Violent Crimes Lawyer North Hollywood, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk damaging your reputation, hurting your career, and worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect 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 experienced North Hollywood, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you honest advice, and find defensive strategies that should be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to craft your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online today for a free, private consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of North Hollywood, 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:
- 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 North Hollywood, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, consent, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain 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 present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Major North Hollywood, 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 somebody." A lot of people are unaware 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 you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. Aggravated assault types of charges stem from attempts to cause serious harm, rather than just harm in general. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a weapon other than a gun. 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 occurs when harm is actually done, rather than just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in North Hollywood, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the other hand, 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.
Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in North Hollywood, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. As a result of the difference in each of the laws, you need to hire a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in North Hollywood, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, 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: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra grim reasons 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: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – you're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture goes beyond battery and includes serious injuries, done to make the alleged victim suffer.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- Arson: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- Rioting: Rioting involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
The right to bear arms comes with many restrictions and responsibilities in North Hollywood, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Frequently, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of possessing a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any North Hollywood, CA, firearm charges are important to take seriously, the way the firearm was (and wasn't) allegedly used can make a big difference. 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
A high-quality North Hollywood, 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 goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of harm, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. 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, intensifying their seriousness.
Our experienced 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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of North Hollywood, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. That said, you can also need to fight increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
One of the most common examples is 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 another group-related charge. You could be found guilty of conspiracy if you agree with someone else to commit a crime, and either one of you does something overt to advance the plan.
You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with 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 North Hollywood, 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.
Lastly, our North Hollywood, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you against California's three strikes law. For alleged repeat offenders, this law can become a tremendous hurdle. Previous felony convictions may count as "strikes" against you. 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. When convicted and given a third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restrictions on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
North Hollywood, 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 set 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.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local North Hollywood, CA prosecution. Sometimes, though, 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 ready to be your defense attorney for 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 protect you in North Hollywood, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want someone with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want to be represented by an attorney who knows the ins and outs of the California court system. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined legal 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 North Hollywood, 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 those qualities.
Staunch Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Us Now
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The legal system is complex. The North Hollywood, CA, prosecutor is frightening. And the penalties are grim. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your innocence 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 easier to get. We battle the state. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and defend your freedom from when we first speak until the case is concluded.
Reach out to us now to begin putting together your defense. Call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with amember of our legal team about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in North Hollywood, CA:
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