Criminal defense lawyers in Lancaster, CA. Something went wrong, and now you need a Lancaster, CA criminal defense attorney. Maybe a traffic stop escalated out of your control. Maybe one of your friends broke the law, and you've just gotten wrapped up in it, or you had a momentary lapse in judgement. Or maybe a family member is running out of time to get help, and you're in need of a premier Lancaster, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you understand what's going on.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is ready to stand by your side. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and have a history of success, even in the toughest cases. Talk to a lawyer at (800) 755-5174 or reach out to us online for a free review of your case.
Reasons to Find a Leading Lancaster, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer ASAP
As you wait to contact a criminal defense lawyer, your chances of a positive outcome are dwindling. While you're biding your time, the the government is crafting a case to find you guilty. California is known for being very brutal in its treatment of convictions, and allowing the state to get a head start could make the difference in avoiding a conviction or prison time.
Even worse, the longer you take to hire an attorney, the more likely you are to unittingly give the police evidence that you wouldn't want them to have. If you speak to the police on your own, underestimate the charges, or talk with friends and family about your case, you could be unknowingly making your case harder to fight.
Contacting a Lancaster, CA, criminal defense lawyer early gives them a chance to stop the charges before they make it to court. By challenging evidence and communicating with the state early, your defense attorney may be able to reach a resolution with no prison time.
Arrests can happen any time of day or year, and we're ready to help whenever they happen. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're always available for your call and begin building your defense from the first call.
How to Handle an Arrest in Lancaster, CA
Arrests are high-tension situations in Lancaster, CA. Staying calm and making the right choices can improve the stakes of your case. Take the below steps during the arrest proceedings, to enhance your odds of a advantageous outcome:
- Obey Police Instructions: Being difficult, trying to get away, or harming the government officials won't do you any good. In fact, you could face even more accusations of breaking the law.
- Don't Answer Questions: If you are interrogated by the police, say "I do not wish to answer any questions at this time and am requesting to speak with my lawyer."
- Talk to a Lawyer: One of your rights during an arrest in Lancaster, CA, is to make a serious of phone calls – be sure one of them is to your attorney.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): Most people charged with a crime in Lancaster, CA, are either released on their own recognizance or given a bail amount to post. Being released before a potential trial can give you some breathing room and make it easier to build your defense.
- Write Down All the Details of Your Arrest: As a first step in building your defense, you should collect whatever findings you have regarding your defense and send it to your defense attorney.
When you take these precautions and work with a premier Lancaster, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll build the foundation for a potent defense.
The Role of a Lancaster, CA Criminal Defense Lawyer
We believe that criminal defense lawyers have an obligation not only to represent you in court, but to get to know your case from your perspective. Because we listen to you first, we both craft a defense specific to you and make decisions based on the broader effects on your life.
Our lawyers help you by:
- Studying your case from all angles – from you, the state's evidence, and our own investigations, we get to know your case inside and out.
- Build a rock-solid defense through motions to remove unlawfully obtained evidence, hiring expert analysts, and fighting the state's subpoenas.
- Present your defense in court should your charges go to trial. We fight to remove biased jurors, deftly cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses, and establish reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the district attorney for plea deals. After tactfully showing the strength of our defense to the district attorney, they are more likely to let you take a deal with lesser charges.
- Advocate for lesser sentences when applicable. We want to keep you out of prison, and will fight for probation or a shorter sentence.
- Helping you clear your record once the case is over. We offer support with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't be a victim of a past conviction.
Case Categories Our Lancaster, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Will Defend
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley knows how to fight against all sorts of criminal accusations in Lancaster, CA, and are focused on the wellbeing and success of our clients in each and every case. Our criminal defense lawyers can help you fight:
Traffic Charges
People don't always think of traffic charges as 'criminal,' but they technically are. Sometimes it's something simple, like driving without a license, but it can also include higher profile charges like DUIs or Hit and Runs. Some of the most common Lancaster, CA, traffic charges we defend are:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- Felony DUI Charges
- Street Racing Charges
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving With a Suspended License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges cover a wide range of alleged offenses, and all of them are serious. Assault, battery, and more forceful offenses are all included. Following are some of the violent crime practice areas which the Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends clients:
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Lancaster, CA, are often based around someone either allegedly carrying or allegedly trying to sell a controlled substance. Even just holding a drug on California's controlled substance list can result in criminal accusations. We defend against charges related to the following substances and alleged actions:
Theft Charges
Lancaster, CA, theft charges frequently intersect with other types of criminal cases. If you're up against a charge of a forceful theft, like robbery, the penalties are particularly dire. With a local criminal defense lawyer on your side, you can get help fighting the following:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes can be treated even harsher than violent crimes. Similar to theft crimes, the ones that overlap with violent crimes are the most harshly prosecuted. Some common sex crime charges we defend against are:
Murder Charges
It's hard to thing of a charge in Lancaster, CA that's as significant as murder. No matter what the circumstances were, the punishment is strict, up to life imprisonment for first-degree murder. This means that you need a Lancaster, CA, defense attorney with extensive experience at your side. Our attorneys can help you fight all of the below charges:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- And more.
Reach out to our attorneys for any criminal defense charges and we'll let you know how we can help.
Top Qualities for a Lancaster, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
When deciding on a Lancaster, CA, criminal defense lawyer, there are many choices available, but figuring out who is the right fit for you takes some thought. Choosing the right criminal defense attorney is critical to getting the best outcome for your case. Here are the main criteria to use when evaluating potential defense attorneys:
- Experience – both as defense attorneys and for the state.
- Relationships Within Local Courts – that can give you an advantage in both motions and plea deals.
- Insights About Your Charges – practice defending previous cases just like yours.
- Stellar Reputation – seen in reviews and accolades.
- Responsiveness and Availability – someone who works with your schedule and doesn't keep you in the dark.
- Open and Honest Costs – look for someone who can give you a free consult and cost estimate.
The Steps Our Lancaster, CA Criminal Defense Lawyers Take to Protect Your Freedom:
Our philosophy is to be as aggressive, thorough, and relentless as we can in each and every defense. We never underestimate the prosecution or case against you; We don't let up for the entirely of the legal process, petrifying the prosecution and convincing the jury.
As soon as you call our Lancaster, CA, criminal defense lawyers, we are dedicated to finding ways to protect your freedom. In a criminal defense case, that normally includes the following steps:
- Learn Your Charges – We learn from you directly about your case, and conduct other investigations to get ahead of the prosecution.
- Fight For Dropping the Charges – Either at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, if we can get the charges dropped or dismissed, we'll do so.
- Champion Your Pretrial Freedom – At a bail hearing, we explain why you should be released before the trial, with minimal to no cash bonds.
- Speak on Your Behalf With the State – We'll negotiate to find a plea deal that you can decide to take.
- Defend You at Trial – Based on all our experience and research into your case, we'll battle against the state at trial and explain your side of the story to the jury.
- Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – Depending on the outcome of the trial, we will argue for lenient sentencing and can take your case to an appeals court if there were any rights violations in the trial.
What You Can Expect From Our Lancaster, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:
When you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting a team of criminal defense lawyers with over 50 years of courtroom experience, both as defense attorneys and as prosecutors. We know the ins and outs of how prosecutors build a case against you, and we can take advantages of the weaknesses we know are in their strategies.
Our connections in Lancaster, CA, courts allow us to get the best plea deal possible before most cases even go to trial. If you do end up in a courtroom in front of a jury, we're prepared to defend you with a staunch defensive strategy.
We have a strong reputation with both clients and legal experts. When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team who knows how to win in Lancaster, CA, court. We don't surprise you with fees, and our phones are available any time of day if you think of anything you need to ask us or there's an emergency.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Lancaster, CA
It's normal to have lots of questions after a criminal accusation. On your own, there's no guide on what to do next, and your next steps may not be obvious. We've put together some of the common questions Lancaster, CA, residents have regarding criminal defense, and clear answers to each:
Can a Lancaster, CA, criminal defense attorney still help if I didn't commit the crime?
Yes – while the police investigators want to find the right person who committed a crime, people can make mistakes, and if law enforcement did make a mistake, a lawyer can help prove your innocence.
If I'm arrested in Lancaster, CA, is that on my record?
Your criminal record does include arrests, but these aren't always permanent – the authorities keeps a record of arrests, but without a conviction, the court can restrict access to those records.
When can police arrest someone if they don't have a warrant?
When an officer has probably cause, they can arrest you without a court order.
How does California's Three Strikes law work?
California's Three Strikes law is a system in which certain serious criminal convictions assign a "strike" to a person's records. If that person is convicted of another crime in the future, they can face an increased prison sentence.
What are diversionary programs?
Diversionary programs, such as drug court, mental health court, and veterans court, are alternatives to the traditional court and sentencing process. They normally allow for treatment to be given to people who are accused of a crime, rather than being sent to prison.
Why do people plea bargain in Lancaster, CA?
Plea bargaining is the process where the state's lawyers and defense lawyer come up with a deal for the defendant, wherein the defendant likely pleas guilty for a reduced penalty. The state uses them to get through cases faster, while defendants prevent the worse case scenario that comes with a conviction.
Get in Touch With Our Lancaster, CA, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Your Future Is at Stake
When you're up against the Lancaster, CA, prosecutor, it's critical to have a powerful defense. You need an expert criminal defense lawyer. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is ready to defend you.
It doesn't matter what you're facing, our firm is up to the task. Speak with one of our lawyers now – the more time that passes before you start building your defense, the harder it will be to protect your freedom. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start crafting your case without delay.
We also provide the following legal services in Lancaster, CA:
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