The Law Office of Joseph T. Rhea is a criminal defense firm serving Palm Springs, Banning, Indio, Joshua Tree and Blythe. Attorney Rhea has tried and defended over two thousand cases in the California desert courts. Over the last ten years, Attorney Rhea has represented individuals accused of DUI, drug possession, domestic violence and many other charges. Attorney Rhea has a built a strong reputation as the go-to criminal defense lawyer in Palm Springs, and one of the best in the desert region.
Attorney Rhea has been named top DUI lawyer and top Criminal Defense lawyer by Palm Springs Life Magazine consistently from 2010 to present. He is the only California criminal defense lawyer with a doctorate from Harvard University, and his practice has always been devoted exclusively to criminal defense. The focus of the entire practice is on helping people through situations that can be enormously stressful. Attorney Rhea is a former Deputy Public Defender for Riverside and Monterey Counties. He is well-known by judges and prosecutors as an aggressive advocate for his clients. Initial consultations are always free.
By far the most common charge that Attorney Rhea defends is Driving Under the Influence (DUI), sometimes also called Driving While Impaired (DWI). Getting arrested or charged with a DUI is a serious legal problem which involves action both in the California DMV and in the Superior Court. Many DUIs are winnable and quick action is required to protect your driving privilege. The DMV requires that everyone arrested for DUI demand a hearing within ten days of arrest. Attorney Rhea will immediately take care of that for you, and start the process of defending your case. Attorney Rhea has tried and defended hundreds of DUI cases in the California desert courts over the last decade. He has repeatedly been named Top DUI Lawyer by Palm Springs Magazine. Read more about Attorney Rhea's DUI cases here.
Getting arrested is frightening, but the vast majority of criminal cases become misdemeanors or infractions after litigation. Almost no misdemeanor cases result in actual jail time. Attorney Rhea has represented thousands of individuals accused of battery, domestic violence, DUI, drug possession, petty and grand theft, and many other offenses. Cases which begin as misdemeanors (such as DUI) generally do not require you to appear in court with Attorney Rhea. Attorney Rhea will obtain the police reports in your case and meet with you personally to work up the defense.
Individuals arrested for a felony generally must post bond first. After an arrest, immediately call Attorney Rhea, and he will help you find a suitable bail bond company. Most bail bond companies will post bond for eight (8) percent of the bond, but those rates can be negotiated. Thus, if the Court requires $10,000 bail, it is generally possible to have that posted by a bail bond company for $800 or less. Attorney Rhea provides guidance through the bail bond process at no charge.
In those cases where bond is either denied by the Court, or too high for the family to post, Attorney Rhea will meet with the client in the county jail. Attorney Rhea does not charge any additional costs for meeting in the jail. That said, it is nearly always preferable to post bond because it makes the entire process of resolving the criminal case less stressful for the accused and his family.
If you have been arrested or charged with any type of drug crime, whether possession, possession with intent to sell, or actual sales, you need to protect your rights by contacting Attorney Rhea. The vast majority of drug cases hinge on the legality of the search by which the police discovered the illegal substance. Searches of homes and even vehicles often turn out to be illegal and in violation of the Fourth Amendment. A search conducted pursuant to a warrant may turn out to be defective because the information which the police relied upon was itself deficient. There is simply no way to know what is going to happen on a drug case until Attorney Rhea has litigated the search itself.
Much of the California desert area is federal land, and drug crimes committed on federal land have much more severe consequences. Attorney Rhea appears in both state and federal court regarding drug offenses. The process and the consequences of state and federal drug charges are vastly different. Read further about drug crimes here.
For over a decade Attorney Rhea has represented clients charged with drug possession in Palm Springs, Banning, Indio, Joshua Tree, Blythe and Riverside. Many individuals accused of possession offenses are eligible for diversion for a first offense under Penal Code 1000. . PC1000 (diversion) can in some cases be an excellent way to resolve a possession case, but no one accused of a possession offense should accept PC1000 without first exploring the possibility of having the case dismissed or resolved for an infraction. Further diversion on drug cases can have terrible collateral consequences for licensed professionals, such as doctors, nurses and lawyers. There are also serious immigration consequences to diversion. While PC1000 can be a great resolution for some cases, it is often unacceptable for others. Attorney Rhea works with each client to craft a case resolution that will have the least impact on his or her life. Read more about possession...
Being arrested or charged for the sale of controlled substances is much more serious than possession, for the simple reason that diversion is not an option. In these cases, it is essential to be prepared to litigate the police search and to go to trial on the issue of intent. Simply being arrested with some drugs and some money does not establish that there was intent to sell. Too often, individuals caught with a small quantity of drugs and a small amount of cash feel that they must plea guilty for probation. This is not true and many, many cases which start out as sales end up being dismissed, diverted or reduce to misdemeanors. Again, however, if the arrest was federal (either on state land, or involving a quantity that attracted federal attention), then the consequences are vastly more serious. Read more about sales...
After DUI and drug cases, domestic violence is most common type of criminal case. The state of California takes charges of domestic violence extremely seriously and generally overcharges them. Attorney Rhea has worked with hundreds of people who committed very minor offenses (a slap, a push, a scratch) that resulted in a felony arrest requiring the posting of tens of thousands of dollars of bail. Fortunately, domestic violence cases are often among the most difficult for the District Attorney to prove. These cases are very winnable but you will need to develop a strategy for defending the case. Read further about domestic violence here...
Being in an accident can be devastating, especially when someone is seriously injured or killed. If you or a loved one are facing charges of vehicular manslaughter anywhere in the California desert region, you need to contact Attorney Rhea immediately. No matter how cut and dry the case against you may appear, there are often external factors or circumstances which could be responsible for the accident, or mitigate your culpability. Read more about vehicular manslaughter here...
There is often much confusion about the legality surrounding the possession and use of marijuana in the state of California. On federal land, however, even the smallest quantity of marijuana is considered to be a misdemeanor and will be prosecuted as such. An individual arrested for cultivating cannabis plants in California, may be eligible to negotiate for drug diversion. This is not the case if the plants were grown on federal property. In such cases, a conviction brings about a mandatory sentence of 10 years. Read further about marijuana here...
Internet crimes are those criminal acts committed through the use of the internet. Internet crimes can include credit card fraud, illegal downloading, identity theft and more. If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with internet crimes, you are strongly advised to contact the Law Office of Joseph T. Rhea immediately. Internet crimes are handled much differently than other crimes, therefore it is extremely important to have a knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Read on about Internet crimes here...
Whether perpetrated in person or through the Internet, sex crimes are serious crimes. Law enforcement officials are extremely aggressive about prosecuting sex crimes offenders and will work hard to exhaust all their resources to see offenders face the maximum penalties. Unfortunately, that understandable zeal can also result in over-reach. Every year, Attorney Rhea represents individuals who really have not committed a sex crime, but are nonetheless accused. Many relatively minor offenses are also overcharged. Most sex crimes in California carry the potential for lifetime registrations as a sex offender, so it is very important to consult with an experienced sex crimes attorney immediately. Attorney Joseph T. Rhea will meet with you in person to discuss the best strategy for defending your case. Read further about sex crimes here...
There are various different levels of theft crimes including: petty theft, burglary, embezzlement, robbery, carjacking, grand theft, grand theft auto, grand theft with a fire arm, and more. Each crime carries a different penalty depending on the value of the property stolen and whether or not there were additional crimes committed. An experienced attorney will be able to thoroughly review the facts, challenge any discrepancies, and work hard to defend your rights. Read more about theft crimes...
Most traffic offenses result, at worst, in a fine and points against your DMV record. That said, multiple tickets can get very expensive very quickly and result in the suspension or loss of your license. If you have outstanding traffic tickets, warrants or you have been arrested for misdemeanor speeding or reckless driving, you need an experienced attorney. Read about traffic offenses here...
Any individual charged with, or arrested for, violent crimes needs to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. A conviction for a violent crime can carry fines, jail or prison time, probation and numerous other penalties. Attorney Rhea has represented hundreds of clients facing all types of charges, including those involving violent crimes. He will work diligently to thoroughly review your case, gather and review all evidence, and help build an aggressive defense for you. Read more about violent crimes here...
White collar crimes are those financially motivated nonviolent crimes which are often perpetrated by business professionals and executives. Insider trading, embezzlement, commercial fraud, pyramid schemes, and other illegal and irregular business transactions can all be charged as white collar crimes. Conviction for white collar crimes carries fines, restitution for wrong-doings, and in extreme cases, prison time. Read more about white collar crimes here...
Breath & blood tests are an important factor in most DUI cases. Law enforcement officials use these types of tests to "confirm" that an individual has been driving under the influence. They are not, however, infallible tests. In fact, on numerous occasions Attorney Rhea has gotten charges against clients entirely dismissed based on improperly administered or faulty tests. Read further about breath & blood tests here...
Many local residents remember Attorney Rhea as the lawyer who successfully defended men accused of lewd conduct, first in the Ruth Hardy Park police sting cases in 2004 and then, again, in the more famous (or infamous) Warm Sands cases in 2009. These were criminal cases, but they were also civil rights cases involving radical police over-reach. Attorney Rhea's practice is devoted almost exclusively to criminal defense, the narrow exception to this is civil rights cases. If you feel you have been harassed or abused by the police, please contact the office. The famous Warm Sands cases really only started getting media attention after a tourist alerted Attorney Rhea to "strange behavior" by the police in the Warm Sands community.
Call Palm Springs Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney Joseph Rhea at (760) 322-3001 to schedule a free consultation.
“Mr. Rhea was extremely knowledgeable which, without a doubt, was the reason the Judge dismissed my case without any fines, probation, etc. Additionally, his vast knowledge helped lay out all the scenarios which helped relieve my anxieties. He was extremely prompt and reliable which made working with him a pleasure. I would highly recommend Mr. Rhea’s services to anyone and everyone.” – Former Federal Drug Possession Client