Violent Crimes Lawyer Pico Rivera, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk destroying your reputation, ruining your career, and possibly worst of all, 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 have someone protecting 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 Pico Rivera, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, give you honest advice, and look for defensive strategies that can be used for your situation. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to craft your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Pico Rivera, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. This is how we do it:
- Learn About Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Pico Rivera, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, consent, or false allegations.
- 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 – If your case reaches trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Pico Rivera, CA, Violent Crime Categories 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 somebody." Most people aren't aware that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, not necessarily 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 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. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a non-firearm weapon. These variations are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."
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, rather than simply being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Pico Rivera, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the flip side, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is 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.
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 variation in specific statutes, it's critical to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
If you're facing other violent crimes charges, we can help: Here are some other interpersonal harm charges we defend in Pico Rivera, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person confines another to a space against their will, 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra heinous 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 are another form of criminal threats – 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: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- 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 Pico Rivera, CA. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Often, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for possessing a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Pico Rivera, CA, gun charges are major, 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 for allegations 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 Pico Rivera, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of abuse, 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.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. 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, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Pico Rivera, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. But you can also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
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, 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 convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else 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. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The district attorney in Pico Rivera, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Furthermore, our Pico Rivera, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect you from California's three strikes law. This law allows the government to keep track of your criminal history and assign "strikes" to certain felony convictions. With one prior strike, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. With two prior strikes, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Pico Rivera, CA, the allegations can be even more severe. 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 category of charges, though this 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 Pico Rivera, 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. 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 be your defense attorney for 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 deciding on a lawyer to defend your rights in Pico Rivera, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior 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: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of the ways the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Pico Rivera, 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 properties.
Tenatious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Now
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The statutes are complex. The Pico Rivera, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the penalties are brutal. 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 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 make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.
Contact us now to start building 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 defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Pico Rivera, CA:
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