Hate Crimes

Orange County Violent Crime Lawyer

A hate crime is any criminal offense that is committed against a person due to his or her: race, nationality, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnicity. As such, virtually any crime may be classified as a hate crime if it is committed for those reasons. This may include: vandalism, arson, murder, rape, assault, battery, or kidnapping.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary government agency responsible for investigating hate crimes, reaching as far back as the early 1920s with the first cases involving the Ku Klux Klan. Today, the FBI works together with state and local law enforcement entities to prevent, investigate and prosecute all types of hate crimes throughout the U.S.

Hate Crime Charges in Orange County, California

When a person is accused of committing a hate crime, he or she will not only be in danger of facing an investigation by federal law enforcement, but will also be at risk of facing enhanced penalties upon a conviction. For example, if a defendant is accused of committing assault and is further accused of committing this offense because of the victim's sexual orientation, the defendant may face the normal penalties for assault but may face an extended prison sentence or may be charged with a felony whereas the offense would normally have been classified as a misdemeanor.

If you want to be sure that your rights and interests are fully protected in the face of your hate crime allegations or charges, please contact an Orange County hate crime attorney at the Law Offices of Fred Thiagarajah today. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your unique case, and we represent clients throughout all of Orange County. We will be happy to talk to you about your charges and what we can do to offer you the aggressive legal counsel you will need in state or federal court.

Contact an Orange County hate crime defense lawyer at our firm today!