Violent Crimes Lawyer Blythe, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk torpedoing your reputation, devastating your career, and possibly worst yet, 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 devestating 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 Blythe, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and develop defensive strategies that will be effective for your circumstances. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to construct your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a free, private consultation to discuss your case.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Blythe, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. It all starts with the following steps:
- Listen to 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 charges and Blythe, 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 defense, consent, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain 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 – Should your case go to trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Blythe, CA, Violent Crime Categories We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is perhaps the most prototypical violent crime charge people thing of. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on someone else." A lot of people are unaware that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. 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: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't official charges, but rather subcategories for more serious assault charges
You might be asking yourself now, "What's the difference between assault and battery?" Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of only being attempted. In Blythe, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the flip side, criminal threats charges don't even require an attempt at violence, just an attempt to intimidate someone. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
Another important set of charges we commonly defend against in this category is reckless endangerment charges. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Due to the difference in specific statutes, you need to have 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 Blythe, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person confines another to a space against their will, for example, locking another person in a room.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra bad purposes like 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: Terrorist threats are another form of criminal threats – watch out for linked hate crime accusations in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- 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 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
The right to bear arms comes with many restrictions and responsibilities in Blythe, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Most commonly, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Blythe, CA, gun charges are important to take seriously, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. 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 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 expert Blythe, CA, violent crimes defense attorney can not only protect you from a prison sentence and hefty fine, but also from further restrictions on your Second Amendment rights.
Family and Animal Abuse Defense Lawyers
The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. 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 any actual harm caused, threats of abuse, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. And for it to qualify as 'domestic,' the alleged victim can be anyone from your spouse to your child to your roommate.
If the alleged victim was a child, that can also affect which charges are filed. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, meanwhile child endangerment could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges are often filed together, amplifying their seriousness.
Our expert 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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Blythe, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you can also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part of gang activities, the sentence you face can be increased by several years. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you agree with somebody else to commit a crime, and either one of you does something overt to advance the plan.
Another common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecution in Blythe, 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 Blythe, 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, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you will have a harder time securing early release. With two prior strikes, the penalty could be 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 Blythe, 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 can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar category 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.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Blythe, CA, local prosecutor. On some occasions, when the accusations are especially severe, a federal prosecutor will take charge. When you're up against the federal government, you need a powerful legal team on your side. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is proud to represent you against federal crimes as well as 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 picking a lawyer to defend your rights in Blythe, CA, it's important to hire 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 has a history of successful violent crime defense results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., has over 50 years of combined law experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in the ways the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Local Relationships: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Blythe, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.
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 properties.
Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Today
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The legal system is complex. The Blythe, CA, district attorney is intimidating. And the sentences are brutal. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty and constitutional rights are at risk.
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 easier to get. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and defend your rights from the day you call until the case is done.
Contact us now to begin putting together your defense. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to defend you.
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