Hearing the word "felony" attached to your name, or to someone you love, is a moment that tends to stop everything else.
Ambrosio & Associates' felony attorneys defend people charged with felonies in courthouses throughout Los Angeles County, and the firm is led by Ambrosio E. Rodriguez, a former Senior Deputy District Attorney with over 13 years of prosecutorial experience handling serious cases, including homicide, sexual assault, and death-penalty trials.
Many people who call the firm know only that the charge is "a felony." This page explains what that means in California, what sentences are possible, and where to go next for the specific charge. Call (213) 995-6767 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
Table of contents
- What Is a Felony in California?
- What Is a Wobbler, and Why Does It Matter?
- What Sentence Does a Felony Carry in California?
- Felony Charges We Defend in Los Angeles
- What Happens After a Felony Arrest in Los Angeles County?
- How a Felony Conviction Affects Your Life After the Case
- Why Choose Ambrosio & Associates
- Felony Defense FAQs
- A Felony Charge Is Not a Felony Conviction
What Is a Felony in California?
A felony is the most serious class of crime in California. Under Penal Code section 17(a), a felony is any crime punishable by death, by imprisonment in state prison, or by a county jail term under Penal Code section 1170(h). In practical terms, a felony is any offense that may be punished by more than a year in custody.
California has three classes of offenses, and the class controls both the maximum sentence and the long-term consequences.
- Infractions are punishable by a fine only, such as most traffic tickets.
- Misdemeanors are punishable by up to 364 days in county jail under Penal Code section 18.5, plus fines and probation.
- Felonies are punishable by more than a year of custody, served either in state prison or in county jail under realignment, and may carry lifelong collateral consequences.
For a broader background explainer, see our article on what is a felony.
What Is a Wobbler, and Why Does It Matter?
A wobbler is an offense that prosecutors may file as either a felony or a misdemeanor, and that a judge may later reduce to a misdemeanor under Penal Code section 17(b). Common examples include assault with a deadly weapon under Penal Code section 245(a)(1), grand theft under section 487, second-degree commercial burglary under section 461(b) when the conduct does not qualify as misdemeanor shoplifting, and corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant under section 273.5.
Because the same conduct may land on either side of the line, a wobbler gives the defense several chances to change the classification:
- Before filing, by presenting information that persuades the filing deputy to charge a misdemeanor.
- At the preliminary hearing, when the magistrate may treat the offense as a misdemeanor.
- At sentencing, when the judge may impose a misdemeanor sentence.
- After successful probation, through a 17(b) motion to reduce the conviction.
If the charge ends up as a misdemeanor, our page on misdemeanor charges explains what comes next.
What Sentence Does a Felony Carry in California?
Most California felonies carry a sentencing triad: a low, middle, and upper term. When a statute does not specify the range, Penal Code section 18 sets a default of 16 months, two years, or three years. Under Penal Code section 1170(b), the middle term is the ceiling unless the defendant stipulates to the aggravating facts or a jury, or the judge in a court trial, finds them true beyond a reasonable doubt. Prior convictions are the exception and may be proven with certified court records.
| Sentencing factor | How it affects a felony sentence |
| Base term | A low, middle, or upper term set by the specific statute, or the PC 18 default of 16 months, two, or three years |
| Where time is served | Many non-serious, non-violent felonies are served in county jail under PC 1170(h); others require state prison |
| Enhancements | Firearm use, great bodily injury, gang allegations, and prior convictions may add years to the base term |
| Strikes | A serious or violent felony counts as a strike, and a prior strike may double the sentence on a new felony |
| Probation | Many felonies remain eligible for probation instead of custody, subject to statutory exceptions |
| Life terms | Murder and certain other offenses carry indeterminate life sentences |
Probation is often the most realistic alternative to custody. Our felony probation page explains terms, violations, and early termination.
Felony Charges We Defend in Los Angeles
The firm defends felony charges across every major category. If you know the specific charge, the pages below explain the statute, penalties, and defenses in detail. You may also browse charges by type.
Violent Felonies
Murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, robbery, and aggravated assault carry the highest exposure and often include strike allegations and enhancements. See our Los Angeles homicide lawyer page for homicide charges.
Sex Offense Felonies
Rape, child molestation, and other sex offenses may require lifetime or tiered registration. Visit our Los Angeles sex crimes attorney page.
Drug Felonies
Sale, transportation, and possession for sale are felonies in California, and large quantities may lead to federal charges. See our drug trafficking defense page.
Fraud, Theft, and White Collar Felonies
Embezzlement, grand theft, identity theft, and fraud schemes turn on documents, intent, and loss amounts. Learn about our white collar crimes defense.
Federal Felonies
Any federal crime punishable by more than a year is a federal felony, heard in the Central District of California under different sentencing rules. See our federal crimes attorney page.
What Happens After a Felony Arrest in Los Angeles County?
A felony case in Los Angeles County usually moves from arrest to arraignment, then to a preliminary hearing, an arraignment on the information, pretrial motions, and either a negotiated resolution or trial. Each step has deadlines that the defense may use or waive strategically.
- Arraignment on the complaint. A person in custody generally must be arraigned within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays. Bail and release conditions are set here.
- Preliminary hearing. Unless waived, this hearing is generally held within 10 court days of arraignment. The prosecution must show probable cause, and the defense may cross-examine witnesses.
- Arraignment on the information. If the case is held to answer, the prosecution files an information, and the defendant enters a plea.
- Motions and negotiation. The defense may file motions to suppress evidence, dismiss counts, or strike prior convictions.
- Trial. Absent a waiver, trial generally must begin within 60 days of arraignment on the information.
These deadlines come from Penal Code section 825 (arraignment), section 859b (preliminary hearing), and section 1382 (trial).
Downtown felony cases are usually heard at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on West Temple Street, while others go to branch courthouses based on where the arrest occurred.
The earlier the defense begins, the more of these steps it may influence. Call (213) 995-6767 today for a free felony case review.
How a Felony Conviction Affects Your Life After the Case
A felony conviction follows a person well beyond any sentence. These consequences often matter as much as custody, and they belong in every plea discussion.
- Firearms. A felony conviction generally brings a lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm under Penal Code section 29800.
- Immigration. Many felonies carry deportation or inadmissibility consequences for noncitizens. Immigration advice belongs before any plea.
- Professional licenses. Nurses, doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and contractors may face separate discipline from their licensing boards.
- Future cases. A serious or violent felony counts as a strike and increases the sentence on any later felony.
- Employment and housing. Background checks may reveal the conviction, although California limits how some employers use criminal history.
- Record relief. Many felony convictions may later be dismissed under Penal Code sections 1203.4 or 1203.41, and eligible wobblers may be reduced first.
How Los Angeles Felony Attorneys Work to Limit Your Exposure
- Engaging with the filing deputy before charges are filed.
- Seeking misdemeanor treatment for a wobbler under PC 17(b).
- Challenging unlawful searches, statements, and identifications.
- Pursuing diversion where available, including mental health diversion under PC 1001.36.
- Asking the court to dismiss a prior strike in the interest of justice.
- Preparing the case for trial so negotiations happen from a position of strength.
Why Choose Ambrosio & Associates
- Led by a former Senior Deputy District Attorney. The firm's founder prosecuted serious felonies and knows how filing and plea decisions are made.
- Focused on serious charges. Felony defense, including homicide and sex crimes, is at the center of the practice.
- Recognized in the media. Mr. Rodriguez has provided legal commentary on FOX 11, KTLA, and Estrella.
- Available 24/7 in English and Spanish. The firm answers when arrests happen, not only during business hours.
Felony Defense FAQs
Is it possible to reduce a felony to a misdemeanor in California?
Yes, if the offense is a wobbler. A judge may reduce it under Penal Code section 17(b) at the preliminary hearing, at sentencing, or after probation is completed. Straight felonies, such as murder or rape, are not eligible. Whether a reduction is realistic depends on the facts, your record, and how the case has been handled.
Will I go to prison if I am convicted of a felony?
Not always. Many felonies remain eligible for probation, and many non-serious, non-violent felonies are served in county jail under realignment rather than state prison. Certain offenses, enhancements, and prior strikes make prison mandatory. Your lawyer should explain the realistic range before any plea decision.
How long does a felony case take in Los Angeles?
Many felony cases resolve within several months, while serious cases often take a year or more. Statutory deadlines set the pace unless the defense waives time, which is often done to allow investigation and negotiation. Cases involving forensic evidence, multiple defendants, or trial usually take longer.
Is it possible to clear a felony from my record in California?
Often, yes. Many felony convictions may be dismissed under Penal Code section 1203.4 after probation, or under section 1203.41 after a county jail sentence. Some wobblers may first be reduced to misdemeanors. A dismissal does not erase every consequence, such as the firearm ban, but it helps with most employment background checks.
How much does a Los Angeles felony lawyer cost?
Most felony defense in Los Angeles is billed as a flat fee for a defined stage, such as through the preliminary hearing or through trial. The amount depends on the charge, the volume of evidence, and whether the case goes to trial. Ambrosio & Associates explains its fee after a free consultation.
A Felony Charge Is Not a Felony Conviction
Between the charge and the outcome sits every decision the defense makes. Call Ambrosio & Associates at (213) 995-6767 for a free consultation, available 24/7, or contact the firm online. The office is at 626 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 460, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
This page is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.