Defending Arson Charges

California State Arson Laws and Penalties

Arson is a felony crime that occurs when an individual intentionally sets fire to or can be associated with the burning of a structure, forest land or property such as a home, business and vehicle to name a few. Anyone who is accused of or charged with arson needs to understand how critical their next steps are in terms of preparing for arrest and enduring an often-tedious and stressful criminal defense trial. The penalties for arson convictions are high, and offer full-term prison sentences, which is why hiring an effective attorney from our firm is essential to the success of a winning defense.

The penalties for arson are all quite severe, although specific sentences vary based on the details of a particular scenario. If an act of arson causes great bodily injury to another person, for example, a convicted offender can receive a prison sentence of 5, 7 or 9 years while arson that impacts an inhabited structure or property is punishable by a 3, 5 or 8 years behind bars. Similar sentences are generally imposed for those convicted of burning forest land or property that is uninhabited. Sentences can be extended by 3, 4 or 5 years when the offender has previously been convicted of arson, if a special-status worker such as a firefighter or police officer is injured in the fire, if multiple victims are injured or multiple structures burned, or if a device was used to either speed up or delay the burn.

Formulate a Solid Defense!

The criminal defense law firm of Okabe & Haushalter is composed of a team of high-powered defense attorneys who have made it their life's work to defend the rights of the accused. Our firm understands the personal and legal urgencies associated with criminal trials. By working closely with clients, we can build strong arson defenses that prosecutors have come to dread. We will never back down from the prosecution when we know we have a chance, and because of this, our firm has secured many dismissals and not guilty verdicts for clients.