Evan Christopher Vargas

I hired Evan Vargas at Criminal Liberty Defense, but my case was passed to Michael Selyem, an attorney I had never met. Selyem called me unexpectedly today, and the conversation was extremely disappointing. As I tried to explain my case to him, he repeatedly talked over me and was rude and unprofe...ssional. He told my wife to “shut up” and used profanity toward me. My experience with him was just as disappointing as my experience with Vargas. Selyem presented a plea offer, and I told him I wanted to accept it and have him handle the court appearance on my behalf because I live out of state. After becoming angry during our conversation, he told me, “We’re gonna just make you come to court,” and said he didn’t care what I wanted. Based on his words and the timing, I believe he was using the court appearance to punish me for upsetting him. I felt threatened rather than represented. I have reported both Evan Vargas and Michael Selyem to the State Bar. Clients deserve professionalism, respect, and attorneys who act in their interests. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend either attorney.

I hired Evan Vargas for legal representation, including subpoenas and my client file. At first, he presented himself as friendly and professional, promptly returning calls and providing updates. However, after payment, his behavior changed drastically—communication became delayed, sporadic, and often... unresponsive. We have requested our files for over two weeks with no response. This lack of responsiveness caused significant delays in my case. Attorneys have a professional obligation to promptly release client files upon request, which I experienced difficulty enforcing in this instance. If I had to rate this attorney, I would give 0 out of 5 stars. Due to these issues, I am pursuing a formal complaint with the State Bar of California. I hope this review helps others understand the importance of caution when working with Mr. Vargas.