Violent Crimes Lawyer Rialto, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk harming your reputation, hurting your career, and worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But all hope is not lost. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you have someone protecting 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 Rialto, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will investigate your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and find defense tactics that can be used for your circumstances. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to construct your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or reach out 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 Rialto, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Learn About Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Rialto, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- Negotiatiate With the State – For many cases, the easiest way to a positive outcome is through a plea deal. When we negotiate plea deals with the state, we don't give up and fight to get something favorable.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Rialto, CA, Violent Crime Accusations 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 don't know that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause 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 types of charges stem from attempts to cause serious harm, rather than just harm in general. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Assault 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
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery is a step past assault, and allegations include actual harm being caused, rather than only being attempted. After a fight, Rialto, 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 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 Rialto, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the variation in specific laws, it's important to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., also defends against the below violent crimes charges in Rialto, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when an individual detaining another without just cause, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- 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 particular, extra bad purposes like forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats aren't their own statute, but are an unofficial term for certain criminal threats charges – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- 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
The right to bear arms comes with many restrictions and responsibilities in Rialto, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
Most commonly, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for having a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Rialto, CA, gun charges are important to take seriously, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon is when one person shows another a gun (or other weapon) to intimidate them, not necessarily firing it. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.
On the contrary, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Especially in cases 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.
An experienced Rialto, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will protect you from the legal consequences of these charges, including 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 any actual harm caused, threats of abuse, 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.
Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, heightening their seriousness.
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 Rialto, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. That said, you might also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through 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 dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with somebody else to commit a crime, 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, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other charges. The district attorney in Rialto, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they think that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.
Lastly, our Rialto, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard 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, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you will have a harder time securing early release. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional limitations on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Rialto, 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 can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though this can broadly apply to anything done to get in their way, whether or not they were trying to arrest you.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local Rialto, CA prosecution. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor will take charge. 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 equipped to defend you against 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 Rialto, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want someone 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.
- Diverse Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined legal experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in how the state prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Rialto, 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 characteristics.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Us Now
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The laws are complex. The Rialto, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the punishments are grim. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your innocence and constitutional rights are in danger.
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 the first one offered. We fight. We make a defense with you at the center, and defend your rights from when we first speak until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Call (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 Rialto, CA:
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