Violent Crimes Lawyer Ontario, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk torpedoing your reputation, devastating your career, and perhaps 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 are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard 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 Ontario, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, give you honest advice, and develop defensive tactics that should be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to build your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or contact us online today 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 Ontario, 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. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Listen to Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Ontario, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Ontario 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 stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Ontario, 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on someone else." Most people aren't aware that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing 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 there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault charge types in particular are very similar to assault: they normally requires that the alleged offender was trying to cause 'serious' harm rather than general harm. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault 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 occurs when harm is actually done, instead of simply being attempted. After a fight, Ontario, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. Meanwhile, 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 Ontario, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the variation in specific statutes, you need to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Our attorneys also can defend you against the below violent crimes charges in Ontario, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when an individual detaining another without just cause, 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 such as 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 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: 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Ontario, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
Most commonly, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Ontario, CA, gun charges are perilous, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. 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.
On the contrary, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Particularly for incidents 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 Ontario, 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
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 injuries of all kinds, threats of harm, 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 charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, meanwhile child endangerment could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges can be filed together, amplifying 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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Ontario, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. However, you could also be up against elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are closely related. You could be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with someone else to commit a crime, and either one of you does something that furthers the commission of the crime.
You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecution in Ontario, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they think that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Furthermore, our Ontario, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect 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 a harder time securing early release. With two prior strikes, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with further limitations on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Ontario, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. 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 Ontario, CA prosecution. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor will take charge. 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 equipped to defend you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
You don't want to go into a violent crimes case without the right lawyer. When you're deciding on a lawyer to fight your case in Ontario, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- A History of Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime case results.
- Varied Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined law 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: We handle court cases all over California, including in Ontario, CA. We know local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
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.
Tenatious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Right Away
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The court system is complex. The Ontario, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the sentences are harsh. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your freedom and constitutional rights are at risk.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't take a passive approach to your defense. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and defend your rights from when we first speak 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 member of our team about how to defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Ontario, CA:
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