Los Angeles Involuntary Manslaughter Attorney

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Strong Legal Representation for Involuntary Manslaughter Charges in California

Involuntary manslaughter is a felony in California. Even though the charge does not require an intent to kill it carries real prison time and a permanent felony record that affects every area of your life for years. These cases arise from car accidents, workplace incidents, medical situations, and acts of negligence and prosecutors pursue them aggressively when a death is involved regardless of whether the defendant ever meant to harm anyone. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years defending clients against manslaughter and serious felony charges throughout Los Angeles County. Call (310) 448-1529 or contact our office today for a free confidential consultation.

Involuntary Manslaughter in California — What the Charge Means

Involuntary manslaughter under Penal Code 192(b) PC is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought and without the intent to kill. The killing must result from either the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony or from the commission of a lawful act done without due caution and circumspection. The second category is the more commonly charged — it applies when someone dies as a result of the defendant’s criminal negligence.

Criminal negligence is a higher standard than ordinary carelessness. It requires conduct that is so reckless or grossly negligent that a reasonable person would recognize it as creating a high risk of death or great bodily injury. A momentary lapse of judgment is not criminal negligence. Behavior that a reasonable person would recognize as dangerous is. That distinction is where most involuntary manslaughter defenses are built.

PC 192(a) vs PC 192(b) — Voluntary and Involuntary Manslaughter

Penal Code 192 covers two distinct charges that are frequently confused:

  • PC 192(a) — Voluntary Manslaughter: the intentional killing of another person in the heat of passion upon sudden provocation. The defendant intended to kill but acted in response to adequate provocation before having time to cool down. This carries 3, 6, or 11 years in state prison.
  • PC 192(b) — Involuntary Manslaughter: the unintentional killing resulting from criminal negligence or from committing an unlawful act not amounting to a felony. There is no intent to kill. This carries 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison.

The distinction matters enormously. Voluntary manslaughter is frequently charged as a reduction from second-degree murder. Involuntary manslaughter is charged when the prosecution cannot establish malice. In some cases what begins as a murder charge is reduced to involuntary manslaughter through effective pre-trial defense work.

How Many Years for Involuntary Manslaughter in California?

A conviction under PC 192(b) carries 2, 3, or 4 years in California state prison. The specific term imposed depends on the circumstances of the offense, whether any enhancements apply, and the defendant’s prior criminal history. Additional consequences include:

  • Formal felony probation in qualifying cases as an alternative to state prison
  • Fines up to $10,000
  • Mandatory restitution to the victim’s family
  • Permanent felony record affecting employment, professional licensing, housing, and immigration status
  • Loss of firearm rights

When a vehicle was involved and the defendant was under the influence the charge can be filed as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under PC 191.5 which carries up to 10 years in state prison. When the conduct involved a prior DUI conviction and the defendant had been warned that impaired driving could constitute murder the prosecution may elevate the charge to second-degree murder under the Watson murder doctrine. Understanding which charge applies and why is the first critical step in building an effective defense.

How Our Firm Defends Involuntary Manslaughter Charges

Challenging Criminal Negligence

The prosecution must prove that the defendant’s conduct rose to the level of criminal negligence — not just ordinary carelessness or a mistake in judgment. Our firm challenges this standard directly through independent expert analysis of the incident, accident reconstruction where applicable, and evidence that the defendant’s conduct was consistent with reasonable behavior under the circumstances. When the prosecution cannot establish criminal negligence the charge fails entirely.

Causation Challenges

The prosecution must prove that the defendant’s conduct was the proximate cause of the victim’s death. When an intervening cause contributed to the death, when the victim’s own conduct was a substantial factor, or when pre-existing medical conditions played a role our firm presents independent medical and forensic evidence to challenge the causation element directly.

Accident Defense

A true accident does not satisfy the elements of involuntary manslaughter. When the death resulted from an unforeseeable event that occurred despite the defendant acting with reasonable caution our firm builds the accident defense through witness accounts, physical evidence, and expert testimony establishing that the conduct did not create a recognizable risk of death.

Suppression and Procedural Challenges

Involuntary manslaughter investigations involve searches of vehicles, phones, medical records, and electronic devices. When evidence was obtained through unlawful means our firm files suppression motions immediately. Excluding key evidence from a manslaughter prosecution regularly changes what the prosecution can prove at trial.

Contact a Los Angeles Involuntary Manslaughter Attorney

A manslaughter charge does not require intent to kill but it does require an immediate and aggressive defense. With over 20 years of experience defending clients against manslaughter and serious felony charges throughout Los Angeles County Attorney Hashemi knows how these cases are prosecuted and exactly where to challenge them. Contact our office today for a free confidential consultation. He will review the facts, analyze the evidence, and begin building your defense from day one.

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We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers serving clients facing manslaughter and serious felony charges across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, and all surrounding communities. Your defense starts the moment you call.