Violent Crimes Lawyer Newport Beach, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk wrecking your reputation, ruining your career, and perhaps worst yet, a lengthy prison sentence. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these consequences. We will tenatiously defend you against violent crimes accusations from any of categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our expert Newport Beach, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and develop defensive tactics that can be used for your circumstances. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you need to craft your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Newport Beach, 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. This is how we do it:
- 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 investigate the charges and Newport Beach, 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, mistaken identity, or false allegations.
- Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Newport Beach 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 make sure that the judge and/or jury see your side of the story, and you're properly represented against the accusations.
Major Newport Beach, CA, Violent Crime Charges 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 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, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however there are several more serious variations of them. 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 don't actually have statutes of their own, and instead are nicknames used to describe specific assault cases
You might be asking yourself now, "What's the difference between assault and battery?" Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Newport Beach, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. Meanwhile, criminal threats charges can occur completely over the phone, text, or verbally in person. They don't have to involve literal violence at all. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Newport Beach, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the variation in specific laws, it's critical to hire a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Here are some other related violent crimes charges our attorneys defend in Newport Beach, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, for example, locking another person in a room.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping consists of taking a person from one location to another against their will.
- Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for particular, extra bad 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: 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: What was once a battery charge can be elevated to mayhem if certain circumstances apply, such as the severing of someone's limb.
- 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 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 Newport Beach, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
Often, possession 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 Newport Beach, CA, firearm charges are important to take seriously, 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. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
On the other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Particularly 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.
A high-quality Newport Beach, 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
No matter what kind of violent crime charge you're facing, it's tough to see a way out. Domestic accusations, though, are especially hard to fight. 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.
Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), meanwhile child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges can be filed together, raising their seriousness.
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, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Newport Beach, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. That said, you might also need to fight heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
One of the most common examples is 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, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are closely related. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else to commit a crime, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.
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 frequently used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecutor in Newport Beach, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they believe that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Furthermore, our Newport Beach, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect 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 a harder time securing early release. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further contstraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Newport Beach, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. 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.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Newport Beach, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. On some occasions, when the accusations are especially severe, 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 proud to defend you against federal crimes as well as state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're deciding on an attorney to defend you in Newport Beach, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want someone with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior 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.
- Diverse 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 prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Local Relationships: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Newport Beach, CA. We know 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 characteristics.
Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Firm Now
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The laws are convoluted. The Newport Beach, CA, district attorney is frightening. And the penalties are severe. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty and constitutional rights are at risk.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't stand idly by and let the state build its case. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We fight. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and fight for your rights from day one until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to begin building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in Newport Beach, CA:
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