Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyers & Attorneys Santa Rosa, CA

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Santa Rosa

Our Santa Rosa Office is located at:

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

3558 Round Barn Blvd Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 583-9986

Santa Rosa Criminal Defense Landing Page

The City of Santa Rosa was founded on March 26, 1868. It has an estimated population of 176,753 in 2019. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California’s Redwood Coast and Wine Country. It’s known for being the main city in California’s famous wine culture and being home to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Helpful city resources:

Santa Rosa Police Department
965 Sonoma Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 543-3600

Santa Rosa City Hall
100 Santa Rosa Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 543-3010

Sonoma County Library
211 E St.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 308-3020

Attractions Around Santa Rosa, CA

Safari West
3115 Porter Creek Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 579-2551

Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Ln.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 579-4452

Spring Lake Park
5585 Newanga Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 539-8092

Luther Burbank Gardens
204 Santa Rosa Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 524-5445

Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
1835 W Steele Ln.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 546-4069

Howarth Park
630 Summerfield Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 543-3425

Crime in Santa Rosa

One of Santa Rosa’s downfalls is its crime. Neighborhoods such as South Park, Roseland, West Ninth District, Monroe, City Center, and Apple Valley in west Santa Rosa have the highest criminal activity rates. Crimes in these areas are typically graffiti, burglaries, and violent gang activity. Sureños and Norteños street gangs have a significant presence throughout Santa Rosa. Most arrests for assault and theft occur at or near the intersections of:

Sebastopol Rd./Dutton Ave
Mendocino Ave./Steele Ln.
Piner Rd./Range Ave.
College Ave./Stony Point Rd.

Local Criminal Court:

Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Get Directions
(707) 521-6500

You may not be familiar with this court but the Santa Rosa criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., are. When hiring a Santa Rosa criminal defense lawyer, it’s essential that you hire an advocate who has measurable experience inside the court that will be hearing your case. Their expertise can make or break the outcome you end up with. When lawyers are deeply aware of how a specific court operates and what its judges and prosecutors are like, it’s beneficial for their client.

Misdemeanor Charges

Misdemeanors are often thought of as “minor” crimes, although they carry a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and a steep fine. These consequences can lead to a significant disturbance in the life of an individual and their entire family. Someone who is facing one or more misdemeanor charges, including charges that could end up turning into felony charges, should obtain experienced and skilled legal representation from a Santa Rosa criminal defense lawyer.

Under California criminal code, several crimes can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. It’s up to the district attorney to decide which they should be. Since they can go either way, they are referred to as “wobbler” charges. Examples of these criminal charges include:

Domestic violence
Vehicular manslaughter
Some drug offenses
Assault
Battery
Second-degree burglary
Embezzlement
Criminal threats
Fraud
Vandalism
Hit and run
Possession of firearm

To keep your “wobbler” charge from turning into a felony, you need a fierce attorney who knows how to defend clients in these positions successfully.

Misdemeanor Penalties
If someone is convicted of a misdemeanor charge in California, their sentence might entail:

Fines
Restitution—in other words paying back the victim, such as for a theft
Community service
Mandatory counseling such as psychological, anger, or drug/alcohol counseling
Jail or prison time

Felony Charges

Felony convictions are serious and can alter a person’s life forever. Under California law, a felony is defined as a crime for which someone can be sentenced to state prison for more than a year.

Suppose you’ve been charged with a felony or think you might soon be. In that case, it is crucial that you have a highly qualified Santa Rosa criminal defense attorney on your side from beginning to end. There are close to 100 different felony crimes found in California’s criminal code. They can be grouped into categories like:

Violent felonies— kidnapping, mayhem, armed robbery, manslaughter, and homicide
Drug felonies— possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacturing, trafficking
Sex-related felonies— distribution of child pornography via the internet, rape, and child molestation
White-collar felonies— fraud, computer crimes, embezzlement, forgery, and identity theft

If you’ve been charged with one of these crimes or any other felonies in California, you need representation from an experienced Santa Rosa criminal attorney who will fight on your behalf to minimize the adverse outcomes of your felony case.

Consequences of a Felony Conviction in California
The stakes for felony convictions are high. The potential consequences you might face can vary depending on the circumstances of your charges. Many felony arrests lead to a conviction. A sentence of probation with a brief jail term is possible in some cases. Still, you should also keep in mind that the minimum prison sentence for any California felony conviction is 16 months. Additionally, civil rights and privileges can be taken away. Obtaining employment or promotions often becomes challenging after a felony charge as well.

Turn to a Seasoned Santa Rosa Criminal Defense Attorney Today
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we have what you need: an aggressive and effective defense against many different types of criminal charges. You need an attorney who is dedicated to protecting your freedom and achieving an outcome that doesn’t constrain or impact the rest of your life. This might include measures such as discussing plea arrangements with the prosecution. We will use results-driven tactics. If necessary, we can craft compelling court arguments to benefit your case.

Our Santa Rosa criminal defense lawyers fight to make sure our clients receive the best outcomes possible when handling criminal charges involving theft, drugs, DUI, sex crimes, and many others. We fight for your family, career, wallet, and future. Call (707) 583-9986 today for a consultation with a proven Santa Rosa criminal defense lawyer.

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.