Violent Crimes Lawyer Compton, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk damaging your reputation, setting back your career, and possibly worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these 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 skillful Compton, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and find defense strategies that can be used for your charges. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to construct your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online today for a no-obligation, private consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Compton, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. It all starts with the following steps:
- Learn About Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll look into the charges and Compton, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, lack of intent, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Compton 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 Compton, CA, Violent Crime Accusations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
When you ask someone to name an example of a violent crime, there's a good chance they'll mention assault. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on someone else." Most people don't know that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
While simple assault charges are harsh in and of themselves, there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault types of charges stem from attempts to cause serious harm, rather than just harm in general. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm 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 a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, rather than only being attempted. After a fight, Compton, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. Meanwhile, criminal threats charges can occur completely over the phone, text, or verbally in person. They don't have to involve literal violence at all. 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 Compton, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the difference in each of the statutes, you need to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
If you're facing other violent crimes charges, we can help: Here are some other interpersonal harm charges we defend in Compton, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking 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: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – watch out for linked hate crime accusations in these cases.
- Torture: Torture goes beyond battery and includes serious injuries, done to make the alleged victim suffer.
- Mayhem: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- Arson: Whether or not you burned something on purpose is the key difference between arson charges and reckless burning.
- 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
While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in Compton, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Most commonly, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Compton, CA, firearm charges are major, 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. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
On the other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Particularly in allegations 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 Compton, 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
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 intentional or unintentional harm, threats of abuse, 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 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, amplifying their seriousness.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Compton, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. However, you could also need to fight heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.
One of the most common examples is 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 another group-related charge. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with someone else 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, you can also see them used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in Compton, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they believe that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.
Furthermore, our Compton, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you from 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. When convicted and given a third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Compton, 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 closely related 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.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Compton, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. But for more serious cases, 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 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 deciding on an attorney to defend you in Compton, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Varied Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of 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 Compton, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
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 someone with all those properties.
Staunch Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Lawyers Now
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The laws are complicated. The Compton, CA, district attorney is frightening. And the consequences are brutal. If you don't have 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 stand idly by and let the state build its case. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and protect your rights from the day you call until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to begin building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Compton, CA:
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