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").
Midpines is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located 12 miles (19 km) southwest of El Portal, at an elevation of 2585 feet (788 m). It lies among the Sierra Nevada foothills of the central part of the state, 6 to 10 miles north of Mariposa, the county seat. It is composed of scattered residential areas along both sides of State Route 140, which is one of three principal routes to Yosemite National Park, some 30 miles to the east of Midpines. Midpines began as a resort, founded by Newell D. Chamberlain, in 1926. The first post office opened in 1929.