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Criminal Defense Lawyer La Jolla, CA

Criminal defense lawyers in La Jolla, CA. Nobody in La Jolla, CA, wants to be in a position where they need a criminal defense attorney. Maybe you didn't intend to, but accidentally broke the law. Maybe the accusations are false, or you made a mistake and need a second chance. Or maybe someone you care about is in one of those situations, and you need a La Jolla, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you figure out your options.

Whatever you need help facing, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is help you find answers. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and boast a proven track record of success. Reach out by phone at (800) 755-5174 or reach out to us online for a free, confidential consultation.

Why You Need a La Jolla, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer NOW

Waiting to hire an attorney can be detrimental to your case. While you're hesitating, the police and prosecutors are setting you up for a guilty verdict. California is often very harsh in sentencing, and starting to build your defense too late could make the difference in avoiding a conviction or prison time.

Plus, the longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more chances you have to accidentally give the state evidence for their case. Answering questions without an attorney treating the charges as unserious, or even speaking with anyone other than your attorney could be unintentionally setting yourself up for a guilty verdict.

Contacting a La Jolla, CA, criminal defense lawyer early gives them a chance to stop the charges before they make it to court. By challenging evidence and communicating with the state early, your attorney may be able to get the charges dropped or dismissed.

We know that arrests don't only happen during weekdays or business hours. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're ready at all times for your call and begin building your defense from the first call.

How Our La Jolla, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You

When you work with us, you're getting a law firm that not only knows how to win in court, but also knows how to treat you like a person, not a case number. Because we have a client-centered focus, we both build a defense based around your situation and act in the best interest of your wellbeing and your life.

We approach each case by:

  • Learning about your case from all angles – we look at the police investigation, our conversations with you, and our own inquiries into your case all give us an intimate understanding of it.
  • Craft a fierce defence by filing motions to suppress evidence, hiring expert analysts, and fighting the state's subpoenas.
  • Stand by you in court if the case reaches a trial. We fight to remove biased jurors, discredit the state's witnesses in cross–examination, and show reasonable doubt.
  • Negotiate with the state for plea deals. When the prosecution knows that you have a strong defense, they're more likely to offer a plea deal with reduced charges.
  • Advocate for lesser sentences both during plea negotiations and after the trial. We want to keep you out of prison, and will fight for probation or a shorter sentence.
  • Helping you get a fresh start after a court case. We'll assist with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't let your record follow you into the future.

La Jolla, CA, Criminal Defense Practice Areas for the Law Offices of David S. Chesley

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help you with almost any La Jolla, CA criminal charge, and are always ready to help, regardless of what you're facing. Our criminal defense attorneys practice defenses for:

Traffic Charges

If you're facing traffic charges, it could be from one of a variety of alleged actions while on the road. They can include driving while intoxicated, driving while high, and reckless driving. Some of the most common La Jolla, CA, traffic charges we defend are:

Violent Offense Charges

Violent crime charges cover a wide range of alleged offenses, and all of them are serious. Sometimes, you don't even have to do something violent; making threats or just wrongfully carrying a firearm could end up with you facing charges. Below are violent crime charges we frequently defend clients against:

Drug Charges

Drug charges in La Jolla, CA, mostly come down to possessing a controlled substance, possessing paraphernalia, and/or trying to sell it. California's controlled substances list is long and covers anything from marijuana to opioids. If you're facing any of the following common charges (or another one) for any controlled substance, contact us now to start building your defense:

Theft Charges

La Jolla, CA, theft charges cover a wide variety of alleged actions. If you're up against a charge of a forceful theft, like robbery, the penalties are particularly dire. If you're up against one of the below theft charges, or another one, call us today:

Sex Crime Charges

Sex crimes are often viewed as some of the most serious charges a person can face. They range from rape to prostitution to pornography charges. Some common sex crime charges we defend against are:

Murder Charges

Few charges in La Jolla, CA, are as grave as murder. Whether unintentional or on purpose, or even unsuccessful, the law is harsh, meaning that you need a secure defense strategy to protect your freedom. These are some of the murder charges that we can help you defend against:

Contact our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help with your case.

What To Look For in Your La Jolla, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal defense lawyers are plentiful in La Jolla, CA, but deciding on the right one can make all the difference in your case. Picking the right criminal defense attorney is critical to getting the best outcome for your case. And these are the factors you'll want to look for:

  • Experience – and knowledge of how cases are both defended and prosecuted.
  • Relationships With Local Courts – to leverage in negotiations.
  • Knowledge of Your Charges – practice defending previous cases just like yours.
  • Good Reputation – both among clients and with experts.
  • Responsiveness and Availability – it's important to be able to get updates on your case promptly and are treated with respect.
  • Transparent Costs – don't get caught up in a contract you don't understand.

How We Fight in the La Jolla, CA, Court System to Protect Your Freedom:

Our philosophy is to be as aggressive, thorough, and relentless as we can in each and every defense. We don't sit passively by while the prosecution builds up evidence against you; we're proactive and by your side throughout the legal process, petrifying the state and persuading the jury.

When you call our La Jolla, CA, criminal defense lawyers, start working on yoru case right away. When we get started on your major criminal defense case, this is the general process we go through:

  1. Learn Your Case – We listen to you and do our own research to craft a strong defense.
  2. Fight For Charges Dropped or Dismissed – Either at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, our goal is to get the charges against you dropped or dismissed early.
  3. Champion Your Pretrial Freedom – At a bail hearing, we argue for your freedom while awaiting a trial, without excessive bail.
  4. Communicate With the Prosecution – We'll look for a plea deal that gives you a positive outcome.
  5. Defend You at Trial – Based on all our experience and research into your case, we'll scrutinize the state's case at trial and show reasonable doubt to the jury.
  6. Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – Depending on the outcome of the trial, we will argue for lenient sentencing and can appeal the verdict to reclaim your freedom.

Why Choose Our La Jolla, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we have over 50 years of experience in the courtroom, as judges, prosecutors, police officers, and criminal defense attorneys. We know the ins and outs of how prosecutors build a case against you, and we can take advantages of the weaknesses we know are in their strategies.

Using our existing relationships with prosecutors and judges, we're experts at getting a plea deal that secures your interests, and can avoid a trial in most cases. That said, if there is a trial in your case, one of our expert criminal defense attorneys will be ready with a stalwart defense.

We have a strong reputation with both clients and experts. Whatever crime you're facing, our team of top California criminal defense attorneys can handle it.. We're upfront with our fees, and our phones are available any time of day if you think of anything you need to ask us or something happened and you need urgent help.

Call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley Now – Your Freedom Depends On It

For any criminal charges in La Jolla, CA, it's critical to have a powerful defense. You need a lawyer who's experienced and ready. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is up to the job.

For all criminal charges, our team is prepared with experience and expertise. Call now – the more time that passes before you start building your defense, the harder it will be to protect your freedom. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your defense against these allegations.

We also provide the following legal services in La Jolla, CA:

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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!

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