Criminal defense lawyers in Yuba City, CA. Something went wrong, and now you need a Yuba City, CA criminal defense attorney. Maybe you didn't intend to, but accidentally broke the law. Maybe the alleged victim is making the allegations up, or you had a momentary lapse in judgement. Or maybe your child called you from jail, and you have to call a experienced Yuba City, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you protect your freedom.
Whatever you need help facing, 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 know how to win in a variety of case types. Get ahold of us at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online for a free review of your case.
The Importance of Working With a Yuba City, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer ASAP
If you don't hire an attorney right away in the legal process, the consequences can be dire. While you're hesitating, the the government is crafting a case to find you guilty. California has a reputation for being very harsh in sentencing, and any advantage the state gets could make the difference in avoiding a conviction or prison time.
Even worse, the longer you spend on your own, the more danger you are in to inadvertently give the prosecuting attorney evidence that hurts you. Speaking to the police without a lawyer, not taking the charges seriously, or calling your friends and family could all be accidentally decreasing your chances of a positive outcome.
Speaking with a Yuba City, 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.
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 can offer legal advice right away.
How to Handle an Arrest in Yuba City, CA
Don't panic if you're being put under arrest in Yuba City, CA. Staying calm and making the right choices can improve the stakes of your case. Here's what to do while in custody, to enhance your odds of a advantageous outcome:
- Do Not Resist: Refusing to go, trying to get away, or harming the police won't help your case. In fact, you could face even more accusations of breaking the law.
- Remain Silent: When you are interrogated by the authorities, say "I do not wish to answer any questions at this time and am requesting to speak with my lawyer."
- Contact a Lawyer: California allows people to make three phone calls after an arrest – before anyone else, make sure to place a call to your lawyer.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): Most people charged with a crime in Yuba City, CA, are either released on their own recognizance or given a bail amount to post. Being released prior to a potential trial can give you some breathing room and make it easier to build your defense.
- Collect Evidence: In order to aid with your attorney's defensive efforts, you should organize any findings you have on the charges and send it to your criminal defense lawyer.
If you do all of this and work with a skilled Yuba City, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll set yourself up for a powerful defense.
How Our Yuba City, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You
Everyone has a right to be treated like a person, and we want to fulfill that right while defend you. Because we take the time to get to know you, we both make a defense in a way that works best for you and care about the broader implications on your life.
Our lawyers help you by:
- Absorbing your case from all angles – from you, the state's evidence, and our own investigations, we get to know your case inside and out.
- Design a mighty defense typically featuring motions to remove unlawfully obtained evidence, hiring expert analysts, and challenging the state's subpoenas.
- Present your defense in court if the case reaches a trial. We fight to remove biased jurors, present alternative narratives to the state's story, and present reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the state 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 at the trial's end. We'll fight for probation or shorter sentences, highlighting mitigating factors.
- Helping you carry on once the case is over. We help with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't give up on a fresh start.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Yuba City, CA, Criminal Defense Legal Areas
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley knows how to fight against all sorts of criminal accusations in Yuba City, CA, and are always ready to help, regardless of what you're facing. Our criminal defense attorneys practice defenses for:
Traffic Charges
With the high number of traffic laws in California, these types of charges are among the most common in the state. They can include driving while intoxicated, driving while high, and reckless driving. Traffic charges we commonly defend in Yuba City, CA, include:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- Felony DUI Charges
- Hit and Run Charges
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving With a Suspended License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges cannot be taken lightly. Sometimes, you don't even have to do something violent; making threats or just wrongfully carrying a firearm could end up with you facing charges. These are some common violent offense charges that we can help you defend yourself from:
- Assault
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Resisting Arrest
- Drive-By Shooting
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- And more
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Yuba City, CA, are in a tricky place, because the difference between some accusations (for example, possession and possession-for-sale) are hard to distinguish. Even just holding a drug on California's controlled substance list can result in criminal accusations. Here are some of the most common charges and substances we build defenses for:
- Marijuana
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Fentanyl
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Drug Trafficking
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Yuba City, 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. We provide defense for all of the below theft charges, in addition to others:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes are socially and legally some of the most serious charges someone can face. They can involve either the commission of a sexual act, certain communications, or the consumption of some pornographic materials. We can help you fight the following sex crime accusations in Yuba City, CA:
Murder Charges
When you're facing murder charges in Yuba City, CA, you need a top-tier defense plan. Regardless of the circumstances, you are looking at a major prison sentence, meaning that you need a powerful defense strategy to protect you. Here are some of our murder charge specialities:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- And more.
Contact our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help with your case.
What To Look For in Your Yuba City, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
You will have no problem finding a criminal defense lawyer in Yuba City, CA, but there's a wide range of quality. Working with the proper 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 – both as defense attorneys and for the state.
- Relationships With Local Courts – to make negotiating plea deals or dropped charges easier.
- Knowledge of Your Charges – experience working with the specific charge you're facing.
- Good Reputation – from other lawyers and from people they've previously defended.
- Responsiveness and Availability – a team that you can get ahold of when you need them most.
- Transparent Costs – look for someone who can give you a free consult and cost estimate.
Our Criminal Defense Process in Yuba City, CA:
From day one, we craft the strongest defense we can against your charges. It's not enough to just sit back and assume the prosecution will fail; our attorneys are always vigilant throughout the legal process, showing strength in the face of the prosecution and showing reasonable doubt to the jury.
The minute you call our Yuba City, CA, criminal defense lawyers, we are dedicated to finding ways to protect your freedom. When we take on a major criminal defense case, here are the steps we typically take:
- Understand Your Case – This starts with your story, and continues with our investigations.
- Argue For Dropping the Charges – Whether at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, our goal is to get the charges against you dropped or dismissed early.
- Defend Your Liberty During the Case – At a bail hearing, we show why you should be freed in the meantime before a trial, with minimal to no cash bonds.
- Act as Your Intermediary With the District Attorney – We'll negotiate to find a plea deal that protects your interests.
- Defend You at Trial – Using our expertise and intimate knowledge of your case, we'll break down the prosecution's argument at trial and explain your side of the story 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 Advantages of Working With Our Yuba City, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:
Our lawyers have experience. When you work with us, you're getting a law firm with a combined more than five decades of legal experience. We know from personal experience how the state crafts its case, and we fight against them with their own playbook.
Using our existing relationships with prosecutors and judges, we're experts at getting plea bargains that can protect your freedom. And if your case does end up going before a jury, you'll have a persuasive attorney armed with a powerful defense.
We have an esteemed reputation with both clients and experts. As premier Yuba City, CA, criminal defense attorneys, we make it our mission to defend every client to the best of our abilities. We don't surprise you with fees, and you can speak to one of our team members any day and any time if you have any questions or something happened and you need urgent help.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Yuba City, 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 Yuba City, 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 – while the police investigators want to find the right person who committed a crime, nobody is perfect, and if law enforcement did make a mistake, a lawyer can help prove your innocence.
Are federal charges harder to beat than state charges?
It depends on the case, but generally, federal prosecutors' offices have more resources than state prosecutors, which means that you're up against a much tougher opponent. If you're facing federal charges, you need a high-level Yuba City, CA, criminal defense attorney.
Are arrests also on my criminal record?
Your criminal record does include arrests, but these aren't always permanent – the government keeps a record of arrests, but these can be sealed and destroyed if the arrest did not result in a conviction.
When can police arrest someone if they don't have a warrant?
If police have probable cause (a realistic suspicion that you have committed a crime), they can place you under arrest without a court order.
Why do people plea bargain in Yuba City, CA?
Plea bargaining is the process by which your criminal defense lawyer and the prosecuting attorney negotiate to find a lighter sentence for the person charged with a crime, in exchange for a guilty plea. The state uses them to allow them to focus on the most serious cases, while defendants may find them appealing to avoid harsher sentences.
Get in Touch With Our Firm – Your Freedom Depends On It
Regardless of the type of crime you've been charged with, how you fight the case will determine the kind of outcome you get. You can't settle for anything less than a top criminal defense attorney. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is ready to be your defender.
We will watch out for your rights and make sure you get justice in your case. Call now – take too long to make a defense, and it could cost you dearly. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your case today.
We also can help in the following legal areas in Yuba City, CA:
Payment Plans
