Violent Crimes Lawyer Pico Rivera, CA. We know how overwhelming it can be to be facing violent crime accusations. They risk torpedoing your reputation, setting back your career, and perhaps worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these devestating consequences. We defend all of the following violent crime categories (and more):

Our expert Pico Rivera, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and come up with defense tactics that should be effective for your situation. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to craft your defense, contact us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form now for a no-obligation, private consultation.

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

Our team of Pico Rivera, 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. Here's how we'll do that for your case:

  • Learn Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. We want to hear your side of the story.
  • Research the Law and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Pico Rivera, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
  • Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, mistaken identity, or false allegations.
  • Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Pico Rivera 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.

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. When you've been accused of a violent crime in Pico Rivera, CA, the state needs to prove factors 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. Felony charges carry harsher penalties, including state prison time, while misdemeanors might result in county jail, probation, or fines. Victim testimony plays a key role, but cross-examination can reveal inconsistencies or false accusations.

For instance, assault and battery are two separate offenses in Califoria, with different definitions: Assault (Penal Code 240) involves an attempt or threat to harm, meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Both can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, with the state making that decision based on the circumstances. Outcomes vary a lot depending on the specific charges and past history of the alleged offender. First-time offenders facing misdemeanor charges are more likely to avoid prison, but repeat offenders or felony charges are more likely to face harsh penalties. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we will fight for your freedom and protect your rights, mounting a tenacious defense against all charges.

🏠 Know Your Rights: Can you pull a gun on an intruder in California?Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube
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Major Pico Rivera, CA, Violent Crime Allegations We Defend

Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers

If you hear the phrase 'violent crimes,' assault is probably one of the first to come to mind. 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." Many people don't know that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, even if you don't actually cause harm.

Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however the line can be fuzzy between simple assault and some of it's more serious versions. 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 weapon other than a gun. 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 a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, rather than simply being attempted. After a fight, Pico Rivera, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, 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.

Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in Pico Rivera, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the difference in individual laws, you need to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.

Our lawyers also defend the following violent crimes charges 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 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 particular, extra heinous purposes 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 used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
  • Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
  • 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 charges can be split into inciting the riot or participating in it, but both are usually charged as misdemeanors.

Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers

The right to bear arms comes with many restrictions and responsibilities in Pico Rivera, 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 having a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Pico Rivera, CA, firearm charges are serious, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon does not typically involve firing the gun, but instead using it to make a threat. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

Meanwhile, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Particularly for cases 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 Pico Rivera, 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. But if family is involved, they get even scarier. Domestic violence isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes any actual harm caused, threats of harm, 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 is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), while child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges can be filed together, heightening 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, 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 need to fight increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.

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 can be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else to break the law, 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. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, you can also see them used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecutor in Pico Rivera, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.

Finally, 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 additional restraints on parole.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

Pico Rivera, 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 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 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 Pico Rivera, CA prosecution. 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 equipped to represent you against federal crimes as well as state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Violent Robbery Defense Lawyer: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

Robbery lawyer services are 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..

Without a leading violent robbery defense lawyer, you could be facing serious felony charges without a path out. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we will fight to get your charges reduced and case dismissed. If you're on parole or have any convictions on your record, you could face harsher penalties. Particularly for violent robberys, you're more likely to be given a restraining order against he alleged victim.

Neighbor disputes can quickly escalate...Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube
Navigating a domestic violence case?Video: Law Offices of David ChesleyWatch on YouTube

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 picking an attorney to protect you in Pico Rivera, CA, you want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:

  1. Prior Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
  2. Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Pico Rivera, 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.

Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Pico Rivera

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) can turn a seemingly straightforward case in Pico Rivera, CA, into something much more serious. 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. Key strike eligible offenses include armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping. On your second strike, sentences are doubled, and on your third, you can be facing a life sentence.

Defense Strategies Against Three Strikes Charges in Pico Rivera, CA:

  • Romero Motions: We file Romero motions to strike priors if they're old, minor, or unjust. Judges take into account the circumstances of the older cases, as well as the character of the alleged offender.
  • Resentencing Petitions: Post-Prop 36, over 2,000 have been resentenced. If your third strike was non-violent, we petition for a reduction, potentially cutting life sentences to time served.
  • 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: We argue cruel and unusual punishment, especially for disproportionate sentences. 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: Strikes delay parole eligibility. We advocate for early release or expungement where possible.

If you're facing Three Strikes charges in Pico Rivera, 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.

Three Strikes disproportionately affects minorities and low-income areas like parts of Pico Rivera, CA. Whatever the future holds, in the present, you need a leading three strikes defense attorney. We're ready for your case. Call now to start building your defense.

Staunch Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Lawyers Right Away

Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The laws are complex. The Pico Rivera, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the consequences are oppressive. If you're lacking 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 accept a poor plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We fight. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and defend your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.

Contact us now to begin building your defense. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out 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: