Violent Crimes Lawyer Inglewood, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk damaging your reputation, devastating your career, and perhaps worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. But all hope is not lost. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect 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 skillful Inglewood, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and look for defensive tactics that can be used for your situation. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you're ready to build your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form now for a free, confidential consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Inglewood, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Learn Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Inglewood, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain 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 – Should your case go to trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Inglewood, CA, Violent Crime Charges 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 someone else." A lot of people don't realize that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however the line can be fuzzy between simple assault and some of it's more serious versions. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't official charges, but rather subcategories for more serious assault charges
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss 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, Inglewood, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the flip side, criminal threats charges don't even require an attempt at violence, just an attempt to intimidate someone. 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 other charges along those lines. As a result of the variation in each of the laws, it's important to find a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our violent crime defense attorneys can also help you fight the following charges in Inglewood, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person confines another to a space against their will, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra bad reasons like forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats are another form of criminal threats – watch out for linked hate crime accusations in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- 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 Inglewood, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
In many cases, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Inglewood, CA, firearm charges are perilous, 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 other hand, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Particularly in cases such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, it's unlikely that you'd get off with a small fee or community service.
An expert Inglewood, 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
The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. Domestic accusations, though, are especially hard to fight. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of harm, and even just placing someone in fear of harm. 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.
If the alleged victim was a child, that can also affect which charges are filed. Child abuse charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, 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, heightening their gravity.
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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Inglewood, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. That said, you can also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
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 convicted of conspiracy if you agree with somebody else 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. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in Inglewood, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Furthermore, our Inglewood, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend 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. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restrictions on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Inglewood, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set 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 Inglewood, CA prosecution. Sometimes, though, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. 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 equipped to defend you against federal crimes as well as state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're picking an attorney to fight your case in Inglewood, CA, you want a legal team 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 has a history of successful violent crime defense results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: Our team 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.
- Local Relationships: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Inglewood, CA. We are familiar 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 Attorneys Today
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The statutes are convoluted. The Inglewood, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the consequences are heavy. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, 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 fight. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and protect your rights from when we first speak until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Call us at (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to protect your rights.
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