Long Beach violent crime and weapons charge attorney and former LAPD officer
Assault, robbery and weapons charges can carry prison time and a strike. Find out where your case stands on a free case review with Zack McCready, a certified criminal law specialist who spent 8 years making arrests for the LAPD.
The office is closed right now. Request a call back and the firm will call you when it reopens.
Free. No obligation. Calling for a family member is fine.
Contacted by a detective?
Speak with an attorney before you answer questions or agree to come in.
In a felony case, bail and release conditions are addressed at your first court appearance. Speak with an attorney before that date.
A message from Zack McCready
What is at stake
Assault, robbery and weapons charges are among the most serious a court hears.
- Your freedom.
Violent felonies can carry time in state prison.
- A strike.
Some violent felonies count as strikes under California's Three Strikes law.
- Added time.
A gun or weapon allegation can add time on top of the sentence for the charge.
- Court orders.
A court can order you to stay away from the other person and certain places.
- Your rights.
A conviction can mean losing the right to own or possess a firearm.
The goal of a defense is to protect as much of this as the facts allow.
Free case review. No obligation.
What you get on your free case review
A read on your charge.
What you are charged with, in plain terms, and what it can carry.
Your deadlines, mapped out.
Your court date and anything else in your case that is time-sensitive.
A look at your paperwork.
Your citation, bail papers and anything else you were handed.
Your options.
What can happen next, and what the firm would do first.
A straight answer on cost.
You hear the fee before you decide anything.
What the first call costs you: nothing
- No cost for the case review.
- No obligation to hire the firm.
- No pressure on the call.
No attorney can promise a result. What the firm can promise is a straight assessment of where you stand.
Free case review. No obligation.
What former clients say
“I would highly recommend Zack. He kept me out of jail and informed on the legal process regarding my case. Very understanding and intelligent.”
“I am thrilled both cases have been dismissed! Thanks again to you for a job well done and outstanding professionalism! Words cannot express how grateful I am!”
“I would recommend Zachary J McCready to anyone; excellence is his motto.”
“Zack is an exceptional lawyer that acts with professionalism while being very personable.”
“He's absolutely everything you want in a lawyer.”
Memberships and certification
These testimonials do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
He knows how the case against you was built
Before he was a defense attorney, Zack McCready was a Los Angeles police officer for eight years. He made arrests and testified in court. He uses that experience to examine how the case against you was put together.
Certified specialist. Certified as a specialist in criminal law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Your case stays with him. Zack personally manages every case he takes on, from the first call through every court hearing.
Eight years on the other side. He made arrests and testified in court as an LAPD officer before he became a defense attorney.
After leaving the LAPD he spent a year in Iraq as a government contractor, training Iraqi police chiefs. He has practiced law in California since 2007 and has been a certified criminal law specialist since 2018.
Credentials
- Certification
- Criminal Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (2018)
- Admitted to practice
- State Bar of California (2007), U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, U.S. Tax Court
- Education
- J.D., Whittier Law School (2005). B.S. in Criminal Justice, Thomas Edison State College (2001)
- Memberships
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California DUI Lawyers Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Orange County Bar Association
Free case review. No obligation.
What to know about your charge
- Some violent felonies count as strikes under California's Three Strikes law, which can increase the sentence in a later felony case.
- A gun or weapon allegation can add time on top of the sentence for the underlying charge.
- Do not contact the other person or any witness yourself. Write down what you remember and give it only to your attorney.
Free case review. No obligation.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.
If you were arrested for assault, robbery or a weapons charge
Do not contact the other person or any witness.
Even to explain your side.
Do not post about what happened.
Social media posts can be used as evidence.
Write down what you remember.
Give it only to your attorney.
Free case review. No obligation.
The court process, in plain terms
Arrest or citation
You are booked or given a notice to appear with a court date.
Arraignment
Your first court date. The charges are read, a plea is entered and bail or release conditions are set.
Pretrial
Your attorney reviews the evidence, files motions and negotiates with the prosecutor. Many cases are resolved here.
Trial or resolution
If the case is not resolved, it goes to trial before a judge or jury.
Free case review. No obligation.
What to have ready when you call
- The police report number or the arresting agency
- Any protective or stay-away order
- Names of people who saw what happened
- Photos of the scene or injuries, if you have them
Calling for a family member or friend? That is fine. Have their full name and booking number if you know it.
Do not have any of this yet? Call anyway.
Free case review. No obligation.
If you are thinking one of these
“The detective just wants my side of the story.”
What you say can be used in the case. Speak with an attorney before you answer questions.
“I can't afford a lawyer for something this serious.”
The case review is free, and you hear the fee on that call, before you decide anything.
“I already have a public defender.”
You can still talk with a private attorney at no cost before you decide who represents you.
“I'll wait and see what happens in court.”
Your first court date is where a plea is entered and release conditions are set. Speak with an attorney before then.
Free case review. No obligation.
Charges the firm defends
- Felony charges
- Fraud and white collar crimes
- Embezzlement
- Assault and battery
- Robbery
- Weapons charges
- Sex crimes
- Drug sales and trafficking
- Domestic violence
- DUI
- Probation violations
Common questions
Yes. Self-defense has to be raised and supported in court. Speak with an attorney before you explain what happened to anyone.
Certain serious or violent felonies count as strikes under California's Three Strikes law, which can increase the sentence in a later felony case.
Nothing. The case review is free, and there is no obligation to hire the firm.
It depends on the charge and how far the case goes. You hear the fee on your free case review, before you decide anything.
As early as you can, ideally before you speak with police or attend your first court date.
You are under no obligation to answer questions without an attorney present. Speak with an attorney first.
Zack McCready personally manages every case he takes on.
Long Beach and courts across Los Angeles County and Orange County, including Torrance, Carson, Lakewood, Downey, Norwalk, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Santa Ana and Irvine.
Yes. Family members and friends often make the first call. Have the person's full name and booking number if you know it.
Call now and say when it is. The date is the first thing the firm needs to know.
Speak with an attorney before you speak with police. Do not post about your case online.
The main office is at 3701 Long Beach Blvd, Suite 324, Long Beach. The firm also lists offices in Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Riverside and Pasadena.
Get your free case review
Free. No obligation. Calling for a family member is fine.