Arson

Arson is considered a very serious felony crime in the state of California. There are many different types of arson crimes but all of them are considered “strikes” and will be used against you in the future. For example, a conviction for arson of a structure or forest land is a felony with imprisonment for two to six years.

A simple arson of property is a felony with imprisonment for 16 months to three years. If you are being charged with arson, you must consult an experienced attorney as these are extreme allegations. Arson is defined as the willful and malicious burning of property. To prove that the defendant is guilty of the crime, the prosecutor only has to prove that the defendant:

1. set fire to, burned or caused the burning of a structure, land or property and
2. the defendant acted purposely and intentionally.

Arson is investigated by elite special units who have the skills and most advanced chemical analyses to locate the point of origin of a fire.

Arson could be committed for various reasons. In some cases, arson is committed to defy the police, in domestic violence issues, to hide a murder or to commit insurance fraud. Because of this, law enforcement puts a great deal of effort to fight arson. If you or a loved one has been charged with arson, keep in mind there are some defenses you can use if it is applicable. Almost every arson of structure case requires a scientific analysis and sometimes there could be insufficient evidence.

Some other defenses include: alibi defense, procedural misconduct of the investigating officers, statute of limitations, insanity defense, coerced confessions and more. Whatever the case may be, keep in mind arson is a serious charge and the punishment can be much more severe if you have prior convictions of any sort. Make sure to contact an experienced attorney to help you through the situation.

There’s no substitute for a strong criminal attorney, call Wing & Parisi at (916) 441-4888.

Contact us online or call at (916) 441-4888 for a free and confidential initial consultation, available in Spanish. We appear in state and federal courts in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout Placer and San Joaquin counties.

The Law Office of Wing & Parisi serves clients in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout Placer County and San Joaquin County. Hablamos espanol.