Violent Crimes Lawyer Chula Vista, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk torpedoing your reputation, hurting your career, and possibly worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard you from these 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 Chula Vista, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, give you honest advice, and find defensive tactics that should be effective for your situation. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to build your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online now for a no-obligation, private consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Chula Vista, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Listen to Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Chula Vista, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- Negotiatiate With the State – Any time we communicate with the Chula Vista prosecution about your case, we will stand strong to find a deal that works for you.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Chula Vista, CA, Violent Crime Allegations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is one of the most commont types of violent crimes in California. 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, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, even if you don't 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. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "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, rather than just being attempted. In Chula Vista, 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. You don't even have to be willing to follow through; "I didn't mean it" isn't a valid defense for these charges.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Chula Vista, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the difference in specific laws, it's paramount to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Here are some other related violent crimes charges our attorneys defend in Chula Vista, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This occurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, for example, locking another person in a room.
- Kidnapping: Whereas false imprisonment confines a person to one location, kidnapping involves moving that person to a new location.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for particular, 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: Terrorist threats aren't their own statute, but are an unofficial term for certain criminal threats charges – 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 involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Chula Vista, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
In many cases, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for carrying a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Chula Vista, CA, gun charges are perilous, the way the firearm was (and wasn't) allegedly used can make a big difference. 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.
Meanwhile, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially in incidents 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 experienced Chula Vista, 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. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just placing someone in fear of harm. 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.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. Child abuse is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, amplifying their seriousness.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. 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 Chula Vista, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. That said, you could also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via 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 can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate 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. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The district attorney in Chula Vista, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Additionally, our Chula Vista, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you from California's three strikes law. Under it, certain serious felonies are classified as "strikes" in your criminal history. With one prior strike, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be 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 additional restraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Chula Vista, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though this can broadly apply to anything done to get in their way, whether or not they were trying to arrest you.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Chula Vista, CA, local prosecutor. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 ready to represent you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're picking an attorney to defend your rights in Chula Vista, CA, you want a legal team 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 is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined legal experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Chula Vista, CA. We know local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.
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 those qualities.
Tenatious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Now
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The court system is complicated. The Chula Vista, CA, prosecutor is formidable. And the sentences are steep. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your liberty and constitutional rights are at risk.
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 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 fight for your rights from when we first speak until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to begin building your defense. Call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in Chula Vista, CA:
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