If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Bakersfield, a criminal defense lawyer can protect your rights from the first police contact through the final outcome of your case. GBART Law represents people facing misdemeanor and felony charges throughout Bakersfield and Kern County. Our firm is led by attorney Giovanni “Gio” Bartoletti, a former police officer and prosecutor who understands exactly how the other side builds a case and where those cases tend to break down.
What Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Bakersfield Do?
A criminal defense lawyer investigates the charges against you and challenges the prosecution’s evidence. The goal is the best possible result: a dismissal, reduced charges, an alternative sentence, or a not guilty verdict at trial. In practice, that work includes:
- Reviewing police reports, body camera footage, and lab results for errors
- Challenging unlawful stops, searches, and interrogations
- Negotiating with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office
- Pursuing diversion programs when you qualify
- Representing you at every hearing and, when necessary, at trial
CHARGES: One count of Importation of a Controlled Substance (110 pounds (50 kilos) of Methamphetamine) LONGEST POSSIBLE SENTENCE. Life in custody. RESULT. 18 months in custody and 3 years of supervised release. CHARGES. One count of Public Intoxication. LONGEST POSSIBLE SENTENCE. 6 months in custody. RESULT. Case dismissed! CHARGES: 2 counts of robbery (A “strike”) LONGEST POSSIBLE SENTENCE. 6 years in custody. RESULT. Case dismissed! CHARGES. Grand Theft Auto and Possession of Burglary Tools LONGEST POSSIBLE SENTENCE. 3 years and 6 months in custody. RESULT. Case dismissed!CASE RESULTS
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What Types of Criminal Charges Do We Handle in Bakersfield?
Our team defends clients across the full range of California criminal charges. The practice areas we handle most often include:
- DUI and DUI with injury
- Drug possession, sales, and trafficking
- Domestic violence
- Assault and battery
- Theft and fraud crimes
- Weapons and gun charges
- Violent felonies, including homicide and manslaughter
- Three strikes cases
- Juvenile offenses
What Happens After an Arrest in Kern County?
After an arrest in Bakersfield, you will typically be booked and given an opportunity to post bail. You will then be scheduled for an arraignment at Kern County Superior Court. At arraignment, the charges are formally read and you enter a plea. Felony cases then move to a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Each stage is an opportunity to strengthen your position. For example, an early motion to suppress illegally obtained evidence can weaken the prosecution’s case before it ever reaches a jury. Having a lawyer involved from the start means those opportunities are not missed.
Why Does a Former Prosecutor’s Perspective Matter?
Gio has worked on both sides of the courtroom. As a former police officer and prosecutor, he knows how investigators write reports and how prosecutors decide which cases to push. He also knows which weaknesses make them willing to negotiate. You can learn more about our firm and the approach we bring to every case.
That insider knowledge shapes how we prepare a defense. We anticipate the prosecution’s arguments and build a strategy around them. Our case results include dismissals of serious felony and strike charges.
How Soon Should You Contact a Lawyer After an Arrest?
You should contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible, ideally before you speak with police or investigators. Anything you say can be used against you. Early legal guidance can also affect bail, charging decisions, and evidence preservation. We are available 24/7 because arrests rarely happen during business hours.
Speak With a Bakersfield Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
A criminal charge can threaten your freedom, your job, and your future, but you do not have to face it alone. GBART Law offers a 100% free consultation to review your case, explain your options, and start building your defense. Call (951) 221-3998 today to speak with a criminal defense lawyer who will fight for you in Bakersfield.