Glendale Criminal Defense Lawyer

A Former Prosecutor Who Knows How the Case Against You Gets Built

Michael Kraut spent over 14 years as a Senior Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, including work in the Hardcore Gang Homicide Division and the Major Frauds Division. He prosecuted domestic violence, sex crimes, drug cases, and embezzlement, and he tried more than 86 jury trials to verdict.

That experience is not a line on a resume. It is the core of how he defends a case. Michael Kraut knows what a filing deputy needs before a charge is approved, where cases tend to be overcharged, and which gaps in a police report the prosecution would rather not have to explain. He knows how charge evaluation actually works, how detectives try to lock in a statement early, and how priors and supplemental reports get used to push a case harder. When he reviews your arrest, he reads it the way the prosecution reads it, then goes looking for the proof problems: the legality of the stop, the reliability of a witness, the accuracy of an identification, the chain of custody on phone and digital evidence, and whether the state can actually prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.

Michael Kraut has lectured to law enforcement on investigative techniques and trained prosecutors on trial tactics. He has been featured on CNN, Fox News, and across print media. He holds Avvo’s Top Rated 10.0 score and a 10 rating from Justia, with a 4.9 client rating across more than 488 reviews and over 274 five-star reviews on Google. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case, but they reflect a record built on preparation and readiness for trial.

The Charges We Defend in Glendale

A strong defense starts with understanding exactly what you are facing and what the prosecution has to prove. The firm regularly defends Glendale clients in cases involving:

DUI. A first DUI under California Vehicle Code section 23152 in California can mean a license suspension, fines, mandatory alcohol-education classes, and a conviction on your record. Just as important, and often missed, is the DMV side of the case. After a Glendale DUI arrest, you generally have only 10 days to request a DMV hearing, or your license is automatically suspended 30 days after the arrest. That hearing is separate from the criminal case, and the deadline does not wait for your first court date. We examine whether the stop was lawful, whether the breath or blood testing was done correctly, and whether the officer followed the rules at every step.

Domestic violence. A single argument can lead to a Penal Code 273.5 charge, which requires the prosecution to prove a willful injury to an intimate partner, along with a protective order that can keep you out of your own home. These domestic violence cases often rest on a single account given in a heated moment, and that account does not always withstand closer scrutiny.

Theft crimes. From a shoplifting allegation at the Glendale Galleria or the Americana to felony grand theft and burglary, theft charges under Penal Code section 484 turn on intent, which the prosecution cannot always prove. For eligible first-time cases, options like judicial diversion under Penal Code 1001.95 or a civil compromise can sometimes resolve the matter without a conviction.

Drug crimes. Possession, sales, and transportation charges frequently turn on a single search. If that search violated your rights, a motion to suppress under Penal Code 1538.5 can take the resulting evidence out of the case entirely.

Violent crimes. Assault and battery charges, and the more serious felonies that can follow, call for an attorney who has tried these cases to a jury and is ready to do it again.

Sex crimes. Few charges carry heavier consequences, including the possibility of registration under Penal Code 290. These cases demand discretion, an independent investigation, and early work to preserve messages, location data, and other evidence before it disappears.

White collar offenses. Fraud and embezzlement are the exact cases Michael Kraut handled in the Major Frauds Division. He knows how the government assembles a paper case and where those cases tend to come apart.

The firm also handles warrants, probation violations, and record-clearing relief, including dismissals under Penal Code 1203.4, which can help in many situations but carries limits worth understanding before you rely on it.

What Happens After an Arrest in Glendale

Criminal cases from Glendale are handled by the Los Angeles County Superior Court, North Central District. Misdemeanor and traffic matters are heard at the Glendale Courthouse at 600 East Broadway. Felony cases are commonly filed in Glendale and then sent to the Pasadena Courthouse for the preliminary hearing. Prosecution for both misdemeanor and felony cases in Glendale are handled by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. Knowing how each courtroom and each filing office operates is part of how we plan a defense from the first appearance.

If you have a court date, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear security and find your department. We will be there to represent you and to set the strategy from the moment your case is called.

One of the most valuable steps is also one of the least understood. Before a charge is ever filed, there is often a window to intervene. By bringing evidence, context, and mitigation directly to the filing deputy, it is sometimes possible to keep a case from being filed, or to get it filed as a lesser charge, before you ever set foot in a courtroom. That work only happens if counsel gets involved before the charging decision is made.

Arrested or Under Investigation? Act Before You Talk

If you have been arrested, contacted by a detective, served with a warrant, or told you are under investigation, do not try to talk your way out of it. You are not required to answer questions about your case, and you should not. Tell the officer clearly that you want a lawyer, and then say nothing else about what happened. People rarely talk themselves out of trouble. Far more often, they hand the prosecution the one thing it was missing.

The smartest move is to bring in counsel immediately, before statements are taken and before the evidence gets packaged for filing. The earlier we get involved, the more options stay on the table.

Our Glendale Office

Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers, Inc. maintains a Glendale office at:

121 W Lexington Drive, Glendale, CA 91203 (818) 459-5829

We are minutes from the Glendale Courthouse and serve clients throughout the North Central District, including Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the surrounding foothill communities.

Talk to a Glendale Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

A criminal charge is serious, but it is not the end of the story, and how you respond in the first days can change where it leads. You deserve a defense led by someone who has stood in the prosecutor’s shoes and knows precisely how the other side thinks.

Tell us what happened and when your next court date is. We will give you a clear, honest read on where you stand, what to avoid, and how to protect your record and your freedom.

Free consultation. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (818) 459-5829.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which courthouse will my Glendale case go to? Criminal cases from Glendale are handled in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, North Central District. Misdemeanor and traffic matters are heard at the Glendale Courthouse at 600 East Broadway. Felony cases are commonly filed in Glendale and then transferred to the Pasadena Courthouse for the preliminary hearing.

I was arrested for DUI in Glendale. What is the 10-day rule? After a California DUI arrest, you generally have only 10 days to request a hearing with the DMV. If you miss that deadline, your license is automatically suspended 30 days after the arrest. The DMV matter is separate from your criminal case, so both need attention right away. Call us as soon as possible so we can request the hearing in time.

Should I talk to the police if they only want to ask a few questions? No. You are not required to answer questions about a case, and doing so rarely helps. Tell the officer you want a lawyer, and do not discuss what happened until you have one. Then call us.

Can a charge be stopped before it is even filed? Sometimes. A pre-filing intervention lets your attorney bring evidence and mitigation to the filing deputy before a charging decision is made. In some cases, that keeps a charge from being filed or reduces it. This only works if you involve a lawyer early.

What difference does a former prosecutor really make? Michael Kraut spent over 14 years deciding what to charge and how to prove it. He knows where a case is strong, where it is overcharged, and what the prosecution needs but often lacks. That perspective shapes every defense the firm builds.

How much does a consultation cost? Nothing. The initial consultation is free, and we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (818) 459-5829.

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Contacting Kraut Law Group Criminal & DUI Lawyers, Inc. through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not share confidential information through a contact form, text message, or voicemail. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.