A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
Criminal defense in Modesto and Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County criminal defense, by a former prosecutor.
In the news
The Modesto Bee · August 2026
ICE arrests at California courthouse test balance between immigration enforcement, justice
“It cuts against the very goal of the system, which is people showing up. People should be encouraged to come to court and not be in fear that they're going to be removed by federal agents.”
Read the full article at The Modesto Bee
Practice Areas
What we handle.
Law Office of Matthew Begoun handles all felonies and misdemeanors, ranging from DUI to homicide, in Stanislaus County. Each engagement begins with a complete read of the file and an honest assessment of where the case can go.
About
Matthew Begoun
Matthew Begoun is a criminal defense attorney representing people across Stanislaus County. Before opening the Law Office of Matthew Begoun, Mr. Begoun prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases — including the most serious and violent of offenses — at the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office. He brings that prosecution-rooted perspective to every case he now defends.
Read more about MatthewWhat experience changes
A former prosecutor's read.
Most defense attorneys learn the criminal-justice system from the outside. Mr. Begoun learned it from the inside — in charging meetings, in plea-authorization conversations, and at trial.
Process
How representation works.
Four stages, in plain language.
- 01
The consultation.
Tell us what you've been told and what you remember. We figure out where the case is — pre-charge, post-arrest, post-arraignment — and what's on the calendar. Then we decide if representation is appropriate.
- 02
The plan.
Before you sign a retainer agreement, you'll know what the case looks like, what defenses are realistic, and what the likely path is. If a different lawyer is the right call, we'll say so.
- 03
The work.
Reviewing reports, body-cam, lab results, and witness statements. Filing motions that matter. Negotiating where it makes sense, going to trial when it doesn't.
- 04
The result.
A dismissal where we can get one. A reduction or diversion when the facts support it. A trial when the offer doesn't reflect what the case actually is.
If you've just been arrested or contacted by police
What to do right now.
Don't talk to investigators without a lawyer.
Politely say you want an attorney, and stop talking. That's not an admission of anything — it's your Fifth Amendment right.
Write down what happened while it's fresh.
Names of officers, what was said, what was searched, any witnesses. Keep it for your attorney — don't post it.
If this is a DUI, note the date of arrest.
You have 10 calendar days to request a DMV hearing or your license suspension goes into effect automatically.
Call.
(209) 200-8655
Where we work
Stanislaus County and the surrounding area.
Where the case is filed shapes how it moves. Different judges, different DAs, different calendars.
Talk to an attorney
Schedule a consultation.
Confidential. No obligation. We respond within one business day. For anything urgent, the phone is faster.