Violent Crimes Lawyer Redondo Beach, CA

Violent Crimes Lawyer Redondo Beach, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk torpedoing your reputation, setting back your career, and perhaps worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But all hope is not lost. And with 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 skillful Redondo Beach, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and come up with defense tactics that should be effective for your situation. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you're ready to build your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation to discuss your case.

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

Our team of Redondo Beach, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. It all starts with the following steps:

• 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 Redondo Beach, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
• Build a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
• Plea Bargain With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
• Fight At Trial – Should your case go to trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.

Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges

In California, "violent crimes" is wide category, including everything from domestic violence to drive-by shootings to firearm offenses. When you've been accused of a violent crime in Redondo Beach, CA, the state must prove components 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. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). Several of these cases hinge on testimony as much as physical evidence — our attorneys will dissect alleged victim testimony in cross-examination and show your side of the story.

If you're curious about violent crime distinctions, let's look at the difference between assault charges and battery charges in California: Assault (Penal Code 240) occurs when one person threatens or attempts to hurt another, while battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Both can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. A first-time misdemeanor assault might lead to probation, 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.

Major Redondo 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on somebody." Most people are unaware 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. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault using a weapon other than a gun. These variations are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."

Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of simply being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Redondo Beach, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. Meanwhile, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. You can be found guilty even if you didn't have the ability to carry out the threats.

We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Redondo Beach, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Due to the difference in specific laws, you need to have a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.

Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in Redondo Beach, CA,:

• False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person confines another to a space against their will, 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra heinous purposes 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: 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: 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 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 Redondo Beach, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, 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 it could also be related to possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Redondo Beach, CA, gun charges are important to take seriously, 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. Particularly for allegations 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.

An experienced Redondo Beach, 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 goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. 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.

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 could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges are often filed together, amplifying their seriousness.

Our expert violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.

Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers

If you're facing violent crime charges in Redondo Beach, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. But you can also face elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.

In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part of gang activities, prison sentences can drastically increase, though exactly how much depends on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You could be found guilty of conspiracy if you make a plan with another person to break the law, 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. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, you can also see them used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecutor in Redondo Beach, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they believe that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.

Furthermore, our Redondo Beach, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect you from 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. If a conviction would be your third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restrictions on parole.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

When you get into an altercation with the police in Redondo Beach, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. Assault on a police officer carries harsher penalties than simple assault, 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 penalize you for any way you prevent an officer from doing their job, regardless of if they were trying to arrest you.

These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Redondo Beach, CA, local prosecutor. Sometimes, though, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. Federal court can be a whole different arena, and you need a law firm with the strength to fight for your rights against the United States government. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is prepared to represent you against federal crimes as well as state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Robbery and Related Offenses: 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..

In one case, a client faced armed robbery charges after a misunderstanding during a transaction. By exposing false accusations and procedural errors, we secured a misdemeanor plea with no jail time. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face sentencing enhancements if convicted. Depending on the nature of the alleged crime and your relationship with the victim, you might alse be up against a restraining order.

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 Redondo Beach, CA, you want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:

1. 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 defense results.
2. Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Redondo Beach, CA. We have relationships with 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.

California Three Strikes Law Defense: A Significant Focus for Local Clients

California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is important to keep in mind for violent crimes charges in Redondo Beach, CA. Enacted in 1994, it mandates 25 years to life for a third "strike" felony if priors include serious or violent crimes. Even non-violent third strikes once triggered life sentences until Proposition 36 reformed it in 2012, allowing resentencing for some.

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 Redondo Beach, CA:

• Romero Motions: Romero motions protect you by asking a judge to ignore a prior strike that is not fair to use against you. These are more likely to be successful by showing flaws with the older case, or proof of rehabilitation.
• Motion for Resentencing: Due to updated laws, people with prior Three Strikes convictions can petition to have their sentence reduced. Our legal team will petition for a reduction in sentences when your third strike was non-violent.
• Avoiding New Strikes: If your case is ongoing, we will argue for charges to be reduced down to misdemeanors when possible, avoiding a strike. Many of these cases hinge on showing a lack of intent on the alleged offender's part.
• Constitutional Challenges: Depending on the context of your case, we can argue that the sentence is unconstitutional, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. 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: On top of increasing your sentence, strikes delay parole eligibility. We advocate for early release or expungement where possible.

If you're facing Three Strikes charges in Redondo Beach, 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.

There is much debate in Redondo Beach, CA over whether California's Three Strikes law is just or not. Reforms continue, but without aggressive defense, clients face lifelong consequences. Don't give up; these cases are winnable. Contact our team today if you need help.

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

You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The statutes are complicated. The Redondo Beach, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the penalties are heavy. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your innocence and constitutional rights are in danger.

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 confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your freedom from day one until the case is over.

Contact us now to begin building your defense. Connect with 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 Redondo Beach, CA:

• Sex Crimes Lawyer
• Immigration Lawyer
• Drug Charges Lawyer
• Theft Lawyer
• DUI Lawyer
• Criminal Defense Lawyer