Violent Crimes Lawyer West Covina, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk wrecking 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 when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you are hiring a team that knows how to safeguard 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 expert West Covina, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and come up with defensive tactics that can be used for your situation. You deserve a defense tailored to you, and we can provide that. If you're ready to craft your defense, phone us at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form now for a no-obligation, private consultation to discuss your case.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations
Our team of West Covina, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. 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. 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 West Covina, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, mistaken identity, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain With the State – We won't back down in negotiations; we'll fight to secure a plea deal that protects your interests.
- Fight At Trial – If there is a trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Major West Covina, CA, Violent Crime Accusations 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 the person of another." A lot of people don't know that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing 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 you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. 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 non-firearm weapon. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
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, rather than only being attempted. After a fight, West Covina, 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.
Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in West Covina, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. As a result of the difference in individual laws, you need to work with a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Our attorneys also can defend you against the below violent crimes charges in West Covina, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when an individual detaining another without just cause, and while it might seem like a stretch, it could be as little as grabbing someone's arm (if they are attempting to leave).
- 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 particular, extra grim reasons such as 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'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 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in West Covina, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Commonly, unlawful possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any West Covina, CA, firearm charges are significant, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon is when one person shows another a gun (or other weapon) to intimidate them, not necessarily firing it. 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 for allegations 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 West Covina, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. 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. And for it to qualify as 'domestic,' the alleged victim can be anyone from your spouse to your child to your roommate.
Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. 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, raising their seriousness.
Our household violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We also defend against 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 West Covina, CA, prosecutor alleges that you committed an action that broke the law. But you could also face increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance 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 make a plan with somebody 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 frequently used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecutor in West Covina, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Additionally, our West Covina, 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, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further limitations on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in West Covina, 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 this can broadly apply to anything done to get in their way, whether or not they were trying to arrest you.
For the majority of violent crime charges, you'll be up against the local West Covina, CA prosecution. On some occasions, when the accusations are especially severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 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 deciding on an attorney to defend your rights in West Covina, CA, you want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
- Varied Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined legal experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We handle court cases all over California, including in West Covina, CA. We know 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 properties.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Legal Team Today
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The court system is complex. The West Covina, CA, district attorney is frightening. And the consequences are harsh. If you're lacking 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 stand idly by and let the state build its case. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We confront the charges. We listen to your story, craft a resolute defense, and protect your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.
Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with an attorney about how to fight these charges.
We also offer the following legal services in West Covina, CA:
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