Violent Crimes Lawyer El Cajon, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk destroying your reputation, devastating your career, and possibly worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these devestating 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 El Cajon, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you honest advice, and develop defensive tactics that can be used for your case. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to build your defense, contact us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online today for a free, private consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of El Cajon, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. This is how we do it:
- Listen to 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 specifics of the charges and El Cajon, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- Plea Bargain With the State – For many cases, the easiest way to a positive outcome is through a plea deal. When we negotiate plea deals with the state, we don't give up and fight to get something favorable.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Major El Cajon, CA, Violent Crime Categories 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on somebody." Most people aren't aware that to be charged with assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, even if you don't actually cause harm.
While simple assault charges are harsh in and of themselves, you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. 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 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 a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, instead of just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in El Cajon, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the other hand, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
Another important set of charges we commonly defend against in this category is reckless endangerment charges. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Due to the variation in each of the statutes, it's important to hire a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our lawyers also defend the following violent crimes charges in El Cajon, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when an individual detaining another without just cause, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- 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 bad reasons such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible 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: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- Arson: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- 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 El Cajon, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
In many cases, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all El Cajon, CA, firearm charges are important to take seriously, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon does not typically involve firing the gun, but instead using it to make a threat. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
On the other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially 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.
A high-quality El Cajon, 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
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 harm, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. The other qualifying factor for 'domestic' violence is who the alleged victim is: for it to qualify, they must be someone with a close relationship to the alleged offender, such as a child, spouse, or cohabitant.
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 could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges are often filed together, raising their seriousness.
Our experienced 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, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of El Cajon, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. That said, you can also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.
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 dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you collaborate with another person 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. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in El Cajon, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they believe that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Lastly, our El Cajon, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you from California's three strikes law. Under it, certain serious felonies are classified as "strikes" in your criminal history. With one prior strike, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. If a conviction would be your third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional contstraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in El Cajon, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. Obstructing a police officer is a closely related category of charges, though these ones 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 El Cajon, CA prosecution. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor will take charge. 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 ready to defend you against federal crimes in addition to 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 your rights in El Cajon, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want 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.
- 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 builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Local Relationships: We're ready for your case in El Cajon, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
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.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Right Away
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The legal system is complex. The El Cajon, CA, prosecutor is formidable. And the punishments are heavy. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your innocence 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 the first one offered. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and protect your rights from day one until the case is concluded.
Contact 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 a member of our team about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in El Cajon, CA:
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