Top criminal defense Lawyers in Madera | 2 available

2 criminal defense lawyers are available in Madera, california, including Cristobal Perez and Melina Benninghoff. These lawyers are rated between 4.2/5 to 4.6/5 and 56% provide free consultation.

Melina Benning

Cristobal Pere

criminal defense Lawyers Nearby Madera (by distance)

Within 25 miles near you

Fresno, California ZIP 93711 20.5 mi away 16 lawyers Fresno, California ZIP 93720 24.0 mi away 5 lawyers

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Melina Benninghoff

Firm: Law Office of Melina S. Benninghoff, EsQ

1925 Howard Rd Ste C , Madera , California 93637

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

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“ed to communicate with her client and was recently informed that she was being fired by her client,”

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Cristobal Perez

Firm: Cristobal Perez

821 W Yosemite Ave 552 , Madera , California 93637

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

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“I have not the pleasures of meeting with him yet. However, I've been informed that he is a lighter and knowing this is half the battle. It's hard to s...”

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Recent Q&As in California (criminal defense)

Misdemeanor charges dismissed, changed to administrative citation. Does it still show up as an arrest during background checks? | Aug 2, 2026 | Sourced from Reddit
Location: California Hi! I was recently arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for unlawful assembly. I recently got a notice from the City Police dept. saying it was dismissed and replaced with an Administrative Citation, which is apparently a lower-level offense like an infraction -- civil, not criminal. Only thing to do is pay a fine. My question is, is this something I still need to get expunged? Like will an arrest still show up on a background check for private company employers? Not sure how downgraded charges work. I was basically detained, never fingerprinted/mugshot etc. but the original ticket was for a misdemeanor. I'd appreciate any help, thanks!
This may be a long shot but do any petty theft lawyers use Reddit? ‍♀️ | Jul 22, 2026 | Sourced from Reddit
I fucked up I made a mistake was caught concealing merchandise and was given a ticket for trespassing and concealing items totaling $70. However i tried to tell the officer and worker that i was not trespassing, that i had gotten the trespass notice from a different Target store and was told i was banned for a year but from that specific location. Now im being told it was a ban for the entire county indefinitely and that’s why i was trespassed…. i had never been informed this or had heard this before or else I never would have gone there to begin with. I have a court date now it’s currently a misdemeanor but im worried they will pull up past footage of me. Truthfully i have taken items here and there in the past but had never been cited or trespassed until now. This incident happened 2 months ago im in a different place now and working to get my dermatology license but am terrified i could potentially be facing a felony when my court date happens next month. Any suggestions advice? Hope for the worst? Throw in the towel? Pls Help location: Southern California

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California Statutes — Criminal Defense

Penal Code: defines crimes and sets criminal procedure in California.

Browse the full California Penal Code →

Official government statute text, reproduced for reference — not legal advice. For your situation, consult a licensed attorney.

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