Violent Crimes Lawyer Victorville, CA. Fighting violent crimes charges is critical to your future. They risk torpedoing your reputation, hurting your career, and worst of all, a long time in jail or prison. But you have a chance at a more positive outcome. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect you from these legal and personal 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 Victorville, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will listen to you about your case, give you honest advice, and find defensive 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 craft your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online today for a no-obligation, private consultation.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Process to Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Victorville, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. This is how we do it:
- Learn Your Story – Every case starts with our client. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the charges and Victorville, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Build a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
- Fight At Trial – Should your case go to trial, we'll stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
Major Victorville, CA, Violent Crime Charges We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is one of the most commont types of violent crimes in California. 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." A lot of people are unaware that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing 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 aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery occurs when harm is actually done, rather than only being attempted. In Victorville, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. 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 Victorville, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Due to the difference in each of the laws, it's paramount to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in Victorville, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, 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 specific, extra bad purposes like forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California stalking law requires more than just following another person who doesn't like it – it also requires that the accused make a credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Sometimes, criminal threats charges might be referred to as terrorist threats, if they are especially bad – 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 charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- 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 Victorville, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
Often, 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 Victorville, CA, firearm charges are serious, 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. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.
On the contrary, 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.
A high-quality Victorville, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will fight no just to keep you out of prison, but also to prevent 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 isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of harm, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. And for it to qualify as 'domestic,' the alleged victim can be anyone from your spouse to your child to your roommate.
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 can be filed together, increasing their gravity.
Our expert 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, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of Victorville, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. But you might also be up against increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
One of the most common examples is 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 closely related. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else to commit a crime, and either one of you does something that furthers the commission of the crime.
Another way you can see your sentence raised is if you're accused of a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, you can also see them used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecution in Victorville, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they believe that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Finally, our Victorville, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend 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 to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. If a conviction would be your third strike, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional limitations on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Victorville, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer carries harsher penalties than simple assault, while resisting arrest can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a closely related set of charges, though this aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local Victorville, CA prosecution. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. 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 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 Victorville, CA, it's important to hire someone 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 has a history of successful violent crime defense results.
- Varied 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 have inside knowledge of 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 Victorville, CA. We have relationships with 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 properties.
Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Right Away
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The statutes are complicated. The Victorville, CA, prosecutor is formidable. And the punishments are brutal. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your innocence and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't wait and watch the prosecution make its case against you. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was easier to get. 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. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case via our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to protect your rights.
We also offer the following legal services in Victorville, CA:
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