Violent Crimes Lawyer Indio, CA. We know how overwhelming it can be to be facing violent crime accusations. They risk torpedoing your reputation, devastating your career, and perhaps worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. 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 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 skillful Indio, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and find defensive tactics that should be effective for your circumstances. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to construct your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations
Our team of Indio, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. This is how we do it:
- Listen to Your Story – Every case starts with our client. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Indio, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – We won't back down in negotiations; we'll fight to secure a plea deal that protects your interests.
- Fight At Trial – If there is a trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Major Indio, 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 someone else." Many people don't know that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however there are several more serious variations of them. 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 weapon other than a gun. These variations are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery is a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, rather than just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Indio, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the flip side, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. 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 Indio, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. As a result of the variation in each of the statutes, it's important to hire 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 Indio, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person confines another to a space against their will, for example, locking another person in a room.
- 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 purposes such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California stalking law requires more than just following another person who doesn't like it – it also requires that the accused make a credible 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 goes beyond battery and includes serious injuries, done to make the alleged victim suffer.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- 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 Indio, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
Frequently, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for carrying a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Indio, CA, firearm charges are serious, 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 contrary, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Especially 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 Indio, 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
No matter what kind of violent crime charge you're facing, it's tough to see a way out. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, 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 charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, while child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges are often filed together, heightening their gravity.
Our household 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 Indio, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. But you could also be up against heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part 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 could 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.
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 charges. The prosecution in Indio, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Finally, our Indio, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you against 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 will have a harder time securing early release. If a conviction would be your third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Indio, CA, the allegations can be even more severe. 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 set 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.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Indio, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 be your defense attorney for 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 picking an attorney to defend you in Indio, CA, 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 is know for our successful violent crime defense 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 how the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Indio, CA. We know 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 someone with all those properties.
Staunch Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Today
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The court system is complex. The Indio, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the consequences are brutal. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty 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 settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We battle the state. We make a defense with you at the center, and protect your freedom from when we first speak until the case is over.
Contact us now to start building your defense. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Indio, CA:
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