Gun Charges Defense in Solano County from Attorneys Who Know These Courts
California has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the country, and a single violation can carry felony-level consequences: prison time, a permanent strike on your record, and the loss of your right to own a firearm. A weapon charge in Fairfield can threaten your employment, your professional licenses, and your future. The sooner you contact a gun charges defense attorney, the more options we have.
At Maas and Russo, our Vallejo criminal defense attorneys defend clients facing gun and weapon charges throughout Solano County, including Fairfield. We offer a free consultation to anyone under investigation or already charged. Reaching us before charges are formally filed can shape the direction of your case from the start.
Facing a weapon charge in Fairfield? Call (800) 483-0992 now for a free consultation with our gun charges defense lawyers.
Weapon Charges We Defend in Fairfield
California weapon offenses range from misdemeanors to serious felonies. What you’re charged with depends on your prior record, the type of weapon involved, and the circumstances of the alleged offense. We represent clients charged with all of the following:
Possession of a weapon by a felony offender: Among the most aggressively prosecuted offenses under California law, this charge applies to anyone with a prior felony conviction found in possession of a firearm.
Unlawful possession: Possessing a firearm without meeting California’s legal requirements, including age restrictions and permit requirements.
Possession of an illegal weapon: Certain weapons are banned outright in California regardless of the owner’s background.
Trafficking, sale, or distribution of a weapon: These charges carry some of the most severe penalties in California weapons law.
Discharge of a weapon during the commission of a crime: Using or firing a weapon while committing another offense can trigger significant sentencing enhancements.
Assault with a deadly weapon: This charge can be filed as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances and any injuries involved.
Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime: Even when a weapon isn’t used, its presence during another alleged offense can add years to a sentence.
Weapon charges frequently accompany other criminal allegations, activating sentencing enhancements under California law. What begins as a single charge can expand quickly in severity.
Why Acting Early on a Fairfield Gun Charge Matters
California’s Three Strikes law means a weapons conviction classified as a serious or violent felony can count as a strike, compounding the consequences of any future charge. A charge filed as a misdemeanor for a first-time offender can become a felony for someone with a prior record. The window to challenge evidence, contest how a search was conducted, or influence how the Solano County District Attorney’s office approaches a case is widest at the beginning.
Thomas Maas began his career as a Public Defender for Solano County in 1997, taking cases to trial rather than defaulting to plea deals. That background gives our firm direct familiarity with how local prosecutors build weapons cases and what defense strategies can carry weight in Solano County courts.
Why Fairfield Clients Choose Maas and Russo
Choosing a gun charges defense lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make after an arrest. Here is what sets our firm apart:
Recognized Legal Excellence Attorney Thomas Maas was selected for Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list, an honor awarded to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in any state. It reflects a standard of legal achievement and peer recognition that matters when the stakes are high.
A Track Record in Serious Cases We achieved a dismissal for a client charged with Assault With a Deadly Weapon and have worked to prevent hundreds of clients from receiving life sentences through trial work and negotiation. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect the level of advocacy we bring to every case.
Thousands of Cases Handled Our criminal defense practice has handled thousands of cases across Solano County. When you call us, you’re working with attorneys who have seen how these cases develop and know how to respond.
Our firm has decades of experience and has handled thousands of cases successfully. Call our firm today to discuss the defense you may need.
How We Defend Gun Charges in Fairfield
Every weapon case is different, but the strongest defenses share a common thread: identifying where law enforcement or the prosecution made a mistake and holding them to the standard the Constitution requires. Our approach is built around four core strategies.
Fourth Amendment Challenges to Search & Seizure
Many weapon charges in California stem from traffic stops, vehicle searches, or searches of a person’s home. The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, and evidence obtained through an unlawful search can be suppressed, which may lead to charges being reduced or dismissed. Thomas Maas has argued Fourth Amendment suppression motions in Solano County courts, including challenges to evidence from warrantless searches. Our firm maintains a dedicated focus on unlawful search and seizure defense, covering vehicle, home, and person searches.
Challenging Possession & Prohibited Status
Prosecutors must establish that a weapon was in your possession or under your control, and that you qualify as a “prohibited person” if that’s the basis of the charge. We examine whether the facts support those elements: whether the weapon was accessible to others, whether you had knowledge of its presence, and whether the prior conviction cited actually triggers prohibited status under California law.
Wobbler Offenses & Charge Reduction
Some California weapon offenses are “wobblers” that can be filed as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Early advocacy before a case is fully filed can influence how the District Attorney’s office classifies the offense. A misdemeanor conviction carries meaningfully different consequences than a felony conviction, particularly for firearm rights and your future record.
Permanent Firearm Rights Consequences
A felony weapon conviction in California results in a permanent prohibition on owning or possessing firearms under both state and federal law. That consequence follows a client long after any sentence is served, and it shapes how aggressively we approach every stage of the case.
Where Fairfield Weapon Cases Are Heard
Gun charges filed in Fairfield are prosecuted in the Solano County Superior Court system. The Hall of Justice and the Law and Justice Center are both located on Union Avenue in Fairfield, and that is where arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials in weapon cases take place. Thomas Maas’s years as a Solano County Public Defender give our firm long-standing familiarity with the procedures at these courthouses and how the District Attorney’s office approaches weapon charges, informing our defense strategy from the first appearance forward.
