Violent Crimes Lawyer Moreno Valley, 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 long time in jail or prison. But all hope is not lost. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you have someone protecting you from these legal and personal 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 Moreno Valley, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and look for defensive tactics that should be effective for your case. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to build your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online today for a free, private consultation to discuss your case.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations
Our team of Moreno Valley, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. 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 look into the charges and Moreno Valley, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, mistaken identity, 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 Moreno Valley, CA, Violent Crime Charges We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is one of the most commont types of violent crimes in California. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on the person of another." Most people don't know that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault 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
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, rather than just being attempted. In Moreno Valley, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the flip side, criminal threats charges don't even require an attempt at violence, just an attempt to intimidate someone. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
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 each of the laws, it's critical to have a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our lawyers also defend the following violent crimes charges in Moreno Valley, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra bad 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're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Moreno Valley, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Most commonly, unlawful possession 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 all Moreno Valley, CA, gun charges are serious, the way the firearm was (and wasn't) allegedly used can make a big difference. 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 other hand, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Especially for incidents such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An excellent Moreno Valley, 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. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes any actual harm caused, threats of abuse, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. 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.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. 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, amplifying their gravity.
Our household violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We also defend against animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of Moreno Valley, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. However, you might also be up against increased 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, the sentence you face can be increased by several years. Conspiracy charges are closely related. 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 common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecutor in Moreno Valley, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.
Finally, our Moreno Valley, 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 won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. If a conviction would be your third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Moreno Valley, 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 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 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 Moreno Valley, CA, local prosecutor. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. You don't want to go to federal court alone. You don't want to face the full force of the United States government without help. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is prepared to defend you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're picking an attorney to protect you in Moreno Valley, CA, it's important to hire a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- A History of Success: You want to be represented by an attorney who knows the ins and outs of the California court system. Our team is know for our successful violent crime case results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of how the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Moreno Valley, CA. We know local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
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 those qualities.
Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Us Right Away
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The court system is complicated. The Moreno Valley, CA, district attorney is intimidating. And the consequences are grim. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your freedom 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 settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We battle the state. We start every case by listening to our client, and protect your rights from day one until the case is done.
Contact us now to begin putting together your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Moreno Valley, CA:
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