Trial-Tested Criminal Defense for Post-Conviction Relief in Solano County
A conviction that’s years old can still cost you a job offer, a rental application, or a professional license. When a background check surfaces a past misdemeanor or felony, the case you thought was behind you becomes a present obstacle. California law provides a path to address that: a formal petition under Penal Code 1203.4 asking the court to dismiss the conviction. Maas and Russo represents clients throughout Fairfield and Solano County in pursuing that relief.
We bring the same criminal defense experience we apply to active cases to post-conviction petitions. That means a firm that has handled a broad spectrum of felony and misdemeanor matters in Solano County Superior Court, not a document-filing service that processes expungements in bulk.
Ready to find out whether your conviction qualifies? Call our office today at (800) 483-0992 to discuss your record and your options.
Why Fairfield Clients Work With Maas and Russo
Attorney Thomas Maas has been selected for the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, an honor extended to no more than 2.5% of attorneys statewide. That recognition reflects a standard of work we bring to every matter, including post-conviction petitions that may look routine on the surface but often aren’t.
We don’t hand clients a checklist and step away. We guide you through each stage, explain what the court will review, and handle the filings and hearings on your behalf. If you’ve been putting off addressing an old conviction, acting sooner rather than later can preserve more of your options.
What a California Expungement Does & Doesn’t Do
Before you petition for a 1203.4 dismissal, it’s worth understanding exactly what it changes. Under this statute, the court withdraws your guilty or no-contest plea, enters a not-guilty plea, and dismisses the case. It’s a dismissal, not an erasure. The underlying record remains visible to law enforcement, courts, and government agencies.
That said, the practical benefits are real for most people. After a 1203.4 dismissal, you can lawfully answer “no” when a private employer asks about criminal convictions on a job application. For many clients, that’s the change that matters most.
A few limits are worth knowing:
Government jobs and security clearances: Positions and licenses that require disclosure of expunged convictions still require it
Firearm rights: A 1203.4 dismissal does not restore the right to own or possess a firearm if the original conviction triggered a prohibition
Law enforcement visibility: The record remains accessible to courts and law enforcement regardless of dismissal
Path to further relief: For an eligible felony, expungement can be a first step toward pursuing a Governor’s pardon
Start the Conversation About Your Record
If a past conviction in Fairfield or elsewhere in Solano County is affecting your employment or housing prospects, we can review your record and tell you what relief may be available. Call Maas and Russo at (800) 483-0992 to schedule a consultation.
Who Qualifies for a California Expungement
Eligibility under Penal Code 1203.4 turns on several factors. Generally, you must have completed probation for the conviction and must not currently be charged with, on probation for, or serving a sentence for any other offense.
State prison time is the most common disqualifying factor. A conviction that resulted in a California state prison sentence is generally ineligible for a 1203.4 dismissal. Penal Code 1203.42 provides a separate avenue for limited judicial relief in those situations, available when at least two years have passed since the sentence was completed and the crime is currently punishable by county jail time. That relief is discretionary, and the court isn’t required to grant it.
Other eligibility considerations include:
No-probation cases: If you were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony but never placed on probation, Penal Code 1203.4a may apply after a one-year waiting period from the end of your sentence
Excluded offenses: Certain serious sex offenses committed against minors are permanently excluded from 1203.4 relief regardless of probation completion, though most other offenses, including many that require sex offender registration, remain eligible once probation is completed
Senate Bill 731 expansion: Effective July 1, 2023, SB 731 expanded relief to certain felony convictions previously excluded from dismissal because they resulted in a state prison sentence, which may open the door for cases that weren’t eligible before
Reducing a Wobbler Felony Before Filing
A “wobbler” is an offense the prosecutor could have charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. If your felony conviction came from a wobbler and you completed probation, a reduction to a misdemeanor under Penal Code 17(b) is often the right first step before filing a 1203.4 petition.
Reducing the conviction to a misdemeanor changes how it appears on background checks and, in some circumstances, can restore firearm rights that the felony conviction had restricted. We evaluate whether a 17(b) reduction applies to your case as part of reviewing your post-conviction options. The court retains discretion on both the reduction and the subsequent dismissal petition.
Filing at Solano County Superior Court
Fairfield is home to several Solano County Superior Court facilities, including the Hall of Justice, the Law and Justice Center, and the Old Solano Courthouse. Expungement petitions are handled through the court’s criminal division.
Solano County Superior Court doesn’t offer electronic filing for criminal matters. A 1203.4 or 1203.4a petition must be submitted in person, via drop box, or by mail. Felony petitions require additional documentation and a court hearing that the petitioner must attend. The district attorney’s office may object to a petition, and the court retains discretion to deny relief even when statutory eligibility requirements are met. Our attorneys know this court and its process, and we present your petition as clearly and completely as possible.
“In 2019 I was represented by Mr. James Mulganon as my public defender in a case I fought in Fairfield California Solano County, I was surprised at his attention to detail.”
