Violent Crimes Lawyer Moreno Valley, CA

Violent Crimes Lawyer Moreno Valley, CA. We know how overwhelming it can be to be facing violent crime accusations. They risk torpedoing your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst yet, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these 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 experienced Moreno Valley, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and develop defensive tactics that can be used for your circumstances. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to create your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online today for a free, private consultation to discuss your case.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations

Our team of Moreno Valley, 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:

• Listen to Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
• Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll look into the charges and Moreno Valley, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
• Build a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, lack of intent, or procedural error.
• Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Moreno Valley prosecution about your case, we will stand strong to find a deal that works for you.
• Fight At Trial – If your case reaches 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.

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. If you're facing accusations of one of these crimes in Moreno Valley, CA, it can be intimidating, but don't panic: The prosecution needs to prove components like your culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. After an arrest, you face an arraignment hearing, where you are told about the specific charges you're facing. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). Victim testimony plays a key role, but cross-examination can reveal inconsistencies or false accusations.

If you're curious about violent crime distinctions, assault and battery are two separate offenses in Califoria, with different definitions: Assault (Penal Code 240) occurs when one person threatens or attempts to hurt another, while battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Each of these can be misdemeanors or felonies, with the state making that decision based on the circumstances. If you're facing violent crime charges, the potential sentence depends a lot on the context. First-time offenders facing misdemeanor charges are more likely to avoid prison, but aggravating factors like a weapon could mean jail time. We focus on defense strategies like procedural errors in the arrest or lack of intent to mitigate outcomes.

Major Moreno Valley, CA, Violent Crime Allegations 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. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on somebody." A lot of people don't realize 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 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, instead of 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. 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. Due to the difference in each of the laws, it's important to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.

Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in Moreno Valley, 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 consists of taking a person from one location to another against their will.
• Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for particular, extra grim reasons such as forced labor or sex.
• Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible threat.
• Terrorist Threats: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – 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: 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 Moreno Valley, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.

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

While any Moreno Valley, CA, firearm charges are significant, 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.

Meanwhile, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Especially in allegations 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.

A high-quality Moreno Valley, 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

The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. Domestic accusations, though, are especially hard to fight. Domestic violence isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, 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 consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges are often filed together, increasing 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, 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. That said, you can also be up against heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.

One way we frequently see penalties increased is through gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part 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 another person to break the law, and either one of you takes action towards committing that 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 charges. The district attorney in Moreno Valley, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if 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 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 will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. If a conviction would be your third strike, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on parole.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

Moreno Valley, 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 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 aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.

These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Moreno Valley, CA, local prosecutor. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 equipped to defend you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Robbery and Related Offenses: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

A robbery defense attorney is essential if you're up against charges like robbery or home invasion. These can carry penalties up to 9 years or 20 years, respectively. The use of a weapon is often an enhancing factor for sentencing..

In one case, a client faced armed robbery charges after a misunderstanding during a transaction. By exposing false accusations and procedural errors, we secured a misdemeanor plea with no jail time. 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

Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're picking a lawyer to fight your case in Moreno Valley, CA, you want someone with the below 3 qualities:

1. Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime defense results.
2. Local Relationships: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Moreno Valley, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.

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.

California Three Strikes Law Defense: A Significant Focus for Local Clients

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is important to keep in mind for violent crimes charges in Moreno Valley, CA. The three strikes law assigns a "strike" to each alleged offender for serious or violent felony convictions. After the third, it requires the judge to sentence the alleged offender anywhere from 25 years to life. Because of this, it's even more critical for you to work with an expert violent crimes defense lawyer if you have any prior convictions on your record.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know what it takes to defend Three Strikes cases. If you're facing a strike-eligible charge like robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, or kidnapping, one conviction counts as a strike, doubling future sentences or imposing life terms. For example, a third strike for shoplifting (if priors are strikes) could mean life—though reforms limit this to violent thirds.

Defense Strategies Under Three Strikes:

• Romero Motions: Romero motions can be used to request a judge to remove an existing strike on your record. Judges take into account the circumstances of the older cases, as well as the character of the alleged offender.
• Motion for Resentencing: 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: In current cases, we negotiate pleas to non-strike offenses, like misdemeanor assault instead of felony. Lack of intent defenses prevent strike enhancements.
• 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. We can also look into prior cases to see if there were any procedural errors that should have resulted in an acquittal.
• Impact on Parole and Your Future: On top of increasing your sentence, strikes 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.

If you're facing Three Strikes charges in Moreno Valley, CA, you need to act fast to protect your freedom. The third strike can carry a life sentence. You need a lawyer with the resources to protect your future. And the Law Offices of David S. Chesley has those resources. We have a team of leading California attorneys ready to stand by you, from day one until the case is done.

There is much debate in Moreno Valley, CA over whether California's Three Strikes law is just or not. 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.

Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Now

Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The statutes are convoluted. The Moreno Valley, CA, district attorney is strong. And the penalties are heavy. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your liberty 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 faster. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your freedom 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 Moreno Valley, CA:

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