Criminal defense lawyers in Visalia, CA. Everyone in Visalia, CA, hopes that they'll never need a criminal defense attorney. Maybe someone asked you for a favor, and you didn't realize it was illegal. Maybe you're a victim of mistaken identity, or you made a mistake and need a second chance. Or maybe your partner was arrested, and you urgently need a Visalia, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you find a way forward.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is see you through the challenge. We have over 25 of the leading criminal defense attorneys in California, and boast a proven track record of success. Reach out by phone at (800) 755-5174 or reach out to us online for a no obligation consulation.
The Importance of Working With a Visalia, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
Waiting to hire an attorney can be detrimental to your case. While you're pausing, the chances of a positive outcome go down, as the state gets more of a head start. California is often very harsh in sentencing, and waiting to work with a lawyer could make the difference in avoiding a conviction or prison time.
Beyond this, the longer you delay hiring an attorney, the more likely you are to offhandedly give the prosecution evidence they can use against you. Answering questions without an attorney treating the charges as unserious, or even speaking with anyone other than your attorney could be inadvertently digging a deep hole for yourself.
Contacting a Visalia, CA, criminal defense lawyer ASAP might stop the state's case in its tracks, before you need to go to trial. By challenging evidence and communicating with the state early, your lawyer may be able to convince the court to drop or dismiss the charges against you.
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 always ready for your call and will give you honest, straightforward advice from day one.
What to Do After Being Arrested in Visalia, CA
Nobody in Visalia, CA, enjoys getting arrested. How you handle the situation can have a major impact on how your case turns out. Follow these steps during the arrest and following court procedures, to enhance your odds of a good outcome:
- Don't Fight Back: Acting out, attempting to flee, or harming the government officials won't do you any good. In fact, it can lead to additional charges.
- Invoke Your Right to an Attorney: When you are interrogated by the authorities, you can just say, "I am invoking my right to have an attorney present during questioning."
- Call a Lawyer: During the arrest and booking process, you should be given an opportunity to make some phone calls – to get immediate legal protection, make sure one is to your attorney.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): Most people charged with a crime in Visalia, CA, are either released on their own recognizance or given a bail amount to post. Staying out of jail prior to a potential trial can give you some breathing room and make it easier to build your defense.
- Gather Evidence: To ensure you have it available to reference later, you should gather any evidence you have on your defense and send it to your defense attorney.
If you follow these steps and work with an expert Visalia, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll build the foundation for a powerful defense.
How Our Visalia, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You
We don't just represent you; we take the time to learn about what makes you and your case unique. Because we start with your story, we both build a defense based around your situation and understand the impact we have on your life.
We will go about your case by:
- Learning about your case from all angles – From your story, discovery, and evidence reviews. We leave no stone unturned.
- Build a rock-solid defense using motions to have evidence thrown out, working with expert witnesses, and challenging the state's subpoenas.
- Be at your side in court if the case reaches a trial. We ensure that the jury is made up of your peers, present alternative narratives to the state's story, and create reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the state for plea deals. After weakening the prosecution's case, you're more likely to receive an offer of a plea deal with a lesser sentence.
- Advocate for lesser sentences if needed after the trial. Sometimes this takes the form of probation, or perhaps a diversionary program.
- Helping you carry on once the case is over. We provide assistance with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't give up on getting another chance.
Areas of Expertise for Our Visalia, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley has experience with all kinds of criminal charges in Visalia, CA, and are equipped to defend against anything in Visalia, CA. Our criminal defense lawyers specialize in:
Traffic Charges
With the high number of traffic laws in California, these types of charges are among the most common in the state. It could be a DUI, refusing to test, or a hit and run. Our Visalia, CA traffic and criminal defense lawyers can help with:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- DUI Expungement
- Out-of-State DUI Charges
- Wet Reckless Charges
- Driving With a Suspended License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges are always serious, regardless of which specific charge you're facing. They range from assault to resisting arrest. These are some common violent offense charges that we can help you defend yourself from:
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Visalia, CA, typically range from possession to distribution of a controlled substance. The state of California imposes criminal penalties for the misuse of everything from marijuana to fentanyl. We defend against charges related to the following substances and alleged actions:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Fentanyl
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Visalia, CA, theft charges vary greatly depending on the alleged act. 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 frequently come with a harsh social stigma. Some, like prostitution, are vice crimes, while others, like rape, are forcible. Sex crime charges that our criminal defense lawyers in Visalia, CA, defend include:
Murder Charges
Few charges in Visalia, CA, are as grave as murder. Whether unintentional or on purpose, or even unsuccessful, the law is harsh, meaning that you need the strength of a premier Visalia, 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
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- And more.
Reach out to our attorneys with any criminal charges and we'll start creating your defense strategy today.
Top Qualities for a Visalia, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
It's important to pick the right Visalia, CA, criminal defense lawyer to defend your charges. There are lots of options out there, but you'll need to examine them carefully to pick the right one. Choosing the right criminal defense attorney is a major difference maker in the end result of your case. Here are the main criteria to use when evaluating potential defense attorneys:
- Experience – on both sides of the courtroom .
- Connections Within Local Courts – which can come into play when contacting the district attorney.
- Insights About Your Charges – experience working with the specific charge you're facing.
- Stellar Reputation – seen in reviews and accolades.
- Responsiveness and Availability – you want a lawyer who listens and a firm that's always available.
- Transparent Costs – be sure you understand the bill and payment structure before hiring your attorney.
How We Fight in the Visalia, CA, Court System to Protect Your Freedom:
Our approach for every case is to build a staunch, powerful defense from day one. We don't sit passively by while the prosecution builds up evidence against you; we start early and stick with you throughout the legal process, scaring the state and showing reasonable doubt to the jury.
The minute you call our Visalia, CA, criminal defense lawyers, our team begins crafting a strategy to protect you. When we take on a major criminal defense case, here are the steps we typically take:
- Gather Info About Your Charges – We learn from you directly about your case, and conduct other investigations to get ahead of the prosecution.
- Argue For Early Dismissal – Whether at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, we try to end the case early, before it goes to trial.
- Champion Your Pretrial Freedom – At a bail hearing, we will show the court that you deserve freedom while awaiting trial, instead of sitting in jail unjustly.
- Communicate With the District Attorney – We have experience with crafting a plea deal that gives you a positive outcome.
- Defend You at Trial – Using our expertise and intimate knowledge of your case, we'll challenge the district attorney 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.
The Advantages of Working With Our Visalia, 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 type of strategy the district attorney is likely to use, and we can exploit any flaws in their plan to convict you.
We know district attorneys and judges all across California, and negotiate with them to secure the best plea deal possible before most cases even go to trial. But if your case does reach a jury, your criminal defense lawyer will be ready.
You can hear about our stellar performance from both clients and experts. We handle all types of serious crimes, and have a large team of the best criminal defense attorneys in California. We don't surprise you with fees, and you can get in touch with us at all times if you have any questions or something happened and you need urgent help.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Visalia, CA
It's normal to have lots of questions after a criminal accusation. Most people feel very stressed, and your next steps may not be obvious. We've put together some of the common questions Visalia, CA, residents ask about criminal defense, and clear answers to each:
Do I need an attorney if the accusations are false?
Yes – even though law enforcement officials are trying to do their jobs correctly, 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 Visalia, 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.
Do criminal records in Visalia, CA, include arrests?
Your criminal record does include arrests, 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.
Can I get arrested if there isn't a warrant for me?
When an officer has probably cause, they can detain you regardless of whether they have a warrant or not.
How does sentencing work in Visalia, CA?
In Visalia, CA, sentences for criminal convictions normally fall into one of two situations:
- After a plea deal, the sentence is usually whatever was agreed upon
- After a conviction in a trial, the judge will use legal guidelines to decide on a sentence
How does plea bargaining work in California?
Plea bargaining is a common way to resolve cases in Visalia. 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 allow them to focus on the most serious cases, while defendants often take them because of the reduced penalty.
Get in Touch With Our Visalia, CA, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Your Freedom Is at Stake
When you're up against the Visalia, CA, prosecutor, you have to have an airtight plan for your defense. You can't settle for anything less than a top criminal defense attorney. Our firm's criminal defense lawyers are prepared to give you expert defensive representation.
Our team of expert criminal defense lawyers is ready for your case. Talk to one of our representatives today – 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 building your case now.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also help you with the following in Visalia, CA:
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