Vigil Defense is a premier law firm based in Orange County, California. The foundation of our service is the ability to understand the core needs of our clients, tailor plans for their success, and walk them through each step. We are driven to make our clients feel cared for because going through legal troubles can be the most stressful time for anyone. Our goal is to take away the stress, shoulder the burden, and help you reach justice.

Our founder, Martina A. Teinert, grew up in Southern California and is passionate about her community. Martina is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Chapman University’s School of Law.

Professional Associations

• North Orange County Bar Association (Founding member)
• Orange County Bar Association — Family Law Section

When you need an attorney who will protect your rights, contact Martina A. Teinert. She has the Drive to Fight when you need excellent legal representation. Contact our office today for a free consultation.

It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the State of California. It is also illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08% or higher, regardless of whether you feel the effects of alcohol. If an officer has reasonable suspicion that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you can be arrested. A conviction for Driving Under the Influence will be detrimental; often resulting in a suspension of your driver license and possibly a sentence of additional jail time depending on the circumstances.

Just because you have been arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence in California does not mean that you need to plead Guilty and take the first offer given by prosecution. Remember, a prosecutor will not tell you if they believe they do not have enough evidence for a conviction. That is up to your Criminal Defense Attorney. There are many things that a DUI attorney can do for you including minimizing your fines and mitigating the consequences. Martina will not only represent you in court, she will also conduct an Admin Per Se hearing with the DMV on your behalf.

If you find yourself facing DUI charges, contact Vigil Defense immediately so that Martina can help you. Call our office at 714-543-5840 to schedule a consultation.

The first formal stage of a criminal prosecution is called an Arraignment. You must be present at this hearing or, in most misdemeanor cases, have an attorney appear on your behalf. Failure to attend this hearing or have an attorney attend for you will result in a warrant for your arrest.

Arrest

If an officer believes there is probable cause that you have committed a crime, you can be arrested and taken into custody where an officer may or may not attempt to interview you. Sometimes your Miranda Rights will be read to you, other times they will not, depending on the circumstances. If officers ask you questions about the incident, you will be told that you have the right to remain silent and that you have the right to an attorney. You are within your rights provided to you under the United States and California Constitution to remain silent. The exercise of this right cannot legally increase your punishment or be held against you in any way. You must always exercise the right to an attorney and the right to remain silent simply by saying “I do not wish to speak with you and I want a lawyer”. Many people believe that the officer will let them go if they just explain what happened. This is untrue. Anything you say will be held against you in a court of law. Once you are arrested, you will either have to post bail or you will be released on your own recognizance with a promise to appear at your Arraignment.

Arraignment

After you have been arrested, or cited and released, the officer will give you a document containing the date and location of your Arraignment. The Arraignment is a formal hearing where the judge tells you and your attorney the crimes in which the government is alleging. Your attorney will likely get a copy of the incident report. You can plead “Guilty” or “Not Guilty”. If you plead “Guilty”, you will receive a sentence handed down to you by the judge or prosecution. If you plead “Not Guilty,” a second hearing will be set called a Pre-Trial.

Pre-Trial

Every hearing after your Arraignment and before Trial is called a Pre-Trial. A Pre-Trial merely gives your Criminal Defense Attorney an opportunity to discuss the facts of your case with Prosecution. There are many reasons to have multiple Pre-Trials including: the need to request additional discovery, the filing of motions, or simply because your attorney needs additional time to get a favorable offer to resolve your case. Your attorney will come to you with offers from prosecution to resolve your case. If you decide that you do not want to take any of these offers, and you would like a jury of your peers to decide whether you are “Guilty” or “Not Guilty” then your attorney will set your matter for Trial.

Trial

A Trial is just like what you see on TV. The two attorneys (Prosecutor and Defense Attorney) select a jury, give opening statements, confront and cross-examine witnesses, present evidence and give closing arguments; leaving a jury of 12 of your peers to decide whether prosecution has met it’s burden of proving every element of the alleged crime Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. If all 12 jurors are not convinced that you committed the crime, you cannot be convicted. Your Criminal Defense Attorney will advise you whether or not she believes going to trial is a good idea based on the evidence prosecution presents. It is important to have a convincing and bold attorney on your side.

Vigil Defense, PC located in Santa Ana, CA has additional information about the following topics:

• Criminal Attorney
• Criminal Lawyer
• Drug Attorney
• Criminal Defense Lawyer