In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Coulterville (formerly, Maxwell's Creek) is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located on Maxwell Creek 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Mariposa, at an elevation of 1699 feet (518 m). Coulterville has a population of 1,772. It is a mining town located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The ZIP Code is 95311. The community is inside area code 209.