Criminal defense lawyers in Napa, CA. A Napa, CA criminal defense attorney is someone you hope you don't need, but life seldom goes as planned. Maybe you unintentionally broke the law. Maybe you've been falsely accused, or you made a rash choice, without realizing the consequences. Or maybe your best friend tried to drive home after one too many drinks, and this situation requires a Napa, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you navigate the legal process.
For any of these reasons, or more, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is equipped to help you fight the charges. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and our results speak for themselves. Reach us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a no obligation case review.
The Importance of Working With a Napa, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
Hesitating to hire an attorney can give your case major disadvantages. While you're hesitating, the investigators are putting together a case against you. 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 a guilty verdict and prison time versus the charges being dropped, or receiving probation.
Plus, the longer you hesitate before working with a lawyer, the more likely you are to unconsciously give the state evidence against you. By underestimating the charges or talking to the authorities without counsel present, there's a good chance that you will be unknowingly making your case harder to fight.
Hiring a Napa, CA, criminal defense lawyer ASAP gives them a chance to stop the charges before they make it to court. By utilizing their knowledge of your case, evidence rules, and connections with the district attorney, your lawyer may be able to reach a resolution with no prison time.
Whether it's midday on the weekend or the middle of the night during the week, you need a lawyer who is prepared for your call. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're available at all times for your call and begin building your defense from the first call.
5 Steps to Take During an Arrest in Napa, CA
Arrests are high-tension situations in Napa, CA. Staying calm and making the right choices can improve the stakes of your case. Do the following during and after an arrest, in order to improve the likelihood of a advantageous outcome:
- Obey Police Instructions: Being difficult, trying to get away, or fighting the law enforcement officers won't help you in the long run. In fact, it will actually hurt your case.
- Remain Silent: If you are interviewed by the police, say "I do not wish to answer any questions at this time and am requesting to speak with my lawyer."
- Find an Attorney: California allows people to make three phone calls after an arrest – be sure one of them is to your lawyer.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): After an arrest, if you are charged with a crime, you'll probably be given an option to for pretrial release. Staying out of jail prior to a potential trial can be invaluable.
- Record Everything About the Arrest: As a first step in building your defense, you should put together whatever data you have on your defense and share it with your criminal defense lawyer.
If you follow these steps and work with the right Napa, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll set yourself up for a staunch defense.
What to Expect From a Leading Napa, 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 start with your story, we both craft a defense specific to you and act in the best interest of your wellbeing and your life.
Our lawyers help you by:
- Absorbing your case from all angles – we examine the prosecution's case, conduct our own research, and listen to you in order to get the full story.
- Design a fierce defense utilizing motions to have evidence thrown out, consulting subject matter experts, and pushing back against the state's subpoenas.
- Present your defense in court should the case reach trial. We fight to remove biased jurors, discredit the state's witnesses in cross–examination, and demonstrate reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the state for plea deals. After tactfully showing the strength of our defense to the district attorney, you're more likely to receive an offer of a plea deal with a lesser sentence.
- Advocate for lesser sentences at the trial's end. We'll always be honest with you about realistic outcomes for your case, and how we can work to get you the most positive outcome.
- Helping you start over once the case is over. We provide assistance with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't give up on a fresh start.
Areas of Expertise for Our Napa, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley knows how to fight against all sorts of criminal accusations in Napa, CA, and are equipped to defend against anything in Napa, CA. Our criminal defense lawyers know how to win against:
Traffic Charges
Traffic charges are one of the most variable categories of criminal charges in California. It could be a DUI, refusing to test, or a hit and run. Our Napa, CA traffic and criminal defense lawyers can help with:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- DUI Expungement
- Out-of-State DUI Charges
- Wet Reckless Charges
- Driving Without Insurance Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges tend to have high penalties in Napa, CA, no matter which specific one you're alleged to have committed. 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:
- Assault
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Domestic Violence
- Drive-By Shooting
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- And more
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Napa, CA, could be anything from possession, usage, or sale, depending on the situation. California's controlled substances list is long and covers anything from marijuana to opioids. If you're accused in Napa of the below, or any related charges, contact our attorneys for immediate assistance:
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Ecstasy
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Napa, CA, theft charges are some of the most variable charges, depending on the specifics of what the state alleges happened. For those that intersect with violence (e.g. robbery), you could be facing years in prison. With a local criminal defense lawyer on your side, you can get help fighting the following:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes are socially and legally some of the most serious charges someone can face. They range from rape to prostitution to pornography charges. Some common sex crime charges we defend against are:
Murder Charges
Few charges in Napa, CA, are as grave as murder. Regardless of the circumstances, you are looking at a major prison sentence, meaning that you need a secure defense strategy to protect your freedom. If you're facing murder charges like the following, contact us now to start building your defense:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- And more.
Reach out to our legal team today to learn more about how we can help with your case.
Top Qualities for a Napa, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
It's important to pick the right Napa, CA, criminal defense lawyer to defend your charges. There are lots of options out there, but some stand out from the rest. Choosing the proper criminal defense attorney is critical to getting the best outcome for your case. When you're looking at lawyers to hire, be sure to keep the following in mind:
- Experience – ideally as both defense and prosecution attorneys.
- Connections Within Local Courts – which can come into play when contacting the district attorney.
- Familiarity With Your Charges – previously worked on cases with the same charges that you're facing.
- Positive Reputation – from other lawyers and from people they've previously defended.
- Responsiveness and Availability – it's important to be able to get updates on your case promptly and are treated with respect.
- Transparent Costs – avoid hidden fees and high charges.
The Steps Our Napa, CA Criminal Defense Lawyers Take to Protect Your Freedom:
As soon as you hire us, we get to work on a compelling, vehement defense strategy for your case. You can't just presume that the prosecution will fail; We don't let up for the entirely of the legal process, petrifying the state and gaining the confidence of the jury.
When you call our Napa, CA, criminal defense lawyers, we are dedicated to finding ways to protect your freedom. When we get started on your major criminal defense case, this is the general process we go through:
- Gather Info About Your Case – While the state is gathering evidence against you, we are gathering evidence to exonerate you.
- Argue For Charges Dropped or Dismissed – Whether at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, if we can get the charges dropped or dismissed, we'll do so.
- Defend Your Liberty During the Case – At a bail hearing, we will show the court that you deserve freedom while awaiting trial, with minimal to no cash bonds.
- Be Your Go-Between With the District Attorney – In many cases, we're about to obtain a plea deal which works best for you.
- Defend You at Trial – Based on all our experience and research into your case, we'll deconstruct the case against you at trial and present a convincing defense to the jury.
- Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – As needed, our team will argue for lenient sentencing and can take your case to an appeals court if there were any rights violations in the trial.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley: Premier Napa, 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 strategies prosecutors use to try and secure a guilty verdict, and we will strike back with a staunch defensive plan.
Using our existing relationships with prosecutors and judges, we're experts at getting alternative options to a trial, most notably a dismissal or a favorable plea deal. If these negotiations don't work out, though, and you need a defense in front of a jury, one of our expert criminal defense attorneys will be ready with a stalwart defense.
We're top-rated by both clients and experts. Our firm defends all major criminal charges, and is comprised of the leading criminal defense lawyers in California. We're transparent in our pricing, and you can call us 24/7 if you learn something new about your case or something happened and you need urgent help.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Napa, CA
A lot is going on after you've been arrested or accused of a crime. Most people feel very stressed, and you're left looking for clear answers to complex questions. We've put together some of the common questions Napa, CA, residents ask about criminal defense, and have answers for you below:
Can a lawyer still help me if I'm not guilty of the charges?
Yes – while the police should never intentionally accuse an innocent person, errors can always happen, and when your freedom is at stake, you don't want to take chances.
Is there a way to remove convictions from my record in Napa, CA?
There are options to seal your records for many misdemeanors and even several felonies. In California, this process is called sealing a record, but is sometimes referred to as expungement. A criminal defense lawyer can assist you with this process.
Are arrests also on my criminal record?
Your criminal record does include arrests, but these aren't always permanent – the California Department of Justice 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?
When an officer has probably cause, they can detain you regardless of whether they have a warrant or not.
Why do people plea bargain in Napa, CA?
Plea bargaining is a common way to resolve cases in Napa. In the process, a specific (usually lighter) penalty is offered to the accused person in exchange for a guilty plea. The state uses them to handle cases faster, while defendants can take them to avoid the risks of a trial.
Call Our Napa, CA, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Your Freedom Is at Stake
Regardless of the type of crime you've been charged with, it's critical to have a powerful defense. You need an expert criminal defense lawyer. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is up to the job.
We will watch out for your rights and make sure you get justice in your case. Don't wait – if you take too long to get started on your defense, you'll be fighting an uphill battle against the prosecution. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start crafting your case without delay.
We also can help in the following legal areas in Napa, CA:
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