Recently, at the Pasadena Courthouse in the San Gabriel valley (Los Angeles County), attorney Karin Khachatorian represented a client, who was charged with misdemeanor violations of Penal Code sections 273.5(a) and 243(b), corporal injury- domestic relations and battery on an officer.
Ms. Khachatorian worked aggressively to investigate and prepare the defense, which included her obtaining written discovery, videos and further personal information about the client. Upon learning that the client has since moved out of California indefinitely and does not have any prior criminal convictions, Ms. Khachatorian advised the client to provide mitigating documents, including but not limited to, letters of recommendation, school diplomas, resume, and certificates of achievements as Ms. Khachatorian determined seeking informal diversion was the best defense strategy.
Ms. Khachatorian then provided these mitigating documents to the prosecutor and advocated on the client’s behalf, which included highlighting the client’s disinterest in moving back to California and her strong academic accomplishments. Ms. Khachatorian was able to persuade the prosecutor to accept informal diversion. This means that there is no finding of guilt, no plea (not even of “No Contest”). The client will be placed on twelve (12) months of informal “pre-plea” diversion and will have to successfully complete fifty-two (52) weeks of domestic violence classes and twenty-six (26) anger management classes.
Again, the difference between informal and formal diversion are as follows: with informal diversion, a defendant does not enter a guilty or no contest plea. Their criminal matter is continued for the duration of the diversion so that the defendant completes the terms of the diversion. Upon completion of the terms, the pending charges against the defendant are dismissed. Formal diversion requires a defendant to enter a plea of guilty or no contest and then is placed on diversion for the allotted time and is required to complete the terms of their diversion. Charges pending against the defendant are then dismissed upon successful completion of the terms. Informal diversion is better than formal diversion since there is never a guilty or “no contest” plea.
This is, yet again, another fantastic result where the client will not face any jail time, will maintain her reputation, and will not have a conviction on her record.
*Please note that every case is unique and fact specific. Results will vary and there are no guarantees.