Our Del Mar Office is located at:
Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Del Mar Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Del Mar, CA 92130
(858) 365-5820
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Del Mar Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Incorporated in 1959, Del Mar has some of the most notable natural features of any community in Southern California. In addition to miles of coastline and bluffs, the community is also one of just two places in which the endangered Torrey Pine exists naturally. (Torrey Pines are the rarest species of a pine tree in the entire United States.) The natural beauty of the area has drawn many celebrity residents over the years. Jimmy Durante, Desi Arnaz, and Bill Gates have all owned property in Del Mar.
If you have been accused of a crime in the Del Mar area, you should contact our office today. David S. Chesley is an experienced Del Mar criminal defense attorney who knows how to protect his clients’ rights and resolve cases as favorably as possible. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Here are some links to local resources that Del Mar residents and visitors may find helpful:
San Diego Sheriff’s Department175 N El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024-2899
Emergency: 911
Dispatch Telephone: 858-565-5200
Del Mar City Hall
1050 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
Telephone: (858) 755-9313
Crime in Del Mar
According to Crime Grade, Del Mar is safer than 32 percent of U.S. cities. This is a safer rating than many cities in Southern California. The odds of becoming a crime victim are higher in the central parts of the city and lower in the southeastern portions of town.
Del Mar Court Houses
The Superior Court of San Diego County does not maintain a courthouse inside Del Mar city limits. Instead, your case will be assigned to a local courthouse based on the location of the alleged offense. Here are the closest Superior Court locations to Del Mar:
Kearny Mesa Courthouse
8950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123
North County Regional Center
325 South Melrose Dr.
Vista, CA 92081
Telephone: (760) 201-8600
Firearms offenses can carry serious consequences – even if you are only charged with a misdemeanor. Any firearms conviction could prevent you from lawfully owning or selling firearms, so it is important to work with a defense lawyer who has experience handling your specific type of case. Here are some of the most common firearms charges our attorneys see in practice:
Possession of an unlicensed firearm can be charged as a felony, if it is loaded and outside your home or place of business. (If these conditions are not met the offense is a misdemeanor.) The minimum sentence for felony possession of an unlicensed firearm has just increased from one year in prison to three and half years. It is also important to understand that the possession of any assault weapon is illegal in the state of California. This act constitutes a felony whether or not the assault is loaded, and whether or not you had an intention to actually use it.
There are many legal restrictions on the sale and transport of firearms. First, you must hold a license in order to sell firearms, and violating this law is a felony. Second, licensed dealers are prohibited from making secondary sales, or selling to minors, or completing many other types of transactions. Third, dealers must ensure to transport their goods lawfully. Transportation of guns also falls under a complex structure of laws and administrative regulations. A conviction on any of these offenses can also prohibit you from lawfully selling firearms in the future.
In some cases, unrelated criminal charges are “upgraded” to more severe offenses because the defendant had a gun. A common example of this is an assault: while a simple slap or hit might be misdemeanor assault, the offense can be charged as felony aggravated assault if the defendant had a firearm. (The firearm is the “aggravating factor”.) Aggravating factors are also a problem at sentencing. If you plead guilty to a gun charge, or are found guilty of one by a jury, both lawyers will have the opportunity to make arguments to the judge about the appropriate sentence. The prosecutor will identify all the aggravating factors – such as use of a firearm – that support a harsher sentence. Your defense will identify all the mitigating factors – such as lack of a prior criminal record – that support a more lenient sentence. The use of a firearm is a significant aggravating factor that can make a big difference at sentencing.
Your Gun Rights After a Felony Conviction
Anyone with a felony conviction on their record is lawfully prohibited from owning a firearm. You can petition to have this right restored in certain cases, but until you do, it is a felony to possess a firearm. There are also some misdemeanor offenses that can also revoke your gun rights. Any misdemeanor offense that is classified as “domestic violence” under federal law will automatically revoke gun rights for life under the Brady Bill. A judge may also be allowed to revoke your gun ownership rights on certain misdemeanor firearms offenses.
The best criminal defense lawyers in Del Mar are right at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley. We serve clients in National City, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, Encinitas, Escondido, San Marcos, Carlsbad, and all throughout San Diego County. For years, clients have trusted us to protect their important constitutional rights at a time when these rights are most vulnerable. We will fight hard for you, too. Call our San Diego County offices at (714) 442-2601 to schedule your free case review. Don’t wait to call: the sooner you have an experienced Del Mar criminal defense lawyer on your side, the better protected all your legal rights will be.
