Violent Crimes Lawyer Torrance, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk destroying your reputation, hurting your career, and possibly worst yet, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard you from these legal and personal 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 Torrance, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you honest advice, and find defensive strategies that should be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to construct your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online now for a no-obligation, private consultation to discuss your case.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations
Our team of Torrance, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. It all starts with the following steps:
- Listen to Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Torrance, 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 team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain 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 – Should your case go to trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Major Torrance, CA, Violent Crime Categories 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on somebody." A lot of people are unaware that to be charged with 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 is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a non-firearm weapon. 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 is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, rather than only being attempted. After a fight, Torrance, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. Meanwhile, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is 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.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Torrance, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. As a result of the difference in individual statutes, it's paramount to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Our violent crime defense attorneys can also help you fight the following charges in Torrance, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This occurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra grim reasons such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- 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 charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- 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 Torrance, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
Frequently, these 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 Torrance, CA, firearm charges are serious, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. Brandishing a weapon normally does not include use of the weapon beyond showing it with the intent to scare another person. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.
Meanwhile, discharging a firearm will almost always be a more serious charge. Particularly in allegations 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 excellent Torrance, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. 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. 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 includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, intensifying their gravity.
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, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Torrance, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. That said, you can also be up against 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, the sentence you face can be increased by several years. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You could be convicted of conspiracy if you agree 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, it's common for them to be used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in Torrance, 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.
Lastly, our Torrance, 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 won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. If a conviction would be your third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Torrance, 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 can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set 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.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Torrance, CA, local prosecutor. But when the state views a case as extra severe, a federal prosecutor will take charge. When you're up against the federal government, you need a powerful legal team on your side. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is proud to defend you against 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 picking an attorney to defend your rights in Torrance, CA, it's important to hire someone with the below 3 qualities:
- 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 case results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined law experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in the ways the state tries to get violent crimes convictions, and how to fight for a positive outcome.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Torrance, CA. We are familiar with local prosecutors and judges, and will use them to your advantage.
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.
Tenatious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Firm Today
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The laws are convoluted. The Torrance, CA, prosecutor is powerful. And the consequences are brutal. Without 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 settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was faster. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and protect your freedom from day one until the case is over.
Contact us now to begin building your defense. Call us at (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Torrance, CA:
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