Violent Crimes Lawyer Beaumont, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk harming your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But all hope is not lost. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard you from these legal and personal consequences. We defend all of the following violent crime categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our expert Beaumont, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and look for defense strategies that can be used for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to construct your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online today for a free, confidential consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Beaumont, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. This is how we do it:
- Learn Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Beaumont, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – For many cases, the easiest way to a positive outcome is through a plea deal. When we negotiate plea deals with the state, we don't give up and fight to get something favorable.
- Fight At Trial – If there is a 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 Beaumont, CA, Violent Crime Charges We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
When you ask someone to name an example of a violent crime, there's a good chance they'll mention assault. What's interesting about it is that no harm has to actually be done. To be guilty of assault, one has to attempt "a violent injury on somebody." Many people aren't aware that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, even if you don't actually cause harm.
While simple assault charges are harsh in and of themselves, there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault types of charges stem from attempts to cause serious harm, rather than just harm in general. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery occurs when harm is actually done, instead of simply being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Beaumont, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the other hand, criminal threats charges can occur completely over the phone, text, or verbally in person. They don't have to involve literal violence at all. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Beaumont, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the difference in each of the laws, you need to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
If you're facing other violent crimes charges, we can help: Here are some other interpersonal harm charges we defend in Beaumont, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This occurs when one person confines another to a space against their will, and while it might seem like a stretch, it could be as little as grabbing someone's arm (if they are attempting to leave).
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping consists of taking a person from one location to another against their will.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra grim purposes like forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California stalking law requires more than just following another person who doesn't like it – it also requires that the accused make a credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats aren't their own statute, but are an unofficial term for certain criminal threats charges – you're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- Mayhem: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- Arson: Whether or not you burned something on purpose is the key difference between arson charges and reckless burning.
- Rioting: Rioting involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in Beaumont, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
Frequently, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to possessing a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Beaumont, CA, firearm charges are serious, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon is when one person shows another a gun (or other weapon) to intimidate them, not necessarily firing it. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
On the contrary, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Particularly in 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 excellent Beaumont, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will fight no just to keep you out of prison, but also to prevent further restrictions on your Second Amendment rights.
Family and Animal Abuse Defense Lawyers
The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of harm, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. Domestic violence charges are about more than just the alleged harm or danger, though — they're about who it supposedly was committed against. To qualify, the alleged victim must have held some kind of close relationship with the alleged offender, for example, romantic partners or parents who share a child.
Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, while child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, increasing their seriousness.
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, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Beaumont, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. That said, you could also be up against heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through gang enhancements. When an alleged offender has a past history of supposed gang activity, and this new charge was in some way related to a gang, prison sentences can drastically increase, though exactly how much depends on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with someone else to break the law, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.
Another common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Beaumont, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they think that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Lastly, our Beaumont, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect you from California's three strikes law. Under it, certain serious felonies are classified as "strikes" in your criminal history. With one prior strike, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. If a conviction would be your third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Beaumont, CA, the allegations can be even more severe. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. Obstructing a police officer is a closely related set of charges, though these ones aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Beaumont, CA, local prosecutor. But for more serious cases, 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 prepared to represent you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're deciding on an attorney to protect you in Beaumont, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want to be represented by an attorney who knows the ins and outs of the California court system. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Varied 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 prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Beaumont, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
With a legal team with these qualifications defending you from violent crimes allegations, you'll get the best chance of a positive outcome. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get someone with all those properties.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Firm Now
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The legal system is complicated. The Beaumont, CA, district attorney is powerful. And the punishments are brutal. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your liberty and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't wait and watch the prosecution make its case against you. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was faster. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your freedom from day one until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Call us at (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 protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Beaumont, CA:
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