Pomona Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

Criminal Defense Attorney in Pomona

Being accused of a crime can be one of the most difficult and frightening things that can happen to you. Not only are you facing an uncertain future, but suddenly everyone is working against you. Both prosecutors and the police will try to trip you up and find any weakness in your case that they can take advantage of.

Luckily, you’re not alone. Hiring a criminal defense attorney puts someone on your side that knows the law and will stand up for your rights. An experienced attorney will help you navigate the complicated legal landscape you’re facing and will bring the strongest possible defense in your favor.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we have decades of experience defending the accused in Pomona and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re faced with a misdemeanor charge or a serious felony, our team of experienced attorneys will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

Local Pomona Resources
Pomona Police Department
490 W Mission Blvd.
Pomona, CA 91766
(909) 620-2155

Pomona Courthouse South
400 Civic Center Plaza
Pomona, CA 91766
(909) 802-1100

Claremont Care Center
Rehabilitation Center
219 E Foothill Blvd
909) 593-1391

Pomona City Hall
505 S Garey Ave
Pomona, CA 91766
(909) 620-2042

Responding Intelligently to Your Charges
Below are some of the charges that your Pomona defense attorney will help you navigate.

Theft
Theft is one of the most common crimes committed in Pomona. The term theft can cover a wide range of criminal activity, but whether you’ve been charged with petty theft or first-degree burglary, all theft crimes and considered serious offenses in the state of California.

Although each form of theft carries legal penalties, the level of the offense ranges widely depending on the amount of goods stolen and the means by which the theft occurred. According to California’s Penal Code 484, theft of property valued at under $950 is considered “petty” theft, a misdemeanor offense, while “grand” theft, a criminal charge, involves taking property worth over $950 or stealing a car or firearms.

Among the different types of theft include theft by larceny, which involves physically taking something that isn’t yours; robbery, which involves the taking of personal property of another person using force, violence, or intimidation; burglary, which consists of entering a building, home, or vehicle with intent to commit a felony; and identity theft. Penalties vary according to the type of offense, but any kind of theft is a very serious charge that requires the guidance of an experienced defense attorney.

Assault and Battery
Assault and battery are also among the most common criminal charges in Pomona. While similar to each other, assault and battery are not interchangeable offenses. According to the California Penal Code, assault is “an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another.” The difference between assault and battery is that while assault refers to a simple attempt or threat to use illegal force, battery denotes the actual use of force.

As with theft, there are many different forms of assault and battery which range in severity of the penalty. All, however, are serious charges which require legal representation. While a simple assault may result in $1000 in fines and six months of county jail time, the penalties become more consequential when it’s carried out against a parking officer, police officer, firefighter, or custodial officer. The penalty may also be made more severe by a past criminal background or other circumstances of the incident.

A far more serious charge is assault with a deadly weapon. According to California law, an assault with a deadly weapon occurs when the assault is carried out with a firearm or knife and when it’s committed with any instrument and employing force likely to produce great bodily injury. This means that even if you use an object, such as a beer bottle, not generally thought of as a weapon, you can still be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. This is a very serious charge, although the severity of the penalty depends on the type of weapon used and the circumstances of the assault.

Rape and Sexual Battery
Although less common than theft and assault, rape and sexual battery are considered particularly serious crimes in the California penal code. Rape is defined as an act of sexual intercourse to which the victim is incapable of consenting. This inability to offer consent can occur if the victim has a developmental disability or a mental disorder, is unconscious, asleep, intoxicated, or subject to force, violence, or threats.

Sexual battery is a lesser but related charge which involves touching a victim against their will for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse. The charges become much more severe if the perpetrator restrained the victim, if they claimed that the touching had a professional purpose, or if the victim was disabled or mentally incapacitated.

Murder and Manslaughter
Murder is among the most serious crimes in the state of California. Defined as “the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought,” murder can be either first- or second-degree. A first-degree murder, which is “deliberate and premeditated,” is punishable by death, life without parole, or 25 years to life. Second-degree murders, those that weren’t “deliberate and premeditated,” carry sentences of 15, 20, or 25 years to life.

Manslaughter, which refers to the unlawful killing of a person “without malice,” is a lesser but still serious charge. There are three types of manslaughter: voluntary, in which the killing is carried out in the “heat of passion”; involuntary, which occurs when illegal or negligent behavior results in death; and vehicular. Voluntary manslaughter carries a penalty of 3 to 11 years, while involuntary manslaughter carries 2 to 4.

You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

David S. Chesley and his team of experienced Pomona criminal lawyers are dedicated to providing you with the best criminal defense representation possible. If you’re accused of any crime or misdemeanor in Pomona, you need an attorney who will stand up for your rights and who knows the local court system inside and out. Our legal team is made up of criminal defense lawyers, former prosecutors, police officers, and investigators who have decades of experience in all areas of the criminal justice system.

Call us today at (909) 545-6883 for a free consultation.