forgery | Los Angeles forgery attorney | forgery defense lawyer los angeles

FORGERY

Are you being investigated for Forgery? Have you been arrested or charged with Forgery? Speak to a criminal defense attorney before you talk to the police about your forgery charges —even if the police say they just want to ask you a few questions.

The key to successfully defending forgery charges is being represented by an experienced criminal defense lawyer. The earlier on the case the attorney is on board, the more options there will be and the greater the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Contact the criminal defense attorneys of Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates at (213) 223-2173 to learn how our knowledge and experience can be put to work for you in your California forgery case.

California Forgery Law
In general, the California criminal forgery laws prohibit falsely making or altering a writing with the intent to defraud someone. Forgery crimes of a wide variety are defined in California Penal Code sections 470 to 483.5. Forgery occurs when you intend to commit a fraud and:

Sign a document with a name that is not yours, or
Counterfeit or forge the seal or handwriting, or
Alter or falsify a record of a will, codicil, conveyance, or court judgment, or
Falsely make, alter, or offer as authentic and genuine any of the following documents:
- Check, bond, bank bill or note
- Cashier’s check, traveler’s check or money order
- Controller’s warrant
- Request for payment of money
- Bill of exchange, promissory note or assignment of any bond
- Contract, due bill for payment of money or property receipt for money or property
- Lottery ticket
- Trading stamp, power of attorney or certificate of ownership
- Certificate of any share or interest in stock of any corporation or association
- Release or discharge of any debt, real or personal
- Transfer or assurance of money, certificates of stock, goods or any property
- Letter of attorney, or other power to receive money or to receive or transfer certificates of share of stock or annuities
- The acknowledgment of any notary public or an acknowledgement of a notary public who issues an acknowledgement knowing it is false

Forgery can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, punishable by imprisonment in state prison of up to 3 years or by a county jail sentence of not over 1 year. If you are convicted of forging something and already have one or two prior “strikes” against you, you will be subject to California’s Three Strikes Law and will be looking at a significantly more serious prison sentence.

What the Prosecutor Has to Prove
In order to be convicted in California for forgery, the District Attorney must prove that you engaged in one of the acts listed above, and that you did so with the intent to defraud. Someone intends to defraud if he or she intends to deceive another person (including a business, corporation, governmental agency, or association) either to cause a loss of money, goods, services, or something of value or to cause damage to a legal, financial, or property right. To convict a defendant for forgery, the District Attorney does not have to prove that anyone actually was defrauded or suffered a financial, legal or property loss as a result of the defendant’s acts.

Forgery Defenses
There are a few defenses available to a person charged with forging or attempting to forge a document. The main two forgery defenses are:

Forging a document without any intent to defraud someone (e.g., believing you had a legal right to sign your grandmother’s name on a document)
Forging a document that would not deprive anyone of a legal right or interest (e.g., writing a fake letter of recommendation for yourself)

The defense of lack of injury and restitution are available, but generally unsuccessful. The most fruitful defense to forgery charges is attacking the element of intent to defraud.

Los Angeles Forgery Lawyer
Seeking an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney may be your best chance at avoiding a conviction for forging or attempting to forge a document. The California criminal defense attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates have the experience and skills needed to aggressively fight forgery charges.

Contact Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates for a free consultation.

Law Offices of Stephen G. Rodriguez
633 West 5th Street
26th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071

Telephone
(213) 223-2173

Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys Stephen G. Rodriguez and Associates represent clients in the Los Angeles county area, which include, Airport Courthouse, Alhambra Superior Court, Antelope Valley Court, Bellflower/Cerritos Courthouse, Beverly Hills Court, Burbank Courthouse, Catalina Courthouse, Central Arraignment Court, Central Civil West Courthouse, Chatsworth Court, Criminal Courts Building/Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Compton Superior Court, Culver City Court, David V. Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center, Downey Courthouse, Eastlake Juvenile Court, East Los Angeles Court, El Monte Courthouse, Glendale Courthouse, Hollywood Court, Inglewood Courthouse, Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse, Long Beach Superior Court, Los Padrinos Juvenile Courthouse, Central District Court (Downtown Los Angeles Federal Court), Malibu Court, Mental Health Courthouse, Metropolitan Courthouse, Norwalk Superior Court, Pasadena Superior Court, Pomona Courthouse North, Pomona Courthouse South, Redondo Beach Courthouse, San Fernando Court, San Pedro Court, San Pedro Courthouse Annex, Santa Clarita Court, Santa Monica Court, Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Sylmar Juvenile Court, Torrance Superior Court, Van Nuys Courthouse East, Van Nuys Courthouse West, West Covina/Citrus Court, West Los Angeles Court, and Whittier Superior Court.

Some of the terms that pertain to our practice include, but are not limited to: dui, child abuse, identity theft, drunk driving, fraud, domestic violence, grand theft, felony, kidnapping, narcotics, robbery, misdemeanors, restraining order, TROs, arrest warrant, theft, hit and run, vandalism, arson, shoplifting, stalking, cyber stalking, embezzlement, burglary, extortion, bench warrant, expungement, criminal threats, sex crimes, solicitation, probation violation, suspended license, carjacking, gun weapon, attempted murder, petty theft, alternative sentencing, lewd conduct, drug possession, clear criminal record, juvenile offense, seal juvenile records, prostitution, rape, bail, criminal appeal, assault, battery, attempted murder, solicitation for prostitution, criminal threats, trespass, commercial burglary, residential burglary, theft crimes, credit card fraud, violent crimes, proposition 36, perjury, murder, attempted murder, three strikes, prostitution, rape, statutory rape, receiving stolen property, forgery, vandalism, weapons, gun charges, vehicular manslaughter, disorderly conduct, drug diversion, DEJ, grand theft, grand theft auto, house arrest, electronic monitoring, marijuana, conspiracy, petty theft with prior, attempt crimes, drug offenses, bribery, blackmail, child abuse, and bench warrant.