Criminal defense lawyers in Lodi, CA. Something went wrong, and now you need a Lodi, CA criminal defense attorney. Maybe you unintentionally broke the law. Maybe the alleged victim is making the allegations up, or you made a choice you realize was wrong now. Or maybe your spouse is being charged, and you need to contact a experienced Lodi, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you defend your rights.
For any criminal charges in Lodi, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is prepared to go to bat for you. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and our results speak for themselves. Get in touch with a lawyer at (800) 755-5174 or reach out to us online for a free, confidential consultation.
Why You Need a Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer IMMEDIATELY
Delaying hiring an attorney can have serious consequences. While you're delaying, the the government is crafting a case to find you guilty. California has historically been very brutal in its treatment of convictions, and starting to build your defense too late could make the difference in being found innocent and/or avoiding going to prison.
Plus, the longer you delay hiring an attorney, the more chances you have to unintentionally give the police evidence that you wouldn't want them to have. By underestimating the charges or talking to the authorities without counsel present, there's a good chance that you will be accidentally decreasing your chances of a positive outcome.
Connecting with a Lodi, CA, criminal defense lawyer early gives them a chance to stop the charges before they make it to court. By fighting for your freedom early, challenging evidence, and leveraging their relationship with the prosecutor, your attorney may be able to reach a resolution with no prison time.
When you're accused of a crime, it doesn't matter what time it is. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're available around the clock for your call and will give you honest, straightforward advice from day one.
How to Handle an Arrest in Lodi, CA
Don't panic if you're being put under arrest in Lodi, CA. Your defense starts the moment you are arrested, and you want to handle it the right way. Take the below steps during the arrest and following court procedures, to increase the probability of a positive outcome:
- Don't Fight Back: Acting out, running, or harming the government officials won't do you any good. In fact, it will actually hurt your case.
- Remain Silent: If you are interviewed by the police, you can just say, "I am invoking my right to have an attorney present during questioning."
- Contact a Lawyer: California allows people to make three phone calls after an arrest – the first one of these should be to your attorney.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): Most people charged with a crime in Lodi, CA, are either released on their own recognizance or given a bail amount to post. Securing your freedom prior to a potential trial can give you some breathing room and make it easier to build your defense.
- Document Everything: To ensure you have it available to reference later, you should organize any findings you have on your case and send it to your defense attorney.
If you do all of this and work with a premier Lodi, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll lay the groundwork for a potent defense.
How Our Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we believe that criminal defense attorneys have an obligation to care for clients as people, beyond just looking at the charges they're facing. Because your defense should be centered around you, we both create a defensive strategy focused on your goals and make decisions based on the broader effects on your life.
Our team will support you by:
- Researching your case from all angles – From your story, discovery, and evidence reviews. We leave no stone unturned.
- Create a high-level defense utilizing motions to remove unlawfully obtained evidence, hiring expert analysts, and challenging the state's subpoenas.
- Stand by you in court should your charges go to trial. We select jurors that will treat you fairly, present alternative narratives to the state's story, and establish reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the prosecution for plea deals. If we show the prosecution the weaknesses in their case, we may be able to secure a plea deal that protects your freedom.
- 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 carry on after a court case. We can aid you with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't give up on a fresh start.
Areas of Expertise for Our Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends a wide variety of criminal defense case types, 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
If you're facing traffic charges, it could be from one of a variety of alleged actions while on the road. Traffic charges include everything from DUIs to driving with a suspended license to street racing. Traffic charges we commonly defend in Lodi, CA, include:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- DUI Refusal Charges
- Street Racing Charges
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving Without a License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges are prosecuted harshly in Lodi, CA. They can include anything from threats to firearm possession to actually harming another person. Here are some of the violent offense charges we can defend you against:
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Lodi, CA, could be anything from possession, usage, or sale, depending on the situation. There is a wide variety of substances for which you can face charges for having. Here are some of the most common charges and substances we build defenses for:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Lodi, CA, theft charges vary greatly depending on the alleged act. For those that intersect with violence (e.g. robbery), you could be facing years in prison. Below are some of our theft charge defense specialties:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes can be treated even harsher than violent crimes. There are many variations, including the posting of revenge porn, sexual assault, and soliciting a prostitute. Sex crime charges that our criminal defense lawyers in Lodi, CA, defend include:
Murder Charges
It's hard to thing of a charge in Lodi, CA that's as significant as murder. Whether unintentional or on purpose, or even unsuccessful, the law is harsh, meaning that you need the strength of a premier Lodi, CA, law firm to protect your rights. These are some of the murder charges that we can help you defend against:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- And more.
Contact our attorneys to learn more about what we can do to help you fight criminal charges in Lodi, CA.
What To Look For in Your Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
You will have no problem finding a criminal defense lawyer in Lodi, CA, but not every one is going to be prepared to fight your case. Choosing the right criminal defense attorney is critical to maximize your chances of a positive outcome. When you're looking at lawyers to hire, be sure to keep the following in mind:
- Experience – especially as a prosecutor, giving insights into how the state builds its cases.
- Relationships Within Local Courts – to make negotiating plea deals or dropped charges easier.
- Knowledge of Your Charges – experience working with the specific charge you're facing.
- High Reputation – from other lawyers and from people they've previously defended.
- Responsiveness and Availability – you want a lawyer who listens and a firm that's always available.
- Transparent Costs – affordable rates and payment plans can give you a defense without crippling your finances.
Our Criminal Defense Process in Lodi, CA:
Our philosophy is to be as aggressive, thorough, and relentless as we can in each and every defense. We don't believe in just sitting by and letting the prosecution make its case; our attorneys are always vigilant throughout the legal process, scaring the prosecution and satisfying the jury.
As soon as you call our Lodi, CA, criminal defense lawyers, we get started on building your defense. In a criminal defense case, that normally includes the following steps:
- Understand Your Case – We learn from you directly about your case, and conduct other investigations to get ahead of the prosecution.
- Fight For Charges Dropped or Dismissed – Either at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, if possible, we'll find a way to have the charges dismissed, and make it almost as though you were never accused.
- Fight for Your Freedom During the Case – At a bail hearing, you get the opportunity to be freed before a trial, instead of sitting in jail unjustly.
- Negotiate With the State – If the prosecution cooperates, we'll secure a plea deal which offers you an alternative to a trial's risks.
- Defend You at Trial – Using the defense we built while first learning about your case, we'll battle against the state at trial and show reasonable doubt to the jury.
- Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – If it applies in your case, our team will argue for lenient sentencing and can file appeals to give you the justice you deserve.
Why Choose Our Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:
Our Lodi, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how to win. We're made up of experienced criminal defense attorneys, as well as former prosecutors and judges. We know the strategies prosecutors use to try and secure a guilty verdict, and we counter it with our compelling defensive strategies.
Our relationships with judges and prosecutors throughout California help us get a plea deal that secures your interests, and can avoid a trial in most cases. If these negotiations don't work out, though, and you need a defense in front of a jury, your criminal defense lawyer will be ready.
We're well-known and well-regarded by both former clients and experts. When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team who knows how to win in Lodi, CA, court. We don't surprise you with fees, and you can get in touch with us 24/7 if you have any questions or a sudden development came up and you need a lawyer to help.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Lodi, CA
A lot is going on after you've been arrested or accused of a crime. 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 Lodi, CA, residents have regarding criminal defense, and have answers for you below:
Can a lawyer still help me if I'm not guilty of the charges?
Yes – even though investigators have the goal of catching the actual person who committed the crime, somthing could get mixed up, and when your freedom is at stake, you don't want to take chances.
Are DUIs easy cases to beat in Lodi, CA?
The circumstances around your DUI will have a major impact on its outcome. If it's your first DUI and you work with the right attorney, there's a good chance you can avoid jail time. However, repeat DUIs are often treated much more harshly and can be felonies.
If I'm convicted of a crime in Lodi, CA, how can I get it off my record?
The best way to explore options to remove a conviction from your record in Lodi, CA, is to connect with an expungement lawyer, who can help you explore options to seal and destroy your criminal record.
Do criminal records in Lodi, CA, include arrests?
Yes, but with a catch – the state keeps a record of arrests, but the records can be sealed from the public if there are no charges or convictions.
If there is not a warrant out for my arrest, how can the police arrest me?
if you commit an alleged crime and an officer sees it, or if the officer suspects that you've committed a crime, they can detain 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.
How does plea bargaining work in California?
Plea bargaining is a common way to resolve cases in Lodi. In the process, a specific (usually lighter) penalty is offered to the accused person in exchange for a guilty plea. Prosecutors use them to save time, while defendants prevent the worse case scenario that comes with a conviction.
Get in Touch With Our Lodi, CA, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Your Future Depends On It
When you're facing charges in Lodi, CA, you need a strong defense strategy. You have to have an expert criminal defense attorney at your side. Our firm's criminal defense lawyers are prepared to give you expert defensive representation.
It doesn't matter what you're facing, our firm is up to the task. Talk to an attorney today – while you're waiting to hire an attorney, the prosecution is building a case against you. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your defense at once.
We also can help in the following legal areas in Lodi, CA:
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