Assault With a Deadly Weapon

I was charged with 4 counts of Penal Code Section 245(a) (1) [Assault with a deadly Weapon] and 1 count of Penal Code Section 243(d) [Battery with Serious Injury] and Penal Code Section 314(1) [Indecent Exposure] as a misdemeanor. I also had an enhancement for Great Bodily Injury under Penal Code Section 12022.7(a). This all arose from a physical altercation between me, a friend and several other people. I believed that I acted in self-defense throughout the situation. Despite that, I was arrested and bail was set at $50,000.00. I was facing up to 10 years in prison for these offenses and life time registration as a sex offender. I hired attorney Will Bruzzo to represent me. Mr. Bruzzo had represented me before. Mr. Bruzzo took evidence I provided and negotiated hard with the District Attorneys. He was finally able to negotiate a deal where ALL the felonies were DISMISSED and the Indecent exposure PC 314(1) was DISMISSED. I pled to a misdemeanor assault, Penal Code Section 240 and got informal probation and 10 weeks of Anger Management. I am very happy with this result and I would recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any Penal Code Sections 245(a) (1) [Assault with a Deadly Weapon], 243(d) [Battery with Serious Injury] and 314(1) [Indecent Exposure] cases. Date: 4-8-19

I was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code Section 245(a)(1) for striking someone repeatedly with a metal broom handle; I was also charged with felony vandalism [Penal Code Section 594(a)] for causing about $2000.00 in damages to a home I rented with other people [Maximum Jail Exposure was 3 years]. These events occurred while I was severely intoxicated. I am a professional and these charges could have had a severe impact on my career. My family hired Attorney Will Bruzzo to represent me due to his experience and good results with previous similar cases. Mr. Bruzzo negotiated with two different Prosecutors and had me consult with a licensing attorney to produce a letter to show the possible detriment to my career. In the end Mr. Bruzzo persuaded the District Attorney to DISMISS both felonies Penal Code Section 245(a) (1) [Assault with a Deadly Weapon] and Penal Code Section 594(a) [Felony Vandalism]. I pled ‘no contest’ to Penal Code Section 415(1) (Disturbing the Peace) and Penal Code Section 602(k) (Trespass) [both misdemeanors]; I was also ordered to do out-patient, Anger Management and Work Release instead of jail. I am very happy with this result and I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any Felony Assault with a deadly weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)] or Felony Vandalism [Penal Code Section 594(a)] case. Dated: 4/20/17

I was alleged to have deliberately driven my car toward the victim in my case, causing the victim to jump out of the way. I ended up ramming my car into the victim’s car. The victim alleged more then $60,000.00 in damage to his vehicle. I was charged and arrested for Penal Code Section 245(a) (1) [Assault with a Deadly Weapon] a felony and Penal Code Section 594a/b/ (1) [Vandalism] also a felony. I was facing up to 4 years for this offense. I hired Attorney Will Bruzzo to represent me in this matter because I wanted a good lawyer who was familiar with the Courts, the Judges and the District Attorney in Orange County. If I had been convicted of the Assault with a Deadly Weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)] I could have gone to prison, my driver’s license would have been suspended for life and I could have had immigration consequences. Mr. Bruzzo negotiated very hard for me and got the Penal Code Section 245(a) (1) DISMISSED. I pled to the felony vandalism and a misdemeanor battery. I got credit time served of 1 day in jail. I am very happy with this result and I would recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any Assault with a Deadly Weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)] or criminal matter. Date: 12-11-13

I was charged with Penal Code Section 245(b), Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm for holding a gun to a person’s head; I was also charged with stalking under Penal Code Section 646.9(a) for repeatedly harassing the same person and for assaulting her with a firearm. The total exposure on this case with the enhancement under penal code section 12022.5(a) was 19 years and 8 months. Some of my crimes were on video tape. My family was referred to Mr. Bruzzo by another criminal attorney familiar with the Defense Attorneys in Orange County. Mr. Bruzzo negotiated with the District Attorney and Court. He also had me seen by a psychiatrist. I discovered that I had a serious mental health condition which I was previously unaware of. As a result Mr. Bruzzo had me evaluated at the Orange County Mental Health Court. The court then accepted me in the program. I pled to the offenses, but I will receive treatment and I got credit for time served. Best of all the court will DISMISS the charges once I successfully complete the program. I am very happy with this result and I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any similar matter. Date: 10-30-13

I was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code Section 245(a)(1), Criminal Threats (Penal Code Section 422(a) and Brandishing a Weapon (Penal Code Section 417(a)(1). I was looking at up to 8 years in custody for these offenses. I hired Attorney Will Bruzzo to represent in this matter because of his familiarity with the Orange County Courts and the good results he has gotten in previous cases on similar charges. Mr. Bruzzo spoke with the District Attorney and the Judge on my case. In the end he got the Criminal Threats REDUCED to a misdemeanor and then he got me sentenced [under the rules] of Veteran’s Court on the case. This means I do NO JAIL while I attend a program at county expense. Also, when I successfully complete the program ALL THE CHARGES will be DISMISSED and MY RECORD SEALED. Mr. Bruzzo was able to get this deal despite considerable evidence against me. I am very happy with this result and I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any similar case or assault with a deadly weapon case. Date: 9-25-13

I was charged with assault with a deadly weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)]. The District Attorney offered me [to plea guilty] to a felony and 6 months in jail. I did not think that was fair. As such I fired my attorney and hired William Bruzzo who has gotten very good results in similar cases and is very familiar with the District Attorney and the courts. In my case a fight ensued and I struck the other guy in the head with a glass which caused significant bleeding, required surgery and resulted in scarring on the person’s face. I believed, and Mr. Bruzzo agreed that I had a self defense argument. Mr. Bruzzo reviewed my case and began negotiating with the District Attorney. In the end Mr. Bruzzo got the assault with a deadly weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)] DISMISSED and I pled guilty to a [Misdemeanor] Disturbing the Peace [Penal Code Section 415]. I have to pay restitution but I will serve NO jail. I am very pleased with this result and I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any criminal or assault with a deadly weapon matter. Date: November 1, 2011

I was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, Penal Code Section 245(a) (1) with great bodily injury [Penal Code Section 12022.7]. I hired attorney Will Bruzzo to represent me because of his experience and familiarity with the law and the courts. Mr. Bruzzo argued my vigorously at the pre-liminary hearing and then filed a motion to dismiss die to the court’s error. That motion was GRANTED and the case was DISMISSED. I was facing 9 years of [prison} with this case. As such I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any criminal matter. Date: 1/7/11

I was charged with Aggravated Assault/ Assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)) with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury (Penal Code Section 12022.7(a); I was also charged with Battery with serious bodily injury (Penal Code Section 243(d)) also as a felony. I could have gone to prison for 5 years on this case and had a strike on my record. I hired William W. Bruzzo to defend me in this matter because I know he is an experienced attorney familiar with the courts, the judges and the district attorneys in Orange County. I believed I was innocent of the crime and that any action I took against the victim was in self defense. Mr. Bruzzo negotiated with the District Attorney and eventually set the matter for trial. On the day of trial the felony charges against me were DISMISSED. I pled guilty to a misdemeanor. That misdemeanor was also dismissed after one year and completion of Cal Trans. I never received any jail time. Mr. Bruzzo managed to get the most serious charges against me dismissed without risking a trial and without the additional expense. I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any criminal matter. Date: 10/23/09

I was arrested for Aggravated Assault/ Assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)) for an incident involving a loaded firearm; I had to pay $50,000.00 to bail out of the case. My total exposure on this case was at least 6 years in prison. I hired Attorney William W. Bruzzo to defend me in this matter because I know he is an experienced attorney familiar with the courts, the judges and the district attorneys in Orange County. I believed I was innocent of the crime and that any action I took against the victim was in self defense. Mr. Bruzzo made contact and presented information to the Police prior to the case being sent to the District Attorney with the idea of preventing the case from going forward. The information Mr. Bruzzo provided to the police (including witness statements bolstering my claim of self-defense) was then considered by the District Attorney’s office. In the end, the District Attorney rejected the case by reason of self-defense. I never went to court despite having been arrested and required to pay bail. Mr. Bruzzo took care of this matter without me ever having to face the Judge. My life was very stressful during the time this matter was pending and I am very grateful to Mr. Bruzzo for what he achieved. I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for representation on any criminal matter. Date: 9/16/08

I was charged with Aggravated Assault/ Assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code Section 245(a) (1)) by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury a felony; I was also charged with Battery with serious bodily injury (Penal Code Section 243(d)) also as a felony. In addition, I faced an enhancement because of the extent of the victim’s injuries (broken facial bones) under Penal Code Section 12022.7(a). My total exposure on this case was 8 years and 6 months in prison. I hired William W. Bruzzo to defend me in this matter because I know he is an experienced attorney familiar with the courts, the judges and the district attorneys in Orange County. I believed I was innocent of the crime and that any action I took against the victim was in self defense. Mr. Bruzzo presented information to the District Attorney from witnesses not contained in the police report who supported my innocence. Eventually, Mr. Bruzzo put on several witnesses at the preliminary hearing and required the presence of the victim to testify. Despite all the new information the District Attorney refused to budge and still wanted a guilty plea to a felony and jail time. In the end, the case went to trial. Mr. Bruzzo proved to be a very capable trial lawyer. He put on an expert witness who supported my story and even a police officer who undermined the victim. In the end, the jury deliberated less then 30 minutes before finding me NOT GUILTY of all charges. My life was very stressful during the litigation of the case and I am very grateful it is over. I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for representation on any criminal matter. Date: July,2008

I was charged with Penal Code Section 245(b) (Assault with a semiautomatic firearm), Penal Code 422 Section (Terrorist Threats) and Penal Code Section 12031(a)(1) and (a)(2)(B) (Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public); I faced a maximum of 15 years in prison for these offenses. However, I hired William W. Bruzzo to represent me as he is familiar with the Orange County courts. Mr. Bruzzo conducted an investigation into this matter and then negotiated with the District Attorney. In the end Mr. Bruzzo got the Penal Code Sections 245(b) and 422 DISMISSED by the District Attorney; this was very fortunate because I would have had a strike on my record but for the dismissal of the Terrorist Threats charge. I had to plea guilty to carrying a loaded weapon because I had confessed it to a police officer. For this conviction I was sentenced to 6 months of jail; however, Mr. Bruzzo requested a stay on the jail sentence which gave me time to apply for HOME CONFINEMENT. Although it is very rare for someone with my charges to qualify for home confinement Mr. Bruzzo spoke personally with the people in charge of the home confinement program. In the end they gave me 6-months of home confinement instead of jail. I truly believe that Mr. Bruzzo’s knowledge of the law, the District Attorney and the court in general was critical to the positive outcome of my case. I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any criminal matter. Date: 9/21/04

I was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon [Penal Code Section 245(a)(1)], Felony Criminal Threats [Penal Code Section 422(a)], Misdemeanor Brandishing a deadly weapon [Penal Code Section 417(a)(1) and Misdemeanor Carrying a Switch-Blade Knife on Person [Penal Code Section 21510(b)]. I was looking at up to 6 years in prison for these offenses. A 12-year-old neighbor boy was bullying my 8-year-old daughter almost weekly . My 8-year-old suffered horribly and was afraid to go outside. I went to the parents of the boy almost weekly to complain. Although they were sympathetic to me they explained, sometimes tearfully, that they could do nothing with their son. Finally after 15 months of this conduct I exercised bad judgement and threatened the boy with a knife to get him to stop bullying my child. I had no intention of hurting the boy, yet the damage was done and I was arrested and charged with felonies. We hired Will Bruzzo to represent me. Mr. Bruzzo went to battle with the District Attorney’s office who very hostile to my case [I had no record]. However he persuaded the Judge to reduce my felonies to misdemeanors [over the District Attorney’s objection]. Then he persuaded another Judge [over the District Attorney’s objection] to offer me Court Diversion [Penal Code Section 1001.95] and eventually DISMISS the case. . I am very happy with this result and I would enthusiastically recommend Mr. Bruzzo for any Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats, brandishing a deadly weapon and Carrying a Switch-Blade Knife on Person case.