Violent Crimes Lawyer Costa Mesa, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk destroying your reputation, setting back your career, and possibly worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect 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 Costa Mesa, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and find defensive tactics that should be effective for your situation. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to create your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now for a free, private consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Costa Mesa, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. It all starts with the following steps:
- Learn About Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. 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 charges and Costa Mesa, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, lack of intent, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – Any time we communicate with the Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa, 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 the person of another." Most people are unaware that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily 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: Attempts to harm while using a non-firearm weapon. These variations are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."
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, Costa Mesa, 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. You can be found guilty even if you didn't have the ability to carry out the threats.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Costa Mesa, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. As a result of the difference in individual statutes, it's important to have a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Our lawyers also defend the following violent crimes charges in Costa Mesa, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This occurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, 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: 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: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – you're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Costa Mesa, 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.
Frequently, unlawful 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 Costa Mesa, CA, gun charges are significant, 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 contrary, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Particularly in allegations such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
A high-quality Costa Mesa, 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 intentional or unintentional harm, threats of harm, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. 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 involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, intensifying their seriousness.
Our household violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Costa Mesa, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. However, you might also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part of gang activities, prison sentences can drastically increase, though exactly how much depends on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You could be found guilty of conspiracy if you make a plan 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, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in Costa Mesa, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.
Furthermore, our Costa Mesa, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you against 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 will have a harder time securing early release. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restrictions on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Costa Mesa, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer can result in more prison time than if the assault was against a non-officer, while resisting arrest carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. 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 Costa Mesa, CA, local prosecutor. Sometimes, though, a federal prosecutor will take charge. 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 equipped to represent you against federal crimes as well as 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 Costa Mesa, CA, it's important to hire someone with the below 3 qualities:
- A History of Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime case results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., has over 50 years of combined legal experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in the ways the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We handle court cases all over California, including in Costa Mesa, CA. We have relationships with 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 those qualities.
Staunch Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Firm Now
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The statutes are complicated. The Costa Mesa, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the consequences are harsh. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your freedom 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 the first one offered. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and protect your freedom from the day you call until the case is over.
Reach out to us now to begin putting together your defense. Call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in Costa Mesa, CA:
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