Violent Crimes Lawyer Linda Vista, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk wrecking your reputation, ruining your career, and worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. 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 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 Linda Vista, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and develop defense strategies that will be effective for your charges. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you're ready to craft your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Linda Vista, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. It all starts with the following steps:
- Learn Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Linda Vista, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Build a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, consent, or false allegations.
- Negotiatiate 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 there is a trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Linda Vista, CA, Violent Crime Charges 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. 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." A lot of people are unaware that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, regardless of whether or not you 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. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations don't actually have statutes of their own, and instead are nicknames used to describe specific assault cases
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery occurs when harm is actually done, rather than just being attempted. After a fight, Linda Vista, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is 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 difference in individual laws, it's paramount to have 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 Linda Vista, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person confines another to a space against their will, 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: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra bad purposes 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 are another form of criminal threats – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes 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: Whether or not you burned something on purpose is the key difference between arson charges and reckless burning.
- 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Linda Vista, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
Commonly, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Linda Vista, CA, firearm charges are significant, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon is when one person shows another a gun (or other weapon) to intimidate them, not necessarily firing it. 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 in incidents 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 excellent Linda Vista, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will protect you from the legal consequences of these charges, including further restrictions on your Second Amendment rights.
Family and Animal Abuse Defense Lawyers
The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes any actual harm caused, threats of harm, 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 is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), while child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges are often filed together, amplifying their seriousness.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Linda Vista, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. But you could also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via 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, 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 could be convicted of conspiracy if you collaborate with another person to break the law, 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. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The district attorney in Linda Vista, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Finally, our Linda Vista, 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. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Linda Vista, 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 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.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Linda Vista, CA, local prosecutor. Sometimes, though, 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 equipped to defend you against 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 deciding on a lawyer to defend your rights in Linda Vista, 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 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 law experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Linda Vista, CA. We have relationships with 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 Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Us Right Away
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The court system is complex. The Linda Vista, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the consequences are heavy. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your freedom and constitutional rights are at risk.
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 easier to get. We battle the state. We make a defense with you at the center, and protect your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.
Contact us now to start putting together 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 amember of our legal team about how to defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Linda Vista, CA:
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