Violent Crimes Lawyer Garden Grove, CA

Violent Crimes Lawyer Garden Grove, CA. We know how overwhelming it can be to be facing violent crime accusations. They risk harming your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst yet, a lengthy prison sentence. But all hope is not lost. And when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these devestating 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 expert Garden Grove, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, be honest with our recommendations, and develop defense tactics that should be effective for your situation. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you need to build your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a free, confidential consultation.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges

Our team of Garden Grove, 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 Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
• Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the specifics of the charges and Garden Grove, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
• Put Together a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, mistaken identity, or false allegations.
• Negotiatiate With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
• Fight At Trial – If there is a trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.

Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges

California law defines several violent crimes, including the likes of aggravated assault, child abuse, and resisting arrest. The Garden Grove, CA, prosecution, often led by the District Attorney, must prove elements like intent and harm beyond a reasonable doubt. After an investigation, if the state believes it has enough evidence against you, they will make formal charges against you. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). Several of these cases hinge on testimony as much as physical evidence — our attorneys will dissect alleged victim testimony in cross-examination and show your side of the story.

If you're curious about violent crime distinctions, let's look at the difference between assault charges and battery charges in California: Assault (Penal Code 240) involves an attempt or threat to harm, while battery (Penal Code 242) requires actual physical contact. Both can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. Probation is more likely if you don't have any prior convictions on your record, but aggravating factors like a weapon could mean jail time. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we will fight for your freedom and protect your rights, mounting a tenacious defense against all charges.

Major Garden Grove, 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. What's interesting about it is that no harm has to actually be done. To be guilty of assault, one has to attempt "a violent injury on somebody." Most people don't know 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 are usually a misdemeanor, however there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault charge types in particular are very similar to assault: they normally requires that the alleged offender was trying to cause 'serious' harm rather than general harm. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault using a non-firearm weapon. 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, instead of just being attempted. After a fight, Garden Grove, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, 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 don't even have to be willing to follow through; "I didn't mean it" isn't a valid defense for these charges.

Another important set of charges we commonly defend against in this category is reckless endangerment charges. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Due to the variation in individual laws, you need to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.

If you're facing other violent crimes charges, we can help: Here are some other interpersonal harm charges we defend in Garden Grove, CA,:

• False Imprisonment: This occurs 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: Whereas false imprisonment confines a person to one location, kidnapping involves moving that person to a new location.
• Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for particular, extra heinous 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 – 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: What was once a battery charge can be elevated to mayhem if certain circumstances apply, such as the severing of someone's limb.
• Arson: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
• 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 Garden Grove, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.

In many cases, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Garden Grove, CA, gun charges are major, the way the firearm was (and wasn't) allegedly used can make a big difference. 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 contrary, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Particularly for cases 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 Garden Grove, 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. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. 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 charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, expanding their seriousness.

Our household 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, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.

Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers

If you're facing violent crime charges in Garden Grove, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you could also be up against elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.

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, 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 could be found guilty of conspiracy if you agree with somebody else to break the law, and either one of you does something that furthers the commission of the crime.

Another way you can see your sentence raised is if you're accused of a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Garden Grove, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.

Additionally, our Garden Grove, 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 won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. With two prior strikes, the sentence could be increased to 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 Garden Grove, 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 carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. Obstructing a police officer is a closely related category of charges, though these ones aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.

For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local Garden Grove, CA prosecution. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor will take charge. 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 defend you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Robbery and Violent Crimes Intersections: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

You need a robbery defense lawyer if you're facing charges like robbery or home invasion. These can carry penalties up to 9 years or 20 years, respectively. The use of a weapon is often an enhancing factor for sentencing..

Because of the importance of witness testimony, it's important to work with a leading violent crimes defense lawyer to build your defense. We can present your side of the story, challenge the prosecution's witnesses, and show an alternative interpretation of the events. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face harsher penalties. Depending on the nature of the alleged crime and your relationship with the victim, you might alse be up against a restraining order.

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 picking a lawyer to protect you in Garden Grove, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:

1. Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
2. Local Relationships: We're ready for your case in Garden Grove, CA. We know 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 someone with all those characteristics.

Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Garden Grove

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is important to keep in mind for violent crimes charges in Garden Grove, CA. Enacted in 1994, it mandates 25 years to life for a third "strike" felony if priors include serious or violent crimes. If you have any prior strikes on your record, it's critical to work with a leading criminal defense attorney to protect your freedom.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know what it takes to defend Three Strikes cases. If you're facing a strike-eligible charge like robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, or kidnapping, one conviction counts as a strike, doubling future sentences or imposing life terms. For example, a third strike for shoplifting (if priors are strikes) could mean life—though reforms limit this to violent thirds.

Defense Strategies Under Three Strikes:

• File Romero Motions: Romero motions can be used to request a judge to remove an existing strike on your record. These are more likely to be successful by showing flaws with the older case, or proof of rehabilitation.
• Resentencing Petitions: Due to updated laws, people with prior Three Strikes convictions can petition to have their sentence reduced. This has the potential to reduce charges from a life sentence down to time served, if the third strike was non-violent.
• Avoiding New Strikes: Even better than having prior strikes removed, we'll fight to prevent you getting one in the first place. This often comes from skillful plea negotiation. Many of these cases hinge on showing a lack of intent on the alleged offender's part.
• Constitutional Challenges: If the sentence is wildly out of proportion for the alleged crime, we can argue that it is cruel and unusual. This would make it unconstitutional for the court to give such a sentence to you. We can also look into prior cases to see if there were any procedural errors that should have resulted in an acquittal.
• Impact on Parole and Your Future: Strikes delay parole eligibility. A skilled criminal defense attorney like the ones at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley will fight for your early release and/or expungement of your record.

Three strikes charges are not something to take lightly. If you're facing a third strike in Garden Grove, CA, you need to contact an attorney now. And we're prepared to help you. It doesn't matter how hard the prosecution fights, we will be with you every step of the way. Our experience and resources give us the tools we need to defend you.

Minorities and low-income individuals are frequently affected by California's Three Strikes law in Garden Grove, CA. Reforms continue, but without aggressive defense, clients face lifelong consequences. If you're facing a third strike in California, it's easy to feel despair. But your case isn't over yet – call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley today to fight for your freedom.

Staunch Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Now

Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The legal system is complicated. The Garden Grove, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the punishments are tough. 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 take a passive approach to your defense. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We fight. We start every case by listening to our client, and defend your rights from the day you call until the case is over.

Contact us now to begin putting together 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 protect your rights.

We also offer the following legal services in Garden Grove, CA:

• Sex Crimes Lawyer
• Immigration Lawyer
• Drug Charges Lawyer
• Theft Lawyer
• DUI Lawyer
• Criminal Defense Lawyer