Violent Crimes Lawyer Cerritos, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk torpedoing your reputation, setting back your career, and worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. 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):

Our experienced Cerritos, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you honest advice, and look for defensive strategies that can be used for your case. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to craft your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form today for a free, confidential consultation.

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

Our team of Cerritos, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. 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 Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the specifics of the charges and Cerritos, 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, consent, or procedural error.
  • Negotiatiate With the State – We won't back down in negotiations; we'll fight to secure a plea deal that protects your interests.
  • Fight At Trial – Should your case go to trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.

Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges

California law defines several violent crimes, including the likes of aggravated assault, child abuse, and resisting arrest. If you're facing accusations of one of these crimes in Cerritos, CA, it can be intimidating, but don't panic: The prosecution needs to prove components like your culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. After an investigation, if the state believes it has enough evidence against you, they will make formal charges against you. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). Victim testimony plays a key role, but cross-examination can reveal inconsistencies or false accusations.

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) does not require any actual harm done (just an attempt or threat), meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Both can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. Probation is more likely if you don't have any prior convictions on your record, but particularly aggressive circumstances could wind up with felony charges. 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.

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Major Cerritos, 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 someone else." A lot of people don't know that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.

Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a non-firearm weapon. 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 just being attempted. In Cerritos, 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. You don't even have to be willing to follow through; "I didn't mean it" isn't a valid defense for these charges.

Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in Cerritos, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the difference in individual laws, it's important to find a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., also defends against the below violent crimes charges in Cerritos, CA,:

  • False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
  • Kidnapping: Whereas false imprisonment confines a person to one location, kidnapping involves moving that person to a new location.
  • Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra heinous reasons 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 – 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: 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

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

Frequently, unlawful 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 Cerritos, CA, firearm charges are important to take seriously, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. Brandishing a weapon normally does not include use of the weapon beyond showing it with the intent to scare another person. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.

On the other hand, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. 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.

An expert Cerritos, 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. Domestic accusations, though, are especially hard to fight. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes any actual harm caused, threats of harm, and even just placing someone in fear of harm. And for it to qualify as 'domestic,' the alleged victim can be anyone from your spouse to your child to your roommate.

Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, meanwhile child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges can be filed together, intensifying their gravity.

Our household 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 Cerritos, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you might also need to fight elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.

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, 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 break the law, 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. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, you can also see them used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Cerritos, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.

Furthermore, our Cerritos, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend 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 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 further contstraints on early release.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

When you get into an altercation with the police in Cerritos, 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 aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.

In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Cerritos, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. 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 equipped to represent you against 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

You need a robbery defense lawyer if you're facing charges like robbery or home invasion. These can carry penalties up to 9 years or 20 years, respectively. The use of a weapon is often an enhancing factor for sentencing..

Because of the importance of witness testimony, it's important to work with a leading violent crimes defense lawyer to build your defense. We can present your side of the story, challenge the prosecution's witnesses, and show an alternative interpretation of the events. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face harsher penalties. Restraining orders may follow if violence is alleged, impacting your life long-term.

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Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities

Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're picking a lawyer to defend you in Cerritos, CA, you want a firm with the below 3 qualities:

  1. A History of Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
  2. Local Relationships: We're ready for your case in Cerritos, CA. We know local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.

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 someone with all those properties.

Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Cerritos

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is important to keep in mind for violent crimes charges in Cerritos, CA. Enacted in 1994, it mandates 25 years to life for a third "strike" felony if priors include serious or violent crimes. Because of this, it's even more critical for you to work with an expert violent crimes defense lawyer if you have any prior convictions on your record.

You need a law office with extensive resources to fight against Three Strikes cases. And the Law Offices of David S. Chesley has those resources. 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:

  • File 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.
  • Resentencing Petitions: After Proposition 36 was passed in 2012, thousands of people have been resentenced. Our legal team will petition for a reduction in sentences when your third strike was non-violent.
  • Avoiding New Strikes: In current cases, we negotiate pleas to non-strike offenses, like misdemeanor assault instead of felony. Lack of intent defenses prevent strike enhancements.
  • Constitutional Challenges: If the sentence is wildly out of proportion for the alleged crime, we can argue that it is cruel and unusual. This would make it unconstitutional for the court to give such a sentence to you. 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 Life After Conviction: Stirkes not only add onto your sentence: they also delay parole eligibility. We advocate for early release or expungement where possible.

A Cerritos, 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.

There is much debate in Cerritos, CA over whether California's Three Strikes law is just or not. Reforms continue, but without aggressive defense, clients face lifelong consequences. If you're facing a third strike in California, it's easy to feel despair. But your case isn't over yet – call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley today to fight for your freedom.

Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Today

Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The legal system is convoluted. The Cerritos, CA, prosecutor is frightening. And the sentences are oppressive. 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 easier to get. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and protect your rights from day one until the case is done.

Contact us now to start 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 amember of our legal team about how to defend you.

We also offer the following legal services in Cerritos, CA: