Violent Crimes Lawyer Commerce, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk harming 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 hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these consequences. We will tenatiously defend you against violent crimes accusations from any of categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our skillful Commerce, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and look for defensive strategies that can be used for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to build your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Commerce, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Listen to Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Commerce, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches 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 Commerce, 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on someone else." Most people are unaware that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but the line can be fuzzy between simple assault and some of it's more serious versions. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a non-firearm weapon. These variations don't actually have statutes of their own, and instead are nicknames used to describe specific assault cases
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of simply being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Commerce, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. 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.
Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in Commerce, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the difference in individual statutes, you need to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Our violent crime defense attorneys can also help you fight the following charges in Commerce, 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for particular, extra bad 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 – watch out for linked hate crime accusations 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: 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 charges can be split into inciting the riot or participating in it, but both are usually charged as misdemeanors.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Commerce, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, 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 it could also be related to carrying a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Commerce, CA, gun charges are serious, 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.
Meanwhile, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Particularly for 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 expert Commerce, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence isn't just 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 charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, while 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 household 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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Commerce, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. That said, you might also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, the sentence you face can be increased by several years. Conspiracy charges are dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with another person to commit a crime, and either one of you does something overt to advance the plan.
You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are frequently used as enhancements to other crimes. The district attorney in Commerce, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Furthermore, our Commerce, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect you from California's three strikes law. For alleged repeat offenders, this law can become a tremendous hurdle. Previous felony convictions may count as "strikes" against you. With one prior strike, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. If a conviction would be your third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restrictions on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Commerce, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer can result in more prison time than if the assault was against a non-officer, while resisting arrest covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. 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.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local Commerce, CA prosecution. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. You don't want to go to federal court alone. You don't want to face the full force of the United States government without help. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is ready to be your defense attorney for 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 a lawyer to defend your rights in Commerce, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want someone 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 case results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined legal experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of the ways the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Commerce, CA. We know 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 those qualities.
Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Lawyers Today
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The court system is convoluted. The Commerce, CA, district attorney is powerful. And the sentences are oppressive. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your innocence 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 settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was faster. We battle the state. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and protect your rights from day one until the case is done.
Contact us now to begin building your defense. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in Commerce, CA:
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