Violent Crimes Lawyer Bakersfield, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk wrecking your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. But all hope is not lost. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you have someone protecting you from these consequences. We will fight to protect you from violent crime accusations in each of the below categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our skillful Bakersfield, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, give you honest advice, and come up with defensive strategies that should be effective for your circumstances. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to create your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now for a no-obligation, private consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Bakersfield, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Listen to Your Story – Every case starts with our client. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Bakersfield, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches trial, we'll make sure that the judge and/or jury see your side of the story, and you're properly represented against the accusations.
Major Bakersfield, CA, Violent Crime Categories We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
If you hear the phrase 'violent crimes,' assault is probably one of the first to come to mind. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on somebody." Many people aren't aware that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault using a non-firearm weapon. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery is a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, instead of just being attempted. In Bakersfield, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the flip side, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in Bakersfield, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Due to the variation in individual statutes, it's critical to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., also defends against the below violent crimes charges in Bakersfield, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra grim reasons such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: To be guilty of stalking in California, you have to both follow a person without their consent, and make a believable threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture goes beyond battery and includes serious injuries, done to make the alleged victim suffer.
- Mayhem: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- Arson: Arson involves the intentional and unlawful burning of property, as opposed to reckless burning, which is an unintentional version of the same things.
- Rioting: Rioting charges can be split into inciting the riot or participating in it, but both are usually charged as misdemeanors.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in Bakersfield, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
In many cases, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of carrying a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Bakersfield, CA, firearm charges are perilous, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. Brandishing a weapon does not typically involve firing the gun, but instead using it to make a threat. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.
Meanwhile, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Especially for incidents such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, it's unlikely that you'd get off with a small fee or community service.
An experienced Bakersfield, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will protect you from the legal consequences of these charges, including further restrictions on your Second Amendment rights.
Family and Animal Abuse Defense Lawyers
No matter what kind of violent crime charge you're facing, it's tough to see a way out. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. The other qualifying factor for 'domestic' violence is who the alleged victim is: for it to qualify, they must be someone with a close relationship to the alleged offender, such as a child, spouse, or cohabitant.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, increasing their gravity.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Bakersfield, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. However, you can also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
One of the most common examples is gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part of gang activities, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are closely related. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you collaborate with another person to break the law, and either one of you does something that furthers the commission of the crime.
Another common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, you can also see them used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Bakersfield, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they believe that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Lastly, our Bakersfield, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you against California's three strikes law. For alleged repeat offenders, this law can become a tremendous hurdle. Previous felony convictions may count as "strikes" against you. With one prior strike, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Bakersfield, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer carries harsher penalties than simple assault, while resisting arrest covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though this can penalize you for any way you prevent an officer from doing their job, regardless of if they were trying to arrest you.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local Bakersfield, CA prosecution. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. Federal court can be a whole different arena, and you need a law firm with the strength to fight for your rights against the United States government. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is proud to represent you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
You don't want to go into a violent crimes case without the right lawyer. When you're deciding on an attorney to defend you in Bakersfield, CA, you want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We handle court cases all over California, including in Bakersfield, CA. We are familiar with local prosecutors and judges, and will use them to your advantage.
To maximize your chances of beating violent crimes charges, you need lawyers with all of the above attributes. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get those qualities.
Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Today
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The legal system is complex. The Bakersfield, CA, prosecutor is formidable. And the punishments are tough. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't take a passive approach to your defense. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and protect your rights from when we first speak until the case is over.
Reach out to us now to begin building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in Bakersfield, CA:
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