Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyers & Attorneys Vista, CA

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Vista

Our Vista Office is located at:

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Vista Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

138 Civic Center Drive
Vista, CA 92084
(760) 659-5050

Vista Criminal Defense Attorney

Vista is a city in northwestern San Diego County located seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. For hundreds of years, Vista was an unincorporated area that fell under the jurisdiction of San Diego City and San Diego County. In 2007 the city was chartered and organized under its own municipal government. With a mild San Diego climate, ample educational facilities, and a business park that houses over eight hundred businesses, Vista is a popular destination for many residents looking to settle in the San Diego area. Vista’s population increased by about four thousand residents between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.

If you have been arrested in Vista, California, you need legal representation immediately. The Law Office of David Chesley is here to help, and our Vista criminal defense attorneys know how to protect your rights. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Here are some links to helpful local resources for Vista residents:

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Vista Station
325 South Melrose Dr., Ste. 210
Vista, CA 92081
Telephone: (760) 940-4551

San Diego County Library
Vista Branch Library
700 Eucalyptus Ave.
Vista, CA 92084
(760) 643-5100

Vista City Hall
200 Civic Center Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Telephone: (760) 726-1340

Local Attractions
The Wave Waterpark
101 Wave Drive
Vista, CA 92083
Phone: (760) 940-9283

Rancho Buena Vista Adobe
640 Alta Vista Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 639-6164

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens
1270 Vale Terrace Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Telephone: (760) 945-3954

Crime in Vista
Neighborhood Scout reports on the crime rate in Vista. Vista has an average crime rate of 3.52 crimes per thousand residents, which is lower than both the state average of 4.41 and the national median of 4 crimes per thousand residents. Visa also has rates of both property crimes and violent crimes that are below the state and national averages. Vista has a lower crime rate than many other cities across Southern California.

Neighborhood Scout also rates the safest neighborhoods within Vista:

Vista Court Houses
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
North County Regional Center
325 South Melrose Dr.
Vista, CA 92081
Telephone: (760) 201-8600

What Happens When I Go to Court?
The criminal case process can be overwhelming, especially if you have never been through it before. Our defense attorneys prepare you for everything that will happen in court. It can also be helpful to have a general idea about the case process in a criminal court. What follows are the basic steps of a criminal case.

Initial Appearance, Arraignment, and Bail Hearings
The first step in a criminal case is to be formally notified of the charges against you. There are many different ways this can happen. If you have been charged with a minor misdemeanor, you might simply receive a summons in the main directing you to appear in court on a particular date and time. If the police arrest you on a minor misdemeanor, they may also release you with your promise to appear in court, something known as being released on your “own recognizance.”

If the charges against you are more serious, the prosecutor will likely want you to post bail in order to secure your appearance in court in the future. Posting bail sometimes requires a hearing before a judge. In these cases, a prosecutor files a complaint or a grand jury indictment in the court. A warrant is then issued for your arrest. After you are arrested, you will have the right to post a bond or to appear before a judge to argue your pretrial release conditions (including the amount of your bail). An attorney’s presence can make a huge difference in your pretrial release conditions. If, for example, the prosecutor wants you to post a cash bail, you would be unable to use a bondsman’s services or to post collateral with the court, which could prevent you from being released from jail before your trial date (which will be months away). A defense lawyer will protect your right to contest unreasonable release conditions to a judge.

Scheduling Conferences
Once the preliminary matters have been addressed, the attorneys will begin investigating the case and exchanging evidence they intend to use at trial. These are formal processes known as discovery and disclosure. These are critical steps that allow your attorney to investigate potential police misconduct, Miranda violations, search and seizure violations, or questionable eyewitness testimony. While important, these steps can take a long time. You will have to periodically appear in court during this process so that the attorneys can update the judge on the status of your case. The judge will also want to check that you are adhering to any pretrial release conditions.

Change of Plea Hearing or Trial
During discovery, the attorneys are also negotiating. Most criminal cases are resolved through plea agreements. If you decide to accept a plea agreement that your attorney considers to be fair, you will have to appear in front of the judge at a “change of plea” hearing. The judge will then confirm that you are voluntarily waiving your constitutional right to a trial and that there are no other legal irregularities in the plea deal. If the attorneys are unable to make a plea deal, you have the right to take your case to trial and let a jury determine whether you are guilty.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Vista Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

You could spend hours searching online for a “Vista criminal attorney near me,” but the best defense lawyers in the San Diego area are right here at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our skilled legal team serves clients in Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, and throughout the San Diego area. Clients trust our experienced criminal defense attorneys to protect their legal rights during a critical time in their lives. Call our Vista offices at (619) 752-2235 or contact us online today to schedule your case review. The sooner you have an experienced defense lawyer on your side, the better options you will have for resolving any criminal charges that have been filed against you.

Recent Results

Our client faced multiple serious charges in Los Angeles County, including Penal Code § 211 (Robbery), § 245(a)(1) (Assault with a Deadly Weapon), and § 245(a)(4) (Assault with Force Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury). Unlike a co-defendant represented by another firm who pled to a felony conviction with a "strike," our legal team pursued a different strategy. Through the submission of a comprehensive mitigation package to the District Attorney, we successfully negotiated a complete dismissal of all charges.
Our client faced serious charges under Penal Code section 211 for alleged felony robbery involving force and fear in Riverside County (Murrieta Court) . The prosecution argued that probation was not appropriate due to our client’s prior felony convictions in San Bernardino County, including a previous robbery in April 2021 and grand theft in November 2019. Despite the severity of these allegations, our legal team successfully demonstrated insufficient evidence during the preliminary hearing. As a result, all charges were dismissed. This outcome allowed our client to move forward without the burden of a new conviction.
Multiple defendants each facing 7 years charged with smuggling prescription drugs into California from Mexico our client was the only defendant who received NO JAIL TIME!
Client facing 5 years for possession of deadly weapon we negotiated a plea for NO JAIL TIME!
Client facing 3 life terms for multiple felony counts of Child Molestation and Sodomy with child we proved the charges were fabricated by victims mother DISMISSAL of all charges at preliminary hearing!
Strike case: Client charged with possession of methamphetamine facing 25 years we filed a Romero Motion which was granted case REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR!
Client's estranged girlfriend alleged Client broke into her room and choked her facing 14 years in State Prison we won at trial JURY ACQUITTAL.
Police allegedly discovered 3 bags of marijuana in client's glove box faced 6 years we filed a 1538.5 motion to suppress resulting in DISMISSAL of all charges!

What our clients say Client Testimonials

I am truly pleased with my experience with the Law Offices Of David S Chesley. They answered all my questions and provided me with great advice and legal services. My case resolved quickly. Thank you!
Rodrigo L.

I left court yesterday with my last case being wrapped up. Two court appearances and that’s it. He represented me in a couple of different cases and was impressive to say the least. Always a phone call or text message away. Confident and aggressive when he needed to be. Calming and thorough when meeting with me. Attorney Chesley did exactly what he said he would and I got the results I needed. He seemed to know all the right people at the Temple Street courthouse. You can always get in contact with him quickly and he is a great lawyer. I highly recommend his legal services.
Ricardo Esteves

My brother was given a very caring attorney that was assigned to his case and we had very helpful case managers throughout the process. I strongly recommend David Chesley to anyone who is in trouble. I called in to get help on my brothers case and right away I liked their service. My brothers charges were eventually dismissed after the attorney got him into a program, now he could go on without the trouble of having anything on his record
Erica Geller

I retained Mr. Chesley and his firm and from the beginning they were extremely professional both in communicating the status of my case to me, explaining the situation as a whole, and just downright taking care of business. It was money well spent for a job well done. Thanks again to David and Melissa others that worked on my case. I recommend this firm to anyone in need of legal representation. Don’t just accept things the courts force on you, call this firm and protect yourself.
Elizabeth F.

I contacted Mr. Chesley and his firm because some unfortunate events had left me in a jam. Detectives were demanding I testify or be prosecuted for a crime I didn’t commit. (I wasn’t involved or even at the scene of the alleged crime when it supposedly took place.) Mr. Chesley explained to me that he had been through similar situations with his clients before and understood exactly what was going on. His response to what took place was nothing short of amazing. No matter how small my concern, Mr. Chesley addressed it in a timely manner. He advocated for what is right and empathized with me in dealing with the Court system. After meeting with the supervising D.A. and providing alibi evidence he was able to get me out the situation. I’m very grateful to have found him.
Leon Hanley

I hired David Chesley for my criminal defense in 2012. he was recommended to us for is success results and his low fees. David is very smart and his professional legal advice was honest & much appreciated during these stressful time. David’s knowledge, advice, and communication about what we were to expect was reassuring and beneficial to me. He charged me a reasonable flat rate and didn’t charge me any surprise fees. In my case David Chesley was able to negotiate with the prosecution attorney for the best result I could hope for. He had success at getting my criminal charges dismissed with the judges approval. You will not be disappointed if you hire The Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Britanny Givens

David is very professional, yet very casual. Although it is typically not easy to speak straight up with an attorney, he is very easy to talk to. He replied to my questions quickly and was available all hours. Not only did he get my case resolved with a dismissal, he went above and beyond and got me an expungement without me even requesting it. He never beats around the bush and tells you like it is. At the same time is willing to work overtime to get the results you request. I would use David’s services again in the future.
Andrew A.

very satisfied being a client with the Law Offices of David Chesley.. Negin represented both my husband and I and got both our cases dis issued… Negin was on top of our cases she really cares and did everything she said she would do!!! thanks a lot Negin
Rita K.

I don’t write many reviews, however this time I had to share my admiration and appreciation for this firm. Attorney Negin Akhavan is definitely a person you want representing you in any criminal legal battle. She is the clear definition of the frace “is not what you know, but who you know ” she is not only knowledgeable, she also has the relationships with the right people. I couldn’t be happier with the results she was able to provide.

Thank you Negin.
Gabriel V.

An old felony charge came up, so I hired David and his team in June, and he got me a release on my own cognition on a felony charge in July which has never happened to me, and got it dismissed in October. He was responsive when I called and always kept me updated. Got my case dismissed, was easy to work and handled everything for me. He did an excellent job. I highly recommend David Chesley for any criminal defense.
Jason Corona

They really helped me out in a timely manner. I had a drug charge from 16 years ago and they dealt with it quickly. I can’t recommend them enough. If you have a criminal charges check them out they are awesome.
Santiago L.