Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyers & Attorneys San Luis Obispo

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San Luis Obispo

Our San Luis Obispo Office is located at:

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
San Luis Obispo Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

1540 Marsh Street, Suite 250
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 250-7500

San Luis Obispo Criminal Defense Attorney

San Luis Obispo is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County. It has a complex history that spans all the major periods of California’s development. Early Native American settlements were followed by a mission period, in which Spanish missionaries settled communities throughout California in the late 18th century. After the Mexican War of Independence, California’s missions had to be largely self-sufficient. San Luis Obispo expanded into a ranching community to serve the local needs.

The area experienced a huge economic boom with the Gold Rush, which in turn increased beef prices in the mid-19th century. The area also brought many Chinese laborers who were working on the Pacific Coast Railway. San Luis Obispo had a bustling Chinatown section by the end of the 19th century. Today, the area has a healthy tourism industry, boosted by many outdoor sports and fair weather. Utility companies are currently the largest employers in the area. Local schools, government entities, and healthcare companies also employ a large part of the San Luis Obispo population.

In the event that you have been accused of a crime in the San Luis Obispo area, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can. At the Law Offices of David Chesley, we are committed to helping people who are facing criminal charges, and our San Luis Obispo criminal defense lawyers are standing by to review your case at no cost to you. Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Here are some websites with local resources you might find helpful:

San Luis Obispo Police Department
1042 Walnut Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Non-Emergency Telephone: (805) 781-7317

San Luis Obispo Public Library
995 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Telephone: (805) 781-5991

San Luis Obispo City Hall
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone: (805) 781-7100

Local Attractions
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
751 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone: (805) 781-8220

San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
1940 Santa Barbara Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone: (805) 548-1894
Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County
3592 Broad St Suite 104
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone: (805) 439-4647

Crime in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo has a higher crime rate than many parts of the United States. Crime Rate gives the city a D-, ranking it in the 13th percentile. This means that 87 percent of U.S. cities have higher crime rates than San Luis Obispo. While this may seem high, it is similar to the crime rates in other communities throughout Southern California.

San Luis Obispo Court Houses

Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County
1050 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Telephone: (805) 706-3600

The Difference Between Misdemeanors and Felonies
There are two classes of crimes: misdemeanors and felonies. (You can also be cited for minor traffic offenses and municipal offenses, but these are civil matters.) There are vast differences between misdemeanors and felonies. You can be treated differently in court, in custody, at trial, and after your case is over. The consequences of a criminal conviction can follow you for years to come. By understanding the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony, you will be better prepared for court and have a better strategy for starting over after a criminal conviction.

What is a Misdemeanor?
California law defines a misdemeanor as a crime for which the maximum penalty is no more than one year in county jail. A misdemeanor is less serious than a felony. In many cases, a misdemeanor is a less serious version of the same felony offense. For example, petty theft could be a misdemeanor, but grand theft is a felony. Common examples of California misdemeanor offenses include:

DUI
Driving on a suspended license
Reckless driving
Shoplifting and theft of property under $950
Trespassing
Domestic violence without physical injury
Disturbing the peace
Vandalism
Simple assault and battery
Possession of small amounts of drugs

What Are the Potential Consequences of a Misdemeanor Conviction?
Many misdemeanors have specific sentencing guidelines in the statute that creates the offense. For any misdemeanors that do not state a specific sentence, the maximum sentence allowed under California law is six months in jail and/or a $1000 fine. In addition to jail time and a fine, you can also be ordered to complete probation and complete other tasks (such as community service or attending AA meetings).

What is a Felony?
A felony is a criminal offense that carries a maximum potential sentence of one year or more in state prison. If you are convicted of a felony, you can also face a fine of up to $10,000 in addition to a prison sentence. Common examples of California felony offenses are:

Aggravated assault
Manslaughter and murder
Armed robbery
Burglary
Sexual assault
Rape
Sexual conduct with a child
Possession of child pornography
Domestic violence with injuries
Possession of drugs for sale

What Are the Potential Consequences of a Felony Conviction?
Long prison terms and large fines are only the first in a long series of consequences a person faces with a felony on his or her criminal record. Criminals are prohibited from owning guns, voting, and serving on juries. (These rights can be restored by petitioning the court, but the process is neither automatic nor guaranteed.) With a felony on your record, you may find it more difficult to secure housing or employment. It could even be more difficult to access credit, loans, home mortgages, and other financial services. Furthermore, a professional license (for example, to practice law, medicine, or accounting) could be revoked as a result of a felony conviction. Expunging a felony can help clear your record and make it easier to access these services. Expungement can be a difficult and costly process, and it is not available in all cases. It is far better to work with an attorney to prevent wrongful convictions, excessive sentences, or felonies that should be misdemeanors.

The Right Criminal Defense Attorneys For All San Luis Obispo Charges
The best criminal defense lawyers in San Luis Obispo are at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our attorneys serve clients in Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, Cambria, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Grover Beach, Templeton, Oceano, Santa Margarita, Avila Beach, and throughout San Luis Obispo County. For years, clients have trusted our skilled legal team to defend their constitutional rights. We hold police and prosecutors accountable for adhering to the law. Call our Santa Barbara offices at (661) 473-0422 to schedule your case review.

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.