without the help of an experienced murder attorney at Wallin & Klarich. Contact our law firm at (877) 466-5245 so we can discuss which valid legal defenses may apply in your case.

Defenses to Murder Charges in Riverside County

Our skilled murder attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been successfully defending clients facing murder charges in Riverside County courts for more than 40+ years. Here are some of the valid legal defenses our criminal defense lawyers have used to help our clients obtain favorable outcomes to their cases:

• Self-defense – Self-defense is one of the most common legal defenses to murder charges. As long as your actions were reasonable under the circumstances of your case, self-defense may be a valid legal defense to the murder charges against you.
• Accidental killing – In order to convict you of murder in Riverside County court, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you caused the death of another person with malice aforethought. If you lacked the malicious intent to kill required under PC 187, your attorney may have a valid defense to murder charges.
• Heat of passion – Under California law, it is not considered murder if you kill someone while in the heat of passion. For example, if you came home one evening to see your wife sleeping with another man and you killed the man in a rage, your murder attorney may be able to argue that your actions were done in the heat of passion. This defense could result in the charges being reduced to voluntary manslaughter, which carries less time in custody than a murder conviction.
• Factual impossibility – A crime is considered “factually impossible” when the circumstances of the case make the intended crime impossible to complete. For instance, if you arrived home to find your spouse dead, it is factually impossible that you killed your spouse.

One or more of these valid legal defenses may be applicable in your case. Our Riverside murder attorneys will work with you to learn the details of the case and review the facts to determine which legal defenses may be best to use in your case.

Call an Experienced Riverside Murder Attorney at Wallin & Klarich

If you or someone you love has been charged with murder in Riverside County, you should contact an experienced Riverside murder attorney immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled criminal defense lawyers have been successfully defending clients facing murder charges in Riverside courts for more than 40+ years. We’ve helped thousands of clients in their time of legal need, and we can help you now.

Our law office is located right across the street from the Riverside courthouse at the following address:

Wallin & Klarich: A Law Corporation
4229 Main St. Suite A/B
Riverside, CA 92501

Contact our law firm today at (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation regarding your murder case.