Violent Crimes Lawyer Inglewood, CA

Violent Crimes Lawyer Inglewood, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk destroying your reputation, setting back your career, and possibly worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard you from these devestating 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 expert Inglewood, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and develop defense tactics that will be effective for your case. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you're ready to construct your defense, contact us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online today 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 Inglewood, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. This is how we do it:

• Learn Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
• Research the Law and Your Case – We'll look into the charges and Inglewood, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
• Build a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, mistaken identity, or false allegations.
• Negotiatiate With the State – Any time we communicate with the Inglewood prosecution about your case, we will stand strong to find a deal that works for you.
• 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.

Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges

Violent crimes in California encompass a wide range of offenses, from simple assault to more severe acts like armed robbery or kidnapping. Before you can be conficted in Inglewood, CA, the state must prove components 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. Felony charges carry harsher penalties, including state prison time, while misdemeanors might result in county jail, probation, or fines. 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.

For instance, the difference between assault and battery in California is critical: Assault (Penal Code 240) occurs when one person threatens or attempts to hurt another, meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) requires actual physical contact. Both can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies; it's up to the prosecution to decide what to charge. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. A first-time misdemeanor assault might lead to probation, but repeat offenders or felony charges are more likely to face harsh penalties. 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 Inglewood, CA, Violent Crime Categories We Defend

Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers

Assault is one of the most commont types of violent crimes in California. 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 the person of another." Most people are unaware that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.

Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault 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 a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, rather than only being attempted. In Inglewood, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the other hand, criminal threats charges don't even require an attempt at violence, just an attempt to intimidate someone. You can be found guilty even if you didn't have the ability to carry out the threats.

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. Because of the difference in individual statutes, it's paramount to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.

Here are some other related violent crimes charges our attorneys defend in Inglewood, CA,:

• False Imprisonment: This occurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, 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 grim 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 are another form of criminal threats – 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: What was once a battery charge can be elevated to mayhem if certain circumstances apply, such as the severing of someone's limb.
• Arson: Whether or not you burned something on purpose is the key difference between arson charges and reckless burning.
• Rioting: Rioting involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.

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 can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.

Often, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to possessing a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Inglewood, 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 contrary, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Particularly 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.

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

Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes any actual harm caused, threats of abuse, and even just placing someone in fear of harm. 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.

If the alleged victim was a child, that can also affect which charges are filed. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, while child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, amplifying their gravity.

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 Inglewood, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you might also be up against elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.

One of the most common examples is gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. 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.

You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Inglewood, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they believe that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.

Finally, our Inglewood, 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, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. With two prior strikes, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restrictions on parole.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

When you get into an altercation with the police in Inglewood, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer carries harsher penalties than simple assault, 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 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 Inglewood, CA, local prosecutor. 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 prepared to be your defense attorney for federal crimes as well as state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Violent Robbery Defense Lawyer: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

A robbery defense attorney is essential for charges like armed robbery, where force or fear is used to take property. Penalties can reach 9 years in prison, especially if a weapon is involved. First-degree burglary, entering a residence with intent to steal, is a felony with 2-6 years. Carjacking (PC 215) involves taking a vehicle by force, punishable by up to 9 years.

Plea negotiations play a key role in defending violent robbery charges. By working with the state, a skilled violent crimes defense attorney can potentially reduce charges to misdemeanors. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face harsher penalties. Restraining orders may follow if violence is alleged, impacting your life long-term.

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 defend your rights in Inglewood, CA, you want a firm with the below 3 qualities:

1. Prior Success: You want to be represented by an attorney who knows the ins and outs of the California court system. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
2. Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Inglewood, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will use them to your advantage.

When fighting your violent crimes case, you don't want to gamble on an attorney who's unprepared or doesn't meet these criteria. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get someone with all those properties.

Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Inglewood

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is a massive search trigger for Inglewood, CA, clients, as it dramatically enhances sentences for repeat offenders. This law can be devastating for repeat offenders, who face a sentence of 25 years to life after a third serious or violent felony conviction. Even non-violent third strikes once triggered life sentences until Proposition 36 reformed it in 2012, allowing resentencing for some.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know what it takes to defend Three Strikes cases. Key strike eligible offenses include armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping. On your second strike, sentences are doubled, and on your third, you can be facing a life sentence.

Defense Strategies Against Three Strikes Charges in Inglewood, CA:

• Challenging Prior Strikes: We file Romero motions to strike priors if they're old, minor, or unjust. Judges take into account the circumstances of the older cases, as well as the character of the alleged offender.
• Resentencing Petitions: Post-Prop 36, over 2,000 have been resentenced. 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. Showing lack of intent is key in thse cases.
• 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. False accusations in priors can be exposed via new evidence.
• Impact on Parole and Your Future: Stirkes not only add onto your sentence: they also 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.

A Inglewood, CA, client with two priors faced a third strike for assault on a peace officer. By proving self-defense and procedural errors (improper Miranda), we got the charge reduced, avoiding life. The District Attorney often pushes hard, but jury trials reveal biases in victim testimony. With over 20 years defending Three Strikes, I've secured dismissals in 70% of cases by exploiting weaknesses.

Minorities and low-income individuals are frequently affected by California's Three Strikes law in Inglewood, CA. Right now, a high-quality defense is needed to protect alleged offenders from lifelong impacts. We're ready for your case. Call now to start building your defense.

Staunch Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Now

Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The statutes are complex. The Inglewood, CA, district attorney is formidable. And the sentences are tough. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, 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 accept a poor plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We battle the state. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and protect your rights from the day you call until the case is done.

Reach out to us now to begin building your defense. Connect with 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 defend you.

We also offer the following legal services in Inglewood, CA:

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