Violent Crimes Lawyer Riverside, CA

Violent Crimes Lawyer Riverside, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk harming your reputation, ruining your career, and possibly worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard 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 skillful Riverside, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and come up with defense strategies that should be effective for your case. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to craft your defense, phone us at (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 Accusations

Our team of Riverside, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. Here's how we'll do that for your case:

• Listen to 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 look into the charges and Riverside, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
• Craft a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, consent, or procedural error.
• Plea Bargain With the State – Any time we communicate with the Riverside 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. The Riverside, CA, prosecution, often led by the District Attorney, needs to prove elements like intent and harm beyond a reasonable doubt. Many cases begin with a preliminary hearing, where we can challenge evidence early. 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.

For instance, 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, meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) requires actual physical contact. Both can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're facing violent crime charges, the potential sentence depends a lot on the context. Probation is more likely if you don't have any prior convictions on your record, but aggravating factors like a weapon could mean jail time. Our team of violent crimes lawyers uses a varitey of defense strategies depending on the circumstances, including self-defense, claiming rights violation, and showing alibis.

Major Riverside, 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 someone else." Many people don't know that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily 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: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't official charges, but rather subcategories for more serious assault charges

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. After a fight, Riverside, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, criminal threats charges can occur completely over the phone, text, or verbally in person. They don't have to involve literal violence at all. 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 Riverside, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the variation in each of the laws, it's critical to hire a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., also defends against the below violent crimes charges in Riverside, CA,:

• False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, 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 particular, extra heinous reasons like forced labor or sex.
• Stalking: To be guilty of stalking in California, you have to both follow a person without their consent, and make a believable 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: 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 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 Riverside, CA. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.

Often, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for carrying a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.

While all Riverside, CA, firearm 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.

On the other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially for incidents such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.

A high-quality Riverside, 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

No matter what kind of violent crime charge you're facing, it's tough to see a way out. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of harm, 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.

Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), 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, intensifying their gravity.

Our expert violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We can also help you fight 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 Riverside, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. However, you can also be up against elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.

One way we frequently see penalties increased is through 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 convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with someone else to break the law, 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 crimes. The district attorney in Riverside, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.

Finally, our Riverside, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you against 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 will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. With two prior strikes, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional contstraints on early release.

Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers

If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Riverside, 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 similar set 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.

In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Riverside, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 ready to represent you against federal crimes in addition to state charges.

Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer

Robbery and Violent Crimes Intersections: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary

Robbery lawyer services are essential if you're up against charges like carjacking (PC 215). Carjacking goes beyond grand theft: While grand theft auto involves the taking of a vehicle without its owner's permission, it doesn't necessarily include any interaction with the owners themselves. Carjacking, on the other hand, does involve a forceful interaction with the owner. Because of this, it carries a harsher penalty because of its violent nature, up to 9 years in prison.

Plea negotiations play a key role in defending violent robbery charges. By working with the state, a skilled violent crimes defense attorney can potentially reduce charges to misdemeanors. If you're on parole or have any convictions on your record, 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 picking an attorney to protect you in Riverside, CA, you want a firm with the below 3 qualities:

1. A History of Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
2. Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Riverside, CA. We know 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 someone with all those characteristics.

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 Riverside, CA. Enacted in 1994, it mandates 25 years to life for a third "strike" felony if priors include serious or violent crimes. 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. If you're facing a strike-eligible charge like robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, or kidnapping, one conviction counts as a strike, doubling future sentences or imposing life terms. For example, a third strike for shoplifting (if priors are strikes) could mean life—though reforms limit this to violent thirds.

Defense Strategies Against Three Strikes Charges in Riverside, CA:

• File Romero Motions: We file Romero motions to strike priors if they're old, minor, or unjust. Success rates are high with compelling arguments, like rehabilitation or procedural errors in old cases.
• Resentencing Petitions: Post-Prop 36, over 2,000 have been resentenced. This has the potential to reduce charges from a life sentence down to time served, if the third strike was non-violent.
• 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: If the sentence is wildly out of proportion for the alleged crime, we can argue that it is cruel and unusual. This would make it unconstitutional for the court to give such a sentence to you. 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 Life After Conviction: 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, CA over whether California's Three Strikes law is just or not. Right now, a high-quality defense is needed to protect alleged offenders from lifelong impacts. If searching "California Three Strikes Law defense," know it's winnable—contact me to review your priors.

Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Today

You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The legal system is complex. The Riverside, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the penalties are severe. If you're lacking 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 stand idly by and let the state build its case. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was faster. We battle the state. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and fight for your rights from the day you call until the case is done.

Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to fight these charges.

We also offer the following legal services in Riverside, CA:

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