Violent Crimes Lawyer Ventura, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk damaging your reputation, setting back your career, and perhaps worst of all, a lengthy prison sentence. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you have someone protecting 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 experienced Ventura, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will investigate your case, be honest with our recommendations, and come up with defense tactics that can be used for your case. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to create your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Ventura, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. This is how we do it:
- Listen to Your Story – Every case starts with our client. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Ventura, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, consent, 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 Ventura, CA, Violent Crime Accusations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
If you hear the phrase 'violent crimes,' assault is probably one of the first to come to mind. What's interesting about it is that no harm has to actually be done. To be guilty of assault, one has to attempt "a violent injury on somebody." Most people aren't aware that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but the line can be fuzzy between simple assault and some of it's more serious versions. 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 are not actually given their own specific laws in California, but instead are lumped together under the broad umbrella of "assault laws."
You might be asking yourself now, "What's the difference between assault and 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, Ventura, 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 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 Ventura, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the difference in individual laws, it's paramount to find a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
Our attorneys also can defend you against the below violent crimes charges in Ventura, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident when an individual detaining another without just cause, 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: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra heinous 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: Terrorist threats are another form of criminal threats – 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 involves the intentional and unlawful burning of property, as opposed to reckless burning, which is an unintentional version of the same things.
- Rioting: Rioting involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Ventura, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
In many cases, 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 Ventura, CA, firearm charges are major, 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 frequently get you harsher sentences. Particularly in incidents 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 Ventura, 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
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 has a wider definition than 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.
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 includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, expanding 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
Some violent crime accusations are just that – the Ventura, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. That said, you might also need to fight increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. When an alleged offender has a past history of supposed gang activity, and this new charge was in some way related to a gang, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are another group-related charge. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else to commit a crime, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.
You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. Sometimes, a hate crime accusation is its own charge. However, they are frequently used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in Ventura, 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.
Additionally, our Ventura, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you against California's three strikes law. Under it, certain serious felonies are classified as "strikes" in your criminal history. 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 penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further contstraints on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Ventura, 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 category of charges, though this can broadly apply to anything done to get in their way, whether or not they were trying to arrest you.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Ventura, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. Sometimes, though, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. 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 ready 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 a lawyer to defend your rights in Ventura, CA, you want a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- A History of Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Expansive Legal Experience: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Ventura, CA. We are familiar with local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
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 those qualities.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Today
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The statutes are complex. The Ventura, CA, prosecutor is strong. And the penalties are severe. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your innocence 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 accept a poor plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We confront the charges. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.
Contact us now to start building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Ventura, CA:
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