Criminal Defense

Charles J. Smith is the criminal defense lawyer within the firm of Hartnett, Smith & Paetkau. Mr. Smith began practicing criminal law as a Deputy District Attorney in San Mateo County from 1978 through 1987. He was as a homicide prosecutor and gained the respect of the Criminal Bar and the Judiciary in that role.

Since 1987, Mr. Smith has practiced criminal defense and civil litigation in all the Bay Area Counties, and beyond.

Mr. Smith is known as a trial attorney. He has tried more than 150 criminal cases to verdict, ranging from drunk driving to capital murder. His track record of success stands with any other practitioner in the Bay Area. As a lawyer who takes a case to trial, Mr. Smith is often able to negotiate a favorable plea bargain on behalf of his clients. Prosecutors know which lawyers go to trial and prosecutors know which lawyers can prevail at trial. Mr. Smith is one of the very few lawyers who enjoys this reputation among prosecutors. Any prospective client should ask the lawyer he or she is considering, "Do you try many cases in this jurisdiction? What is your won-loss record?".

Mr. Smith has tried cases in the following areas of criminal defense:

1. Homicide: murder, manslaughter and vehicle manslaughter;
2. Felony assault;
3. Sexual assault, rape, child molestation;
4. Drunk driving;
5. Possession for sale and sale of narcotics, sale and cultivation;
6. Insurance fraud;
7. Embezzlement and other financial misconduct.