Violent Crimes Lawyer Long Beach, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk destroying your reputation, hurting your career, and worst yet, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these devestating 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 expert Long Beach, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and look for defense strategies that can be used for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to construct your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or reach out 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 Long Beach, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. This is how we do it:
- Learn About Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Long Beach, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- 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 – Should your case go to trial, we'll make sure that the judge and/or jury see your side of the story, and you're properly represented against the accusations.
Major Long Beach, 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. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on someone else." Many people aren't aware that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, even if you don't actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but 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 non-firearm weapon. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "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 only being attempted. After a fight, Long Beach, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, 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.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Long Beach, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Due to the variation in each of the laws, it's paramount to work with a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in Long Beach, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This occurs 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: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra heinous reasons like 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 – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- Arson: Arson involves the intentional and unlawful burning of property, as opposed to reckless burning, which is an unintentional version of the same things.
- 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 Long Beach, 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.
Commonly, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of carrying a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Long Beach, CA, gun 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 allegations such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An excellent Long Beach, 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 goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. 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 involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, 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, expanding their gravity.
Our expert 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, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Long Beach, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you might also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, prison sentences can drastically increase, though exactly how much depends on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are closely related. You can be found guilty 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 common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other charges. The district attorney in Long Beach, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they believe that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Furthermore, our Long Beach, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you from California's three strikes law. This law allows the government to keep track of your criminal history and assign "strikes" to certain felony convictions. With one prior strike, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be doubled, and you will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. If a conviction would be your third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restrictions on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Long Beach, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer can result in more prison time than if the assault was against a non-officer, while resisting arrest covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though this 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 Long Beach, CA prosecution. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 proud to be your defense attorney for federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're deciding on an attorney to protect you in Long Beach, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want someone with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom 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.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Long Beach, CA. We are familiar with local prosecutors and judges, and will use them to your advantage.
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 Legal Team Today
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The statutes are complex. The Long Beach, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the punishments are harsh. Without 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 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 fight for your rights from the day you call until the case is done.
Contact 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 lawyer about how to protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Long Beach, CA:
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