Our Whittier Office is located at:
Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Whittier Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Whittier, CA 90601
(562) 321-9066
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Whittier Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers
Though not much is known of the early inhabitants of Whittier, its colonial roots trace back to a Spanish soldier named Manuel Nieto. In 1790 Nieto was given a large land grant of 300,000 by the Spanish government. This was both a reward for valiant military service and an effort to settle California. The area was ranched and farmed for decades, but it remained remote from Los Angeles, because it could only be reached by foot, or over rough dirt roads that were difficult for wagons and cattle to navigate.
This all changed in 1887 when the Southern Pacific Railroad established a rail line with a depot in Whittier. This greatly increased trade – especially in citrus, which was exported in large volumes every year. Citrus groves continued to bring new residents to Whittier after World War II, eventually contributing to a housing shortage in Southern California that continues to this day. Whittier now boasts a population of over 85,000 residents. The top employers in the area are local school districts and medical facilities.
If you have been accused of a crime in the area, the best way to protect your rights is to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney in Whittier as soon as you can. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we are dedicated to providing individualized and solution-oriented criminal defense representation to people facing criminal charges. Call us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Here are some links to local resources that Whittier residents and visitors may find helpful:
Whittier Police Department
13200 Penn Street
Whittier, CA
Emergency Line: 911
Telephone: (562) 567-9200
Whittier City Hall
13230 Penn Street
Whittier, CA 90602
Telephone: (562) 567-9999
Crime in Whittier
Neighborhood Scout reports that Whittier is safer than just twenty percent of U.S. cities. While this might sound dangerous, it is comparable to other cities in the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County. Whitter’s rate of both violent crimes and property crimes are lower than the state average. Here are the safest neighborhoods in Whittier (as rated by Neighborhood Scout):
Whittier Court Houses
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Whittier Courthouse
7339 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
Phone: (562) 968-2699
What Are the Most Common Felony Offenses in California?
There are many felonies identified in the California Penal Code. In general, crimes against property are considered less egregious than violent crimes, because violence endangers another person, but the justice system is designed to look at each case individually. Defendants should be fairly judged based on their conduct in their particular circumstances. Learn more about property crimes and violent crimes that make up the most common felony offenses in California:
Property Crimes
The Public Policy Institute of California reports that 2019 saw the lowest rate of property crimes in California since 1960. In spite of this, California’s rate of property crime is still above the national average, and it ranks nineteenth among all states. The most common property crimes reported in California in 2019 were:
Larceny (also known as “grand theft”) occurs when a person steals goods or services valued at $950 or higher. A prosecutor has the discretion to charge theft offenses as a misdemeanor or a felony, based on the amount that was stolen and the egregiousness of the defendant’s conduct. Larceny theft charges can result in a three-year prison sentence. When the conduct is more egregious, like white collar crimes that result in millions of dollars stolen, the prison term can be much longer.
It is also important to understand the difference between burglary and robbery. Burglary involves theft in an unoccupied building (such as a closed business or empty home). Robbery occurs when the theft occurs in an occupied structure. Because people are placed in danger when they are present during a theft, robbery is often punished more harshly than burglary. It can also lead to convictions for related violent crimes (such as assaulting a store owner to get to the register).
Violent Crimes
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, arrests for violent crimes constituted the largest share of felony arrests (37 percent) across California in 2016. Here are the most common offenses on felony arrest reports:
Violent crimes lead to lengthy prison sentences. These cases often do not fare well at trial, because prosecutors try to convince jurors that they, too, could be the victim of violence. This is why it is important to consult with a defense lawyer as soon as you learn of a police investigation against you. The sooner you have an attorney’s advice, the better he or she will be able to protect your constitutional rights, and the better options there will be for resolving the case against you. Just because you are arrested for a felony offense does not mean you will automatically have a felony conviction on your record.
No matter what type of felony charges you are facing, our experienced Whittier criminal defense lawyers are here to help protect your legal rights. The penalties of a felony conviction are serious. The collateral consequences of a conviction can last for years, so our lawyers work hard to prevent wrongful convictions, and to mitigate the effect a felony arrest has on your criminal record. Call our Los Angeles County offices at (213) 341-4427 to schedule your free case review.
