Our Simi Valley Office is located at:
Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Simi Valley Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 791-2107
Our Law Firm Has Been Featured on All of the Above Media Outlets
Please fill out the form and someone will be in touch with you shortly.
Payment Plans
Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Simi Valley Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Have You Been Arrested and Charged with a Crime? Our Seasoned Simi Valley Criminal Defense Law Firm Can Diligently Fight for Your Rights and Freedom.
Simi Valley is among the most conservative communities in the U.S. With that sort of reputation, you can bet the city takes crime seriously. In fact, the area crime rates are 57 percent lower than the national average, and the violent crime rate is 69 percent lower.
What does this mean? It means it’s hard to get away with much in Simi Valley. It means if you should find yourself charged with a crime or worse, sitting in the Ventura County Jail you need the very best representation you can find. You need David S. Chesley on your side.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend clients from all kinds of charges, from DUI to first-degree murder, burglary to statutory rape.
Below we offer our insight for how to respond to charges, any charges, you’re facing. The most important rule, though? Whatever crime you’ve been accused of committing, you need the best legal representation you can find. You can’t handle the police and the courts on your own. David L. Chesley can help.
Helpful City Resources:
Simi Valley Police Department
STATION INFO
3901 Alamo Street
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 583-6950
Rancho Santa Susana Community Center
5005-C Los Angeles Ave.
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 584-4456
Devine Detox Center
1856 Deodora St.
Simi Valley, CA 93065
(818) 938-2177
Superior Court of California – Simi Valley East Valley Courthouse
3855-F Alamo St.
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 289-8545
Immediate Concerns When Facing Criminal Charges:
Criminal charges can come in different forms. If you get involved in a brawl outside Buffalo Wild Wings, there’s a good chance you’ll be arrested on the scene. On the other hand, if the police are investigating you for child pornography, your charges may come as the result of a grand jury indictment.
While the exact situation may vary, though, there are a number of ways to make sure you protect yourself and ensure your defense starts off on the right foot.
Remain calm:
This may be your most difficult job. It’s also the most important. Will you be nervous, maybe even frightened? Of course. Breathe through it. Remind yourself you’re going to be OK. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the situation.
If the police should arrive to arrest you, don’t resist:
When the authorities show up, it’s always a bad day. You’ll likely be feeling a lot of emotions, with frustration and anger at the top of the list. Refusing to cooperate with law enforcement, though usually only makes a bad situation worse. In fact, doing so could put you in physical danger. It will almost certainly lead to more charges.
Exercise your right to remain silent:
You already know this, but the police will remind you: “anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” The opposite is also true: if you don’t say anything, it can’t be used against you. You may worry that the police will assume you’re guilty. You may want to try to clear the matter up yourself, make it all go away. Don’t give law enforcement anything they could potentially twist to their own ends. Wait for your attorney, and let them speak for you.
Ask for an attorney immediately:
Legal representation is another one of your Constitutional rights. Again, you may feel like asking for a lawyer makes you seem guilty. It doesn’t. It signals you’re smart enough not to allow anyone to take advantage of you. Attorneys are experts in the law. They have years of education and experience, and they know how to protect your rights. You wouldn’t set a broken bone yourself, or fill a cavity in one of your teeth. Don’t try to defend yourself from criminal charges on your own either.
What to Do Next
Once you’ve been arrested or indicted, you’ll have a whole new set of concerns. Your most important responsibility is to keep yourself healthy and balanced so you can help your attorney get the best possible resolution in your case.
Don’t assume you’ll be found not guilty just because you are.
You may know you are innocent. The police and prosecutors, however, aren’t simply going to believe you. Their job is to build criminal cases, to take circumstances and evidence and create an explanation. If that explanation implicates you, they’ll do everything they can to convict you. You need someone on your side, someone who can provide an alternative explanation that exonerates you.
Be honest with your attorney.
You may be tempted to conceal facts from your attorney, or try to get rid of evidence you think makes you look guilty. Don’t. Only your lawyer knows whether a piece of information or an article of clothing might help or hurt your case. They can only decide how to use evidence if they know about it.
Be kind to yourself.
Criminal charges are serious business, even if all you’re facing is a shoplifting accusation. Defending yourself—meeting with investigators, preparing for court, negotiating plea agreements—is stressful. Don’t neglect your own physical and mental self-care as you go through the process.
What do you do if you’ve been charged with a crime in Simi Valley? First, follow all the advice we’ve given you above. Then, let us do the rest.
David S. Chesley is a tough-as-nails attorney with years of experience representing clients just like you. He knows the law, and he knows how to craft a strategy that works. Best of all, though, he’s local to Simi Valley. That means he understands how the system works and he’s familiar with all the players.
David S. Chesley is empathetic. He knows the police and the courts will come after you, that they’ll do everything they can to convict you. They’ll bend the rules. They may even try to break them. David S. Chesley has dedicated his career to fighting for defendants’ rights, to make sure you’re treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
If you’re facing a criminal charge in Simi Valley, don’t wait. Get the very best representation you can. Contact the Law Offices of David L. Chesley today, at 760-625-0714.
