Chico Criminal Defense Attorney | Felony & DUI | Rooney Law
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Chico or Butte County, the next 24 to 48 hours are critical to your future. A criminal charge threatens your freedom, your livelihood, and your reputation. You need a dedicated Chico criminal defense attorney who understands how local law enforcement and prosecutors build cases.
Rooney Law defends all felony and misdemeanor charges, including both state and federal offenses, in the Butte County Superior Court. When you retain this firm, you work directly with Michael Rooney. As a former prosecutor and public defender with 30 years of experience in these exact local courtrooms, he knows the tactics the District Attorney will use against you. He leverages this deep inside knowledge to protect your rights and fight for a dismissal or reduction of your charges.
Do not leave your future to chance or wait until your court date to build a defense. Find your specific charge below or call now to schedule your free, confidential consultation.
Criminal Charges We Defend in Chico and Butte County
If you face criminal charges in Northern California, you are likely up against aggressive prosecutors who want to secure a conviction. Your choice of attorney directly impacts how your case unfolds in the Butte County Superior Court.
A DUI conviction threatens your driver’s license, your insurance rates, and your permanent criminal record. The Department of Motor Vehicles administrative clock starts running immediately upon arrest, giving you only 10 days to request a hearing to save your driving privileges. Michael Rooney builds a comprehensive defense for both your criminal court case and your administrative hearing, fighting to keep you on the road. Learn more about our approach to Chico DUI and DMV hearing defense.
Assault, battery, and other violent charges carry severe prison exposure and life-altering statutory enhancements under California law. The Butte County District Attorney prosecutes these offenses aggressively, often relying heavily on initial police reports and emotional witness accounts. Michael Rooney examines the physical evidence, challenges witness credibility, and builds a trial-ready violent crime defense to protect your freedom.
Sex crime allegations carry immediate damage to your personal reputation and the terrifying threat of lifetime sex offender registration. These sensitive cases demand an aggressive, private defense that uncovers hidden motives and flaws in the prosecution’s evidence. You get direct support from Michael Rooney, who handles your Chico sex offense defense discreetly and prepares every case to win at trial.
Theft, burglary, shoplifting, and vandalism charges can permanently ruin your employment opportunities and clean record. Even a misdemeanor property charge carries the threat of jail time, heavy restitution fines, and probation. Michael Rooney dissects the prosecution’s evidence regarding intent and property value to build a strategic property crime defense.
Beyond these primary practice areas, Rooney Law defends individuals facing a wide variety of serious criminal matters in Northern California, including:
- Domestic violence allegations: We provide an immediate defense against protective orders and criminal charges to keep you in your home. Read more about domestic violence defense.
- Drug crime accusations: We fight state and federal charges involving possession, manufacturing, and transportation. Read more about drug crime defense.
- Gang-related charges: We aggressively challenge gang enhancements that add mandatory years to your sentence. Read more about gang-related crime defense.
- Juvenile offenses: We protect your child’s future, freedom, and clean record in juvenile court. Read more about juvenile criminal defense.
Already Convicted or Arrested? Clear Your Record.
A past conviction or arrest does not have to follow you forever or limit your future opportunities. Rooney Law Firm helps individuals move forward by handling expungements, record sealing, and the dismissal of eligible old charges in the Butte County Superior Court. Michael Rooney uses his deep knowledge of local court procedures to help clear your name and restore your peace of mind. Take control of your background today and see whether you qualify to clear your criminal record in Chico.
Convicted Already? Criminal Appeals
If you were convicted of a crime at trial, you may have valid legal grounds to challenge the verdict or sentence. Severe errors by the court, law enforcement, or the prosecution can form the basis of a successful appeal in Northern California. You must act immediately because the legal deadlines to file a notice of appeal are exceptionally tight, and missing a date will wave your rights. Michael Rooney reviews your trial records to uncover legal mistakes and handles every stage of your Chico criminal appeals.
The CVSA Advantage Most Firms Cannot Offer
Rooney Law Firm is one of the few criminal defense firms in Northern California that offers specialized, in-house CVSA (Computer Voice Stress Analysis) testing for the defense. Law enforcement agencies throughout Butte County rely on this identical voice-stress tool to interrogate suspects and build criminal cases. Michael Rooney utilizes this technology strictly for your benefit, using it to validate your account of events and uncover flaws in the prosecution’s evidence. This attorney-backed screening provides an immediate, powerful advantage that helps clear your name before your case ever reaches a jury. Learn more about how we utilize CVSA lie detector testing in Chico.
Why Rooney Law Firm for Criminal Defense
Facing a criminal charge in the Butte County Superior Court can make you feel like the entire legal system is working against you. You do not have to face prosecutors alone, and you do not have to accept an unfavorable plea deal without a fight. You deserve a trial lawyer who treats your freedom as the top priority.
Rooney Law delivers a distinct courtroom advantage built on local experience and a proven record of success:
- 30 plus years defending Chico and Butte County: Michael Rooney has defended individuals inside these exact local courtrooms since 1994.
- 95 percent win rate in contested trials: We possess a documented history of securing winning verdicts when everything is on the line.
- Former prosecutor and public defender background: Michael Rooney knows exactly how the Butte County District Attorney builds a case, allowing him to identify flaws in their evidence immediately. Learn more about this courtroom background by reading about Michael Rooney.
- Direct access to your attorney: You speak directly with Michael Rooney throughout your entire case, ensuring your defense is never handed off to an intake worker or junior associate.
- In-house CVSA testing for the defense: We are one of the few Northern California firms providing specialized voice-stress testing to support your account.
- Recognized local excellence: Named top law firm 12 times by the Chico News and Review and honored as a California State Senate Award winner.
- High-caliber legal credentials: Firm attorneys passed the rigorous California State Bar examination on their very first attempt.
- Free, confidential consultation: Most phone calls are answered the same single day, providing immediate answers with no obligation
What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Criminal Charge
The choices you make immediately following a criminal arrest or charge in Chico or Butte County will heavily influence the final outcome of your case. Taking the wrong steps early can unintentionally hand the prosecution the evidence they need to secure a conviction. Protect your future and your rights in the Butte County Superior Court by following these immediate, critical guidelines:
Frequently Asked Questions
Exercise your right to remain silent and request an attorney immediately. Do not make statements to law enforcement officers, sign waivers, or discuss your case with anyone else. Contact Michael Rooney right away so he can step in, protect your constitutional rights, and begin building your defense.
Yes, a prosecutor or judge can dismiss criminal charges before a trial begins. This typically happens when the defense uncovers serious legal errors, illegal police conduct, or a lack of credible evidence. Michael Rooney reviews every detail of your arrest to identify these flaws and push the District Attorney for a dismissal.
The total cost of your defense depends entirely on the specific charge and the overall complexity of your case. Rooney Law Firm structure fees based on the unique needs of your legal situation. Your first consultation is completely free and confidential, allowing you to understand your options at no obligation.
Yes, Rooney Law handles the defense of all misdemeanor and felony charges in both state and federal courts. Michael Rooney has defended individuals against everything from minor local offenses to complex federal indictments for over 30 years. You will work directly with him regardless of the severity of your charge.
Not necessarily, because California law provides specific legal pathways to clear your background. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for an expungement, record sealing, or a formal dismissal of past charges. Michael Rooney handles the record-clearing process in the Butte County Superior Court to help restore your future opportunities.
A CVSA test is a Computer Voice Stress Analysis that measures vocal stress to verify the truth of a statement. Law enforcement agencies routinely use this identical technology during criminal investigations. Rooney Law Firm provides this testing in-house for the defense to validate your account and help convince prosecutors to drop charges.
Take Action for Your Defense
When you are facing criminal charges, time is your most valuable asset. Delaying your defense gives the prosecution a head start in building their case and can result in missed deadlines to protect your driving privileges or challenge evidence. Your first phone call to our office is completely free and entirely confidential, allowing you to get immediate answers about your case without any financial obligation.
Your first conversation is free and confidential. You speak directly with Michael Rooney.
