Payment PlansCharged with Solicitation to Commit Murder in California? No One Has to Die — or Even Agree — for You to Face Life in State Prison.
California criminal defense lawyer David Chesley has successfully defended solicitation to commit murder (PC § 653f(b)) charges statewide in every county — from Los Angeles to San Francisco, San Diego to Sacramento, and all regions in between. This charge punishes words alone — no murder, no agreement, no action required. Exposure is life with parole possibility. Build your defense immediately.
THE STAKES ARE REAL
We understand how terrifying it is to face life in prison over words spoken in rage, desperation, or a heated moment — especially when no one acted on them. Under Penal Code § 653f(b), soliciting another to commit murder — with intent it occur — is a completed felony punishable by life in state prison with possibility of parole (eligibility after serving minimum time, typically ~7 years actual).
No murder needed. No agreement needed. No steps taken. Just the request + intent.
And what makes this charge uniquely devastating is how broadly that standard applies. You can be arrested, charged, and sentenced to life in state prison for a conversation with a friend. For a text message sent in anger. For an approach to an undercover police officer posing as a hitman who was already recording everything before you said a word. For words shouted in a heated argument that someone reported to law enforcement days or weeks later. None of these scenarios require that anything happened afterward — the words themselves, if the prosecution can prove you meant them, are the completed crime.
Most cases arise from:
- Undercover stings — police posing as a hitman, recording everything from the first contact
- Informants — cellmates, associates, or acquaintances reporting the alleged solicitation in exchange for leniency on their own charges
- Domestic, divorce, and custody disputes — allegations made as leverage in proceedings where the alleged victim has concrete financial or legal interests
- Texts, emails, social media, and voicemails — communications taken out of context, stripped of surrounding conversation, and presented as evidence of criminal intent
Investigations move fast in these cases. Recordings have been reviewed. Financial records have been subpoenaed. The informant has already given their statement. The undercover officer's report is already written. The government is ready. You are behind — and every day without experienced legal representation is a day the prosecution extends that lead.
A conviction can mean:
- Life in state prison with possibility of parole — straight felony, no misdemeanor option, parole eligibility typically after approximately 7 years actual time served
- Consecutive sentences if stacked with conspiracy to commit murder or attempted murder arising from the same conduct
- Permanent felony record impacting employment, professional licenses, housing applications, and security clearances
- Permanent loss of all firearm rights for any felony conviction
- Immigration catastrophe: solicitation to commit murder is classified as both an aggravated felony and a crime of moral turpitude — triggering mandatory deportation, permanent removal, and lifetime bars to any immigration benefit
- Civil liability — the alleged intended victim can pursue separate civil claims for damages entirely independent of the criminal case
- Media and reputational devastation that can destroy careers, relationships, and standing in the community long before any conviction
Exposure: life. Act now.
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WHAT IS SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW?
PC § 653f(b) defines solicitation to commit murder as soliciting another person to commit murder with the specific intent that the murder actually be carried out.
The prosecution must prove all three elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
- You solicited, requested, or encouraged another person to commit murder
- With specific intent that the murder actually occur
- The solicitation was communicated to the person being solicited
There is no requirement that:
- The person solicited agreed to commit the murder
- Any steps were taken toward carrying it out
- The intended victim was aware of any threat
- Any payment was made or promised
- The murder was even remotely viable or possible
This extraordinarily low threshold is what makes PC § 653f(b) both so broadly applicable and so frequently charged in circumstances that don't reflect genuine, serious criminal intent — and it is precisely what makes aggressive, experienced defense so critical from the very first moment.
Solicitation vs. Conspiracy to Commit Murder
Solicitation requires only a request — no agreement from the other party is needed. Conspiracy (PC §§ 182/187) requires that both parties agreed to commit the murder and that at least one overt act was taken in furtherance. Both carry life in state prison and are frequently charged together — requiring a unified, coordinated defense strategy that addresses both counts simultaneously.
Solicitation vs. Attempted Murder
Solicitation involves asking another person to kill. Attempted murder (PC §§ 664/187) requires a direct, unequivocal step toward actually killing the victim. Prosecutors stack both charges when the evidence suggests both a request to a third party and direct action by the defendant — multiplying the sentencing exposure and the complexity of the defense.
How these cases most commonly arise:
Undercover sting operations with recorded evidence, informants cooperating in exchange for leniency on their own charges, domestic and divorce disputes where allegations serve as legal leverage, and electronic communications taken out of context.
HOW DAVID CHESLEY DEFENDS SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER CASES
Solicitation to commit murder cases are among the most serious and most complex criminal defense matters in California. They frequently involve undercover operations with recorded evidence, informants with powerful incentives to lie, communications stripped of context, and allegations arising from the most volatile personal circumstances — divorces, custody battles, and relationship conflicts where the alleged victim has everything to gain from a conviction.
David Chesley personally handles solicitation to commit murder defense in every county and every major criminal court across California — Southern California, Northern California, and Central California — and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No hand-offs. No junior associates managing your file. The attorney you hire is the attorney fighting for you in court.
Every defense begins with the right questions:
Was there actually genuine intent — or were these words spoken in anger, hyperbole, or emotional distress?
PC § 653f(b) requires specific intent that the murder actually be committed. Words spoken in the heat of an argument, expressions of frustration vented to a friend, statements made in obvious emotional distress without any genuine criminal purpose, or hyperbolic language that no reasonable person would interpret as a serious solicitation do not satisfy the specific intent requirement. The prosecution must prove genuine criminal intent — and in a significant number of these cases, that element is the most vulnerable part of the prosecution's theory.
Was this entrapment?
In undercover sting operations, the entrapment defense is one of the most powerful tools available — and one David Chesley pursues aggressively in every sting-based case. The full timeline of contacts between the undercover officer and the defendant, every communication before and after the alleged solicitation, and every indication of pressure, persistence, or manipulation are scrutinized in detail to build this defense.
Is the informant actually reliable?
Informants are among the least reliable witnesses in the criminal justice system — and solicitation to commit murder cases frequently depend entirely on their testimony. Their cooperation agreements, prior criminal history, prior inconsistent statements, and every benefit received from the government are subject to aggressive cross-examination. David Chesley treats every informant as an adversary and prepares to dismantle their testimony thoroughly.
Was the alleged solicitation taken out of context?
In cases involving text messages, recorded conversations, or reported statements, context is everything. A single message or recorded exchange stripped of its surrounding communications, the relationship between the parties, and the emotional state of the speaker can be made to look like a solicitation when the full picture tells a completely different story. David Chesley examines every communication in full context and builds the record to present that context effectively.
Was the allegation fabricated to gain leverage?
Solicitation to commit murder allegations arising from domestic disputes, divorces, and custody conflicts frequently involve alleged victims with powerful financial, legal, or personal motivations to fabricate or exaggerate. David Chesley probes every alleged victim's motive, timeline, and prior conduct relentlessly.
Was evidence gathered lawfully?
Wiretaps, electronic surveillance, phone record subpoenas, and recorded conversations are all subject to specific constitutional requirements — and violations lead to suppression. When the prosecution's entire case rests on a recording obtained through unlawful surveillance, suppression can be case-ending.
Is there First Amendment protection?
True threats and criminal solicitations are not protected — but the line between protected expression and criminal solicitation is not always clear, particularly in cases involving emotional venting, artistic expression, or statements made in contexts where no reasonable person would interpret them as genuine. First Amendment arguments are a genuine defense tool where the alleged solicitation involved speech that may be constitutionally protected.
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YOU HAVE RIGHTS. USE THEM.
Prosecutors must prove specific intent and communication beyond a reasonable doubt — demanding legal standards that David Chesley holds them to at every stage, in every court across California. Many solicitation to commit murder cases resolve with outcomes significantly better than defendants initially face:
- Dismissals — through entrapment defense, demonstration that no genuine criminal intent existed, suppression of unlawfully obtained recordings, or exposure of a fabricated allegation
- Charges reduced — to criminal threats (PC § 422), conspiracy, or lesser offenses that do not carry life sentences
- Entrapment established — providing a complete defense and resulting in acquittal or dismissal
- Informant testimony destroyed — cross-examination exposing motives, benefits received, and prior inconsistent statements
- Diversion or deferred entry of judgment — in limited qualifying circumstances
- Favorable plea agreements — avoiding a life sentence through negotiated resolution reflecting actual facts and circumstances
- Acquittals at trial — when the prosecution cannot prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt
Intent challenge or entrapment = game-changer.
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE DAVID CHESLEY
Direct, personal attention — statewide, 24/7
David Chesley personally handles solicitation to commit murder cases in criminal courts across all of California — Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and every other jurisdiction statewide. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — because solicitation investigations move fast and the decisions made in the first hours after learning you are a target can define the entire case.
Straight talk, always
Solicitation to commit murder carries life in state prison. You deserve honest counsel about what you're actually facing — the strength of the prosecution's evidence, whether entrapment applies, the realistic range of outcomes, and what the recorded or reported communications actually show. No false promises. No sugarcoating.
Aggressive, strategic representation
Entrapment defense development, informant credibility destruction, suppression of unlawfully obtained recordings, context analysis of communications, First Amendment challenges, and full trial preparation — every stage handled with a strategy built around the specific facts of your case and the court where it is pending.
California-wide expertise
Deep knowledge of PC § 653f(b), undercover operation defense, and informant-based prosecution — combined with direct experience across every region of California, Southern, Northern, and Central.
Flexible payment plans
The Law Offices of David Chesley offer flexible payment plans because cost should never be the reason someone facing a life sentence goes without experienced legal representation.
Representative Results:
- Secured complete dismissal after establishing entrapment — undercover officer's repeated inducements crossed the line from providing opportunity to creating the crime
- Reduced solicitation to commit murder to criminal threats — recorded communication showed frustrated venting rather than genuine criminal intent, client avoided life sentence
- Destroyed informant credibility through cross-examination exposing undisclosed cooperation agreement benefits and prior inconsistent statements — jury acquitted
- Suppressed recorded conversations obtained through unlawfully installed wiretap — prosecution's primary evidence excluded, charge dismissed
- Demonstrated alleged victim fabricated solicitation allegation during pending divorce proceedings — charges dropped before trial
- Obtained favorable plea agreement — client avoided life sentence through negotiated resolution reflecting actual circumstances
- Established words used were context-dependent expressions of emotional distress rather than genuine criminal intent — charge reduced significantly
Client Feedback:
"Sting setup. David proved entrapment — dismissed. I'm free." — Anonymous former client
"The informant lied. David destroyed his credibility in front of the jury. Acquitted." — Anonymous former client
"Available at 1 AM when I found out I was being charged. Calm, clear, and built a defense that worked." — Anonymous former client
"My ex fabricated the whole thing during our divorce. David proved the motive, the timeline, the inconsistencies. Charges dropped. My life is back." — Anonymous former client
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I really be convicted if no one was killed and no one agreed to do it?
Yes — and this is the most important thing to understand about PC § 653f(b). California law does not require that the murder occurred, that the person solicited agreed, that any steps were taken, or that the plan was remotely viable. The solicitation itself — the request, with the intent that it be carried out — is the completed crime. A conviction carries life in state prison with the possibility of parole regardless of what happened after the alleged solicitation. This is precisely why experienced legal representation from the very first moment is essential.
What is the difference between solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder?
Solicitation requires only a request — no agreement from the other party is needed. Conspiracy requires that both parties agreed to commit the murder and that at least one overt act was taken in furtherance. Both carry life in state prison. They are frequently filed together — which is why the defense strategy must address both charges simultaneously as a unified case.
What if the alleged solicitation was made to an undercover police officer?
This is the most common scenario — and it creates specific and powerful defense opportunities through the entrapment doctrine. Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces a defendant to commit a crime they would not otherwise have committed — the key distinction being between an officer who merely provided the opportunity for a predisposed defendant and an officer who actively created the criminal intent through pressure, manipulation, persistent solicitation, or manufactured circumstances. The specific conduct of the undercover officer throughout the entire investigation — every contact, every communication, every tactic used — is scrutinized in detail, because it is that conduct, not just the final recorded exchange, that determines whether entrapment occurred. David Chesley has specific experience defending undercover sting operations and challenges every aspect of how the investigation was conducted from the very first contact.
What if I said something in anger and didn't really mean it?
Specific intent that the murder actually be committed is a required element of PC § 653f(b). Words spoken in frustration, expressions of anger that were not genuine requests, statements made in obvious emotional distress, or hyperbolic language that no reasonable person would interpret as a genuine solicitation are all arguments against the specific intent element. The full context in which the words were spoken — the relationship between the parties, the emotional circumstances, the surrounding conversation — is examined in detail and built into the defense record aggressively.
How reliable are informants in solicitation to commit murder cases?
Informants are among the least reliable witnesses in the criminal justice system — and these cases frequently depend entirely on their testimony. People who report alleged solicitations to law enforcement are often facing their own criminal charges and cooperating in exchange for leniency, expecting financial or other benefits, or motivated by personal animosity or a desire for revenge. Their cooperation agreements, prior criminal history, prior inconsistent statements, and every benefit received from the government are all subject to aggressive cross-examination. David Chesley treats every informant as an adversary and prepares to challenge their testimony at every level.
Can text messages or recorded calls be used as evidence?
Yes — and they frequently are the prosecution's primary evidence. But electronic communications are also frequently taken out of context, selectively presented, or interpreted in ways that don't reflect the full picture of the relationship and circumstances. The complete communication thread, the prior relationship between the parties, the emotional context, and alternative interpretations are all critical to the defense. Recordings obtained through unlawful wiretaps can also be suppressed — and when the recording is the prosecution's primary evidence, suppression can end the case entirely.
What if the allegation arose from a domestic dispute or divorce?
These are among the most commonly fabricated solicitation to commit murder allegations in California — and among the most important to challenge aggressively. A spouse seeking more favorable divorce terms, a parent fighting to eliminate the other party's custody rights, or a former partner seeking a restraining order or legal leverage in related proceedings all have concrete and specific incentives to fabricate or dramatically exaggerate an alleged solicitation. David Chesley probes every alleged victim's financial interest, custody motivation, timeline, and prior conduct in these cases and builds the record to expose the fabrication before trial.
Will a conviction affect my immigration status?
Catastrophically and permanently. Solicitation to commit murder is classified as both an aggravated felony and a crime of moral turpitude under federal immigration law — among the most serious immigration designations that exist. A conviction triggers mandatory deportation, permanent removal, lifetime bars to reentry, and permanent denial of any immigration benefit. For non-U.S. citizens, these consequences must be factored into every decision about the case from the very first moment.
What if I'm charged with both solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder?
Multiple charges filed together multiply both complexity and stakes dramatically. Managing the entire case as a single coordinated strategy — challenging each count individually while building a unified defense narrative — is essential. David Chesley handles multi-count violent crime cases across California regularly and builds a comprehensive defense strategy from the very beginning of representation.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. The Law Offices of David Chesley offers flexible payment plans because cost should never be the reason someone facing a life sentence goes without experienced legal representation. Call to discuss options during your free consultation.
More questions? We are available 24/7 — free consultation, no obligation, no pressure. 📞 (800) 755-5174
FREE CONSULTATION — CALL NOW — 24/7
The moment a solicitation to commit murder allegation is made, law enforcement moves with extraordinary speed. Recordings have been reviewed. Financial records have been subpoenaed. The undercover officer's report has already been written. The informant has already given their statement. Communications have been preserved and analyzed. The prosecution's case is often packaged and ready long before an arrest is made — and every day without experienced legal representation is a day the government's advantage grows.
Don't wait until charges are formally filed. Don't wait until business hours. If you have learned that you are under investigation for solicitation to commit murder — or if you have already been arrested — call now. The earlier David paChesley gets involved, the more options exist to challenge the evidence, identify constitutional violations, assess the entrapment defense, and shape the outcome before the case is locked in.
The Law Offices of David Chesley offer a free, confidential consultation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No judgment. No pressure. Just clear, honest answers about what you're actually facing and what can be done right now to protect your record, your freedom, your family, and your future.
Flexible payment plans available — because the cost of experienced defense should never be the reason you face a life sentence alone.
David Chesley handles solicitation to commit murder cases in criminal courts across all of California — Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Kern County, Fresno County, Sacramento County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, San Francisco County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Monterey County, and every other jurisdiction statewide.
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"Solicitation to commit murder carries life in state prison — for a conversation, a text message, a moment of rage that someone reported to police. Those words — whatever the circumstances — deserve a defense as serious and experienced as the charge itself. My commitment is making sure one allegation, however it arose, does not define the rest of your life." — David Chesley, California Criminal Defense Attorney
