Violent Crimes Lawyer San Diego, CA. We know how overwhelming it can be to be facing violent crime accusations. They risk damaging your reputation, devastating your career, and possibly worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these consequences. We will fight to protect you from violent crime accusations in each of the below categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our skillful San Diego, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, be honest with our recommendations, and look for defensive strategies that should be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to create your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of San Diego, 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 – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the specifics of the charges and San Diego, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, 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 – If there is a trial, we'll make sure that the judge and/or jury see your side of the story, and you're properly represented against the accusations.
Major San Diego, CA, Violent Crime Allegations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
When you ask someone to name an example of a violent crime, there's a good chance they'll mention assault. 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 aren't aware 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 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 aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery occurs when harm is actually done, instead of just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in San Diego, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the flip side, 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.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in San Diego, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Due to the difference in each of the laws, it's paramount to hire a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in San Diego, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, 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 bad purposes 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: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – watch out for linked hate crime accusations in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- 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: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- 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
While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in San Diego, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
In many cases, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of carrying a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any San Diego, CA, gun charges are significant, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. 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 contrary, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Particularly for allegations such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An experienced San Diego, 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. 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 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 involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, while child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges are often filed together, amplifying their seriousness.
Our household 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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of San Diego, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. That said, you can also face elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
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 dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with someone 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. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in San Diego, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they believe that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Finally, our San Diego, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect 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 won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. If a conviction would be your third strike, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with further restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
San Diego, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer can result in more prison time than if the assault was against a non-officer, while resisting arrest carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. 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 San Diego, 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
You don't want to go into a violent crimes case without the right lawyer. When you're deciding on an attorney to defend your rights in San Diego, CA, you want a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in the ways the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We handle court cases all over California, including in San Diego, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.
When fighting your violent crimes case, you don't want to gamble on an attorney who's unprepared or doesn't meet these criteria. 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
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The court system is convoluted. The San Diego, CA, prosecutor is strong. And the punishments are steep. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty 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 faster. We battle the state. We make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your rights from when we first speak until the case is over.
Reach out to us now to begin putting together your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to protect your rights.
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