Attorney Profiles: Criminal Law
Daniel C. Morgan
Daniel C. Morgan represents clients throughout Southern California in a wide variety of criminal law matters. Mr. Morgan is uniquely skilled as a criminal defense attorney, drawing on his 15 years serving as a police officer, during which time he spent several years in the Detective Division. As a Detective, he investigated a vast array of criminal cases ranging from theft to murder, including violent crimes, burglary, robbery, theft, embezzlement, rape, spousal rape, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, weapons violations, DUI, hit and run, child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and child pornography cases. Mr. Morgan also worked as a senior officer, a street patrol officer, a field training officer, a K-9 handler, and a Certified Traffic Accident Investigator, investigating thousands of accidents. He has successfully completed thousands of hours of focused professional training in criminal law, crime scene investigation, criminal investigation, traffic collision investigation, and other related topics.
With this vast array of experience in law enforcement, Mr. Morgan has an inside understanding of the criminal justice system, police investigations, and the way prosecuting district attorneys build their cases. This understanding gives Mr. Morgan an important edge when evaluating the legal and factual issues of a case, devising defense strategies, negotiating plea bargains, and appearing in court.
Mr. Morgan is a member of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Admissions and Professional Memberships
- State Bar of California
- United States District Court - Central District of California
- State Bar of California - Family Law Section
- State Bar of California - Criminal Law Section
- American Bar Association
- Ventura County Bar Association
- Ventura County Family Law Association
- Ventura County Lawyer Referral Information Services
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Family Law Association
Published Cases
- People v. Callahan (2004) 124 Cal. App. 4th 198 (granting defendant's motion for new trial after defendant was convicted of felony murder and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole).
Prior Experience
- Paralegal
- Internship with large Santa Monica Law Firm
- Internships with private Family Law Attorneys
- Police Detective
- Senior Police Officer
- Police Officer
- Field Training Officer
- K-9 Handler
- Traffic Accident Investigator
Awards
- Nominated as a Best Lawyer in Ventura by Legal Force Media Publications.
- The objective of the Legal Force Best Lawyer selection process is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys across the United States that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel.
- Strathmore's Who's Who Among Lawyers 2009 Achievement Award
- Criminal Procedure Award Recipient in Law School
- Civil Procedure Award Recipient in Law School
- Medal of Valor
- Medal of Merit
Moriya Christie, Esq.
Moriya Christie received her J.D. degree from Ventura College of Law and was admitted to practice in the State of California in 1996.
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Kristi Peariso, Esq.
Kristi Peariso received her undergraduate degree from University of California, Santa Barbara, and her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law. She was admitted to practice in the State of California in 1998.
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Mark Khalaf, Esq.
Mark Khalaf has significant experience defending clients charged with a wide variety of criminal offenses, regularly appearing both in court and in California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) hearings. Before joining Morgan Law Firm, Mr. Khalaf practiced criminal defense at one of the largest criminal defense law firms in Southern California, and prior to that, at one of the largest civil litigation law firms in the nation.
Additionally, while in law school, Mr. Khalaf worked for the United States Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He also has over five years experience as a reserve Deputy Sheriff, giving him unique insight into the practices of arresting agencies and prosecuting offices. A confident and aggressive attorney who understands that his clients' freedom is at hand, Mr. Khalaf is committed to providing his clients with the best possible representation.
Mr. Khalaf earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law, in Los Angeles, California, where he was a lead article editor for the school's Law Journal, and he received his B.A. from La Sierra University.
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Prior Experience
- United States Attorney's Office
- Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
