Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Sonoma, Marin, Napa & Mendocino Counties
Facing criminal charges changes everything. The uncertainty. The fear of what comes next. The feeling that your future is suddenly in someone else's hands.
Whatever brought you here, you deserve an advocate who understands both the system you're up against and what you're going through.
Before founding her own practice, Jenica Leonard worked as a prosecutor for 17 years — learning firsthand how the other side thinks, builds evidence, and makes decisions.
Now she uses that experience for one purpose: defending people like you with the strategic edge that comes from almost 2 decades of experience on the inside.
Why a Former Prosecutor Makes a Stronger Defense Attorney
Not every defense attorney has stood on the other side of the courtroom. Jenica Leonard has. Before she began defending clients, she worked as a prosecutor — building the very cases she now knows how to dismantle. That experience shapes everything about how she approaches your defense.
She knows how cases are built — and where they break down.
Prosecutors don't win by accident. They follow a playbook: what evidence to gather, which witnesses to prioritize, how to sequence a case for maximum impact. Jenica has run that playbook herself. Now she uses that same insight in reverse — identifying the gaps, inconsistencies, and procedural missteps that can weaken the prosecution's case against you.
She knows the courtrooms — and the people in them.
Years spent inside the DA's office means Jenica isn't walking into Sonoma, Marin, Napa, or Mendocino courtrooms as a stranger. She's familiar with local judges' tendencies, how different prosecutors approach negotiations, and the unwritten dynamics that shape how cases actually move through the North Bay court system. That familiarity can mean the difference between a generic defense and a strategic one.
She knows exactly what the prosecution has to prove.
Every criminal charge carries a specific legal burden the prosecution must meet — and Jenica knows precisely what that burden looks like from having carried it herself. That means she's not guessing at where to focus your defense. She's targeting the exact elements the State has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, and building your case around where that proof is weakest.
Criminal Defense Services
A DUI arrest doesn't have to define your future. Jenica Leonard Legal defends clients throughout the North Bay against DUI and alcohol- or drug-related driving charges, challenging evidence, protecting your license, and pushing back against the system at every stage. You get straight answers and a fighter in your corner — not judgment.
Domestic violence allegations are complicated, high-stakes, and often misunderstood. Jenica Leonard Legal brings trauma-informed, non-judgmental representation to clients facing these charges in Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties — because everyone deserves a defense built on empathy as much as strategy.
Drug possession and trafficking charges carry serious, life-altering consequences — and often, serious constitutional questions. Jenica Leonard Legal builds aggressive, detail-driven defenses for narcotics cases across Sonoma County and the greater North Bay, scrutinizing every search, stop, and charge to protect your rights and your record.
When a young person's future is on the line, the right advocate matters. Jenica Leonard Legal provides compassionate, experienced juvenile defense throughout the North Bay, guiding families through the juvenile justice system with the goal of protecting a child's record, rights, and path forward.
Facing criminal charges changes everything — you deserve a defense that matches the stakes. Jenica Leonard Legal provides fearless, strategic representation for felony and misdemeanor cases throughout Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Mendocino Counties. From arraignment through trial, every case gets the same tenacious advocacy and clear communication, so you always know where you stand.
A past conviction shouldn't have to limit your future. Jenica Leonard Legal helps clients in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Mendocino Counties pursue expungements and post-conviction relief, clearing the path toward employment, housing, and the fresh start you've earned.
Trauma-Informed Criminal Defense A Different Kind of Advocacy
Being charged with a crime is one of the most destabilizing experiences a person can face. Fear, shame, confusion about the process, and the weight of what's at stake can make it hard to think clearly — let alone advocate for yourself. Jenica Leonard's trauma-informed approach starts from that reality, not in spite of it.
You're a person, not a case number.
Before any legal strategy is built, Jenica takes the time to understand the full context of your situation — not just the charges on paper, but what led there and what's genuinely at stake for you and your family. Clients aren't rushed through intake or treated as one of many files. They're heard.
Trust leads to a stronger defense.
When clients feel safe enough to share the full picture — including the details that feel difficult or embarrassing to disclose — it gives Jenica more to work with, not less. A trauma-informed approach isn't just compassionate; it's strategically sound. The more complete the picture, the stronger the defense that can be built around it.
Empathy and zealous advocacy aren't in conflict.
Being understanding with clients doesn't mean being any less aggressive with the opposition. Jenica pairs a compassionate, judgment-free approach with the same tenacious, strategic representation that defines her work in the courtroom — so clients get both the advocate who listens and the fighter who shows up for them.
Facing criminal charges? Don't wait to get answers.
The sooner you have an experienced advocate in your corner, the more options you may have.
Schedule a consultation with Jenica Leonard Legal today and take the first step toward protecting your future.
Schedule Your Consultation or call 707.247.5051 for urgent matters.
What to Expect When You Work With Jenica Leonard Legal
Not knowing what happens next is one of the hardest parts of facing a criminal charge. Jenica Leonard Legal is built to remove that uncertainty — with a clear process, honest communication, and representation that shows up for you at every stage.
A consultation that actually listens.
Your first conversation isn't a sales pitch — it's a chance for Jenica to understand your situation, answer your questions honestly, and help you understand what's realistically ahead. You'll leave knowing your options, not more confused than when you started.
Communication you can count on.
Facing a legal case shouldn't mean wondering what's happening with your own defense. Jenica keeps clients informed at every step — in plain language, not legal jargon — so you always know where things stand and what's coming next.
Zealous advocacy, in practice.
Day to day, that means Jenica is thoroughly prepared for every hearing, proactive in identifying weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and relentless in pursuing the best possible outcome — whether that's a negotiated resolution, a dismissal, or trial. It also means she treats every case with the urgency it deserves, because she understands what's on the line for you.
Local representation that knows the North Bay.
Jenica Leonard Legal serves clients throughout Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Mendocino Counties — with the courtroom familiarity and local insight that comes from building a practice in these communities, not a firm parachuting in from outside the region.
criminal Defense Frequently Asked Questions
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Item descrStay calm, stay quiet, and ask for a lawyer — those three things protect you more than anything else you can do in that moment. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, and invoking both immediately is not an admission of guilt; it's the smartest move you can make. Once you're in custody, don't discuss your case with anyone except your attorney — not cellmates, not officers, not family on a recorded jail call. Contact Jenica Leonard Legal as early as possible; the sooner we're involved, the more options we have to protect you.iption
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Item descriptionA DUI triggers two separate processes: a criminal case in court and an administrative action with the DMV that can suspend your license within 10 days if you don't request a hearing in time. Penalties can include fines, license suspension, DUI school, probation, or jail time, and they escalate quickly with prior offenses or aggravating factors like an accident or high BAC. Acting fast matters here — both to protect your license and to build the strongest possible defense. Call 707.247.5051 as soon as you can after an arrest so we can move on the DMV deadline right away.
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Item descrImmediately — evidence, witness memories, and procedural deadlines don't wait, and neither should you. Some of the most important opportunities to protect you (like challenging an unlawful stop or search) exist only in the earliest days of a case. The longer you wait, the fewer options your attorney has to work with. Call 707.247.5051 as soon as you're facing charges or believe you're under investigation — an early call is often the difference between reacting to a case and shaping it.iption
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Juvenile court operates differently from adult criminal court — the focus is officially on rehabilitation rather than punishment, but the stakes for your child's future are just as real. Your child will have a detention hearing within a short window to determine whether they're released to you or held, and decisions made in these early hours can shape the entire case. As a parent, you're allowed to be involved every step of the way, and having an attorney who understands both the legal process and how to advocate for a young person with compassion makes a meaningful difference in the outcome.
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Item descPublic defenders are skilled, licensed attorneys, but they're managing large caseloads with limited time to dedicate to any one case. A private attorney gives you more direct access, more time on your defense strategy, and the ability to choose someone whose experience matches your specific charges — whether that's felony defense, DUI, or juvenile court. Jenica Leonard Legal offers trauma-informed, tenacious representation built around you, not a caseload. If you're weighing your options, a consultation costs you nothing but could change everything about how your case unfolds.ription
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Yes — a criminal case rarely stays contained to the courtroom. Certain charges can trigger immigration consequences, show up in background checks that affect employment, or be raised in family court custody disputes, sometimes years later. This is exactly why the defense strategy from day one matters — the plea you accept or the outcome of your case can carry weight far beyond the criminal court itself. Tell your attorney about every part of your life that might be impacted, so your defense accounts for all of it, not just the charge in front of you.
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No, you don't have to answer questions, and yes, you can decline a search. You're required to provide identifying information if asked, but beyond that, you can — and should — say: "I want to speak with my attorney before answering any questions." Consenting to a search waives protections you're entitled to under the Fourth Amendment, so a polite, clear "I do not consent to a search" is always within your rights. Anything said or found afterward can be challenged later, but only if you didn't hand it over voluntarily.
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Arraignment is your first appearance before a judge, where charges are formally read and you enter a plea — almost always "not guilty" at this stage, regardless of the facts, to preserve your options. The judge will also address bail or release conditions, which is often the single most important moment in the early life of your case. Having an attorney present at arraignment — rather than a public defender meeting you minutes beforehand — means someone has already reviewed your situation and is prepared to advocate for your release and your rights from the very first minute.
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If you were terminated for reporting harassment, discrimination, unsafe conditions, or unpaid wages, that may be illegal retaliation under California law, regardless of what reason your employer gave you. California is generally an "at-will" employment state, but there are firm legal exceptions when termination is connected to a protected activity or protected characteristic. Documentation matters — save emails, texts, and any paperwork tied to the timeline of events. An initial consultation can help you understand whether what happened to you crosses the line from unfair to unlawful.
