Violent Crimes Lawyer Beverly Hills, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk harming your reputation, setting back your career, and possibly worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these legal and personal 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 experienced Beverly Hills, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, be honest with our recommendations, and find defense tactics that can be used for your charges. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you need to create your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online now for a no-obligation, private consultation.

How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations

Our team of Beverly Hills, 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:

  • Learn Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear your side of the story.
  • Research the Law and Your Case – We'll research the specifics of the charges and Beverly Hills, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
  • Build a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, 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 your case reaches trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.

Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges

Violent crimes in California encompass a wide range of offenses, from simple assault to more severe acts like armed robbery or kidnapping. Before you can be conficted in Beverly Hills, CA, the state must prove factors like your culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. Many cases begin with a preliminary hearing, where we can challenge evidence early. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). When arguing these cases, medical records, witness testimony, and digital evidence are often central to the argument.

If you're curious about violent crime distinctions, let's look at the difference between assault charges and battery charges in California: Assault (Penal Code 240) occurs when one person threatens or attempts to hurt another, while battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Both can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies; it's up to the prosecution to decide what to charge. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. A first-time misdemeanor assault might lead to probation, but repeat offenders or felony charges are more likely to face harsh penalties. Our team of violent crimes lawyers uses a varitey of defense strategies depending on the circumstances, including self-defense, claiming rights violation, and showing alibis.

🏠 Know Your Rights: Can you pull a gun on an intruder in California?Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube
Think twice before you brawlVideo: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube

Major Beverly Hills, 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. 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 the person of another." Most people don't know that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.

Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault charge types in particular are very similar to assault: they normally requires that the alleged offender was trying to cause 'serious' harm rather than general harm. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations don't actually have statutes of their own, and instead are nicknames used to describe specific assault cases

You might be asking yourself now, "What's the difference between assault and battery?" Battery occurs when harm is actually done, instead of simply being attempted. In Beverly Hills, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the other hand, 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.

We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Beverly Hills, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. As a result of the difference in each of the statutes, it's critical to hire a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.

If you're facing other violent crimes charges, we can help: Here are some other interpersonal harm charges we defend in Beverly Hills, CA,:

  • False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs 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: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra bad reasons such as 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: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – 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: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
  • Arson: Whether or not you burned something on purpose is the key difference between arson charges and reckless burning.
  • Rioting: RIoting can either consist of starting a riot or participating in one, and is normally a misdemeanor unless it occurs in a jail and/or someone is seriously harmed.

Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers

While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in Beverly Hills, 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.

In many cases, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Beverly Hills, CA, firearm charges are significant, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon normally does not include use of the weapon beyond showing it with the intent to scare another person. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

On the other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially in cases such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, you can be looking at years in prison and/or thousands of dollars in fines.

A high-quality Beverly Hills, 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 any actual harm caused, threats of abuse, 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 is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), while child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, raising their gravity.

Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We also defend against animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.

Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers

The majority of Beverly Hills, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. That said, you can also face increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.

In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You could be convicted of conspiracy if you collaborate with someone else to commit a crime, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.

You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other crimes. The district attorney in Beverly Hills, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they think that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.

Finally, our Beverly Hills, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect you against California's three strikes law. This law allows the government to keep track of your criminal history and assign "strikes" to certain felony convictions. With one prior strike, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be doubled, and you will have a harder time securing early release. When convicted and given a third strike, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with further contstraints on early release.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

When you get into an altercation with the police in Beverly Hills, 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 carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though these ones can penalize you for any way you prevent an officer from doing their job, regardless of if they were trying to arrest you.

These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Beverly Hills, CA, local prosecutor. Sometimes, though, 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 be your defense attorney for federal crimes as well as state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Violent Robberies and Related Offenses: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

Robbery lawyer services are essential if you're facing charges like armed robbery, where force or fear is used to take property. Penalties can reach 9 years in prison, especially if a weapon is involved. First-degree burglary, entering a residence with intent to steal, is a felony with 2-6 years. Carjacking (PC 215) involves taking a vehicle by force, punishable by up to 9 years.

In one case, a client faced armed robbery charges after a misunderstanding during a transaction. By exposing false accusations and procedural errors, we secured a misdemeanor plea with no jail time. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face sentencing enhancements if convicted. Particularly for violent robberys, you're more likely to be given a restraining order against he alleged victim.

Neighbor disputes can quickly escalate...Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube
Navigating a domestic violence case?Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube

Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities

Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're picking a lawyer to defend your rights in Beverly Hills, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a firm with the below 3 qualities:

  1. Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime case results.
  2. Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Beverly Hills, CA. We know local prosecutors and judges, and will use them to your advantage.

When fighting your violent crimes case, you don't want to gamble on an attorney who's unprepared or doesn't meet these criteria. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get someone with all those characteristics.

Three Strikes Law Defense in Beverly Hills, CA

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) can turn a seemingly straightforward case in Beverly Hills, CA, into something much more serious. The three strikes law assigns a "strike" to each alleged offender for serious or violent felony convictions. After the third, it requires the judge to sentence the alleged offender anywhere from 25 years to life. If you have any prior strikes on your record, it's critical to work with a leading criminal defense attorney to protect your freedom.

As a violent crime defense attorney, I dedicate extensive resources to Three Strikes cases. Key strike eligible offenses include armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping. On your second strike, sentences are doubled, and on your third, you can be facing a life sentence.

Defense Strategies Under Three Strikes:

  • Romero Motions: Romero motions protect you by asking a judge to ignore a prior strike that is not fair to use against you. Success rates are high with compelling arguments, like rehabilitation or procedural errors in old cases.
  • Motion for Resentencing: Due to updated laws, people with prior Three Strikes convictions can petition to have their sentence reduced. Our legal team will petition for a reduction in sentences when your third strike was non-violent.
  • Avoiding New Strikes: Even better than having prior strikes removed, we'll fight to prevent you getting one in the first place. This often comes from skillful plea negotiation. Lack of intent defenses prevent strike enhancements.
  • Constitutional Challenges: Depending on the context of your case, we can argue that the sentence is unconstitutional, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. We can also look into prior cases to see if there were any procedural errors that should have resulted in an acquittal.
  • Impact on Parole and Your Future: On top of increasing your sentence, strikes delay parole eligibility. A skilled criminal defense attorney like the ones at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley will fight for your early release and/or expungement of your record.

A Beverly Hills, CA, client with two priors faced a third strike for assault on a peace officer. By proving self-defense and procedural errors (improper Miranda), we got the charge reduced, avoiding life. The District Attorney often pushes hard, but jury trials reveal biases in victim testimony. With over 20 years defending Three Strikes, I've secured dismissals in 70% of cases by exploiting weaknesses.

Minorities and low-income individuals are frequently affected by California's Three Strikes law in Beverly Hills, CA. Reforms continue, but without aggressive defense, clients face lifelong consequences. Don't give up; these cases are winnable. Contact our team today if you need help.

Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Firm Today

Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The court system is complicated. The Beverly Hills, CA, prosecutor is frightening. And the penalties are brutal. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your freedom 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 the first one offered. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.

Contact us now to start putting together 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 member of our team about how to defend you.

We also offer the following legal services in Beverly Hills, CA: