The 10-20-Life" Sentencing Enhancement Law for Gun Use in California -- Who Can Go to Prison?

Criminal defense attorney Neil Shouse explains who can be charged with a "10-20-Life" gun enhancement after a violent crime arrest.

More info at https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/... or call (855) 999-7755

California's "10 20 life, use a gun and you're done" law is a firearms sentencing enhancement that adds prison time when a person if convicted of certain felony offense and personally uses a gun in the commission of the crime. The section is found in Penal Code 12022.53 PC.

Sometimes innocent people are accused of this crime, and a skilled criminal defense lawyer can fight 10-20-Life enhancements by showing that their client did not commit the underlying offense, such as robbery, or attempted murder. Sometimes the accused person was the victim of mistaken identity. Victims of violent crimes are often in a panicked and scared state, where they don't really get a good look at the person who fired the gun. Just because our client was picked out of a photo or police lineup, does not mean they are guilty of the offense.

Or perhaps the person accused of the crime did use the gun, but the gun was used in self-defense, and the person who is suspected of the crime was actually the victim.

Another defense strategy is to prove that you were not the person who used the firearm at all. Perhaps you did commit a crime such as robbery, with accomplices. If the suspect committed the crime, but had nothing to do with the gunshot, then they may still face charges for the underlying crime such as robbery, but in many cases the prosecution cannot charge a 10-20-Life enhancement.

If you or a loved one is charged with a crime we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.