Violent Crimes Lawyer Baldwin Park, CA. Violent crime allegations are dangerous, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. They risk harming your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst yet, a long time in jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And when you call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you have someone protecting you from these consequences. We defend all of the following violent crime categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our expert Baldwin Park, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will research your case, give you honest advice, and develop defensive strategies that can be used for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you need to construct your defense, contact us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online today for a free, private consultation to discuss your case.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Baldwin Park, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Listen to Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll research the specifics of the charges and Baldwin Park, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, consent, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – For many cases, the easiest way to a positive outcome is through a plea deal. When we negotiate plea deals with the state, we don't give up and fight to get something favorable.
- Fight At Trial – If your case reaches trial, we'll present our matchless defense in court and show the judge and/or jury your side of the story.
Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges
In California, "violent crimes" is wide category, including everything from domestic violence to drive-by shootings to firearm offenses. Before you can be conficted in Baldwin Park, CA, the state must prove components like your culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. After an investigation, if the state believes it has enough evidence against you, they will make formal charges against you. Many violent crime charges in California are 'wobblers,' meaning that they can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanors have lighter sentences, while felonies can land you in prison for years. Several of these cases hinge on testimony as much as physical evidence — our attorneys will dissect alleged victim testimony in cross-examination and show your side of the story.
As an example of the variety of case types, assault and battery are two separate offenses in Califoria, with different definitions: Assault (Penal Code 240) does not require any actual harm done (just an attempt or threat), while battery (Penal Code 242) involves actually causing harm. Each of these can be misdemeanors or felonies; it's up to the prosecution to decide what to charge. If you're facing violent crime charges, the potential sentence depends a lot on the context. A first-time misdemeanor assault might lead to probation, but particularly aggressive circumstances could wind up with felony charges. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we will fight for your freedom and protect your rights, mounting a tenacious defense against all charges.
Major Baldwin Park, CA, Violent Crime Allegations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is perhaps the most prototypical violent crime charge people thing of. What's interesting about it is that no harm has to actually be done. To be guilty of assault, one has to attempt "a violent injury on the person of another." Most people don't realize that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault is just that: assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Closely related is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a non-firearm weapon. These variations don't actually have statutes of their own, and instead are nicknames used to describe specific assault cases
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of only being attempted. After a fight, Baldwin Park, CA prosecutors are often prone to issue both assault and battery charges to defendants. On the other hand, criminal threats charges can occur completely over the phone, text, or verbally in person. They don't have to involve literal violence at all. You can be found guilty even if you didn't have the ability to carry out the threats.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Baldwin Park, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Due to the variation in specific laws, it's critical to find a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Our attorneys also can defend you against the below violent crimes charges in Baldwin Park, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, and could be as simple as you allegedly blocking a doorway.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping consists of taking a person from one location to another against their will.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for specific, extra heinous purposes such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California stalking law requires more than just following another person who doesn't like it – it also requires that the accused make a credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats are another form of criminal threats – you're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- Mayhem: If a fight resulted in the permanent scarring of another person, the aggressor can be charged with mayhem.
- Arson: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- Rioting: RIoting can either consist of starting a riot or participating in one, and is normally a misdemeanor unless it occurs in a jail and/or someone is seriously harmed.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
While most people do still have the right to own a firearm in Baldwin Park, CA, it comes with many constraints. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, sometimes even just being the result of unlawful possession.
Commonly, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to carrying a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Baldwin Park, CA, firearm charges are significant, the way the firearm was (and wasn't) allegedly used can make a big difference. Brandishing a weapon does not typically involve firing the gun, but instead using it to make a threat. This is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
On the contrary, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Especially in incidents such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, you can be looking at years in prison and/or thousands of dollars in fines.
An expert Baldwin Park, CA, violent crimes defense attorney will protect you from the legal consequences of these charges, including further restrictions on your Second Amendment rights.
Family and Animal Abuse Defense Lawyers
The stakes are high for all kinds of violent crime allegations. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence goes beyond battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of harm, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. The other qualifying factor for 'domestic' violence is who the alleged victim is: for it to qualify, they must be someone with a close relationship to the alleged offender, such as a child, spouse, or cohabitant.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. Child abuse charges are saved for when someone alleged hurt a child on purpose, meanwhile child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges are often filed together, amplifying their gravity.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We also defend against animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
The majority of Baldwin Park, CA, violent crime cases are rooted in some alleged act of violence. But you might also need to fight elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement should your case fall into certain categories.
One of the most common examples is gang enhancements. If a crime was committed in the furtherance of gang activities, anywhere from 4 years to life can be added onto the sentence, depending on the alleged crime. Conspiracy charges are closely related. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with somebody else to commit a crime, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.
Another common sentence enhancement is when an alleged action is charged as a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecution in Baldwin Park, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Lastly, our Baldwin Park, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you against California's three strikes law. For alleged repeat offenders, this law can become a tremendous hurdle. Previous felony convictions may count as "strikes" against you. With one prior strike, if you are convicted of a new felony, the sentence will be doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. With two prior strikes, the sentence could be increased to 25-years-to-life in prison, with further contstraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
Baldwin Park, CA, violent crime charges can be particularly damaging if they were allegedly committed against law enforcement. Assault on a police officer can result in more prison time than if the assault was against a non-officer, while resisting arrest carries similarly harsher sentences for a wide array of alleged misconduct. Obstructing a police officer is a similar category of charges, though these ones aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Baldwin Park, CA, local prosecutor. On some occasions, when the accusations are especially severe, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. When you're up against the federal government, you need a powerful legal team on your side. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is proud to represent you against federal crimes as well as state charges.
Additional Miscellaneous Violent Crime Defense Services We Offer
- Aggravated Battery
- Assault With Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury
- Battery On a Spouse or Cohabitant or Dating Partner
- Contempt for Violating a Domestic Violence Court Order
- Corporal Injury on a Spouse or Cohabitant
- Dissuading a Witness or Victim/Witness Intimidation
- Expungement/Record Clearance After Violent Crime Conviction
Violent Robberies and Related Offenses: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary
Robbery lawyer services are essential if you're facing charges like robbery or home invasion. These can carry penalties up to 9 years or 20 years, respectively. The use of a weapon is often an enhancing factor for sentencing..
Because of the importance of witness testimony, it's important to work with a leading violent crimes defense lawyer to build your defense. We can present your side of the story, challenge the prosecution's witnesses, and show an alternative interpretation of the events. If you're on parole or have any convictions on your record, you could face sentencing enhancements if convicted. Restraining orders may follow if violence is alleged, impacting your life long-term.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges require top-tier defense attorneys. When you're deciding on an attorney to fight your case in Baldwin Park, CA, you want someone with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want to be represented by an attorney who knows the ins and outs of the California court system. Our team is know for our successful violent crime defense results.
- Varied Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined law experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of how the state prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Baldwin Park, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will lean on them to secure a favorable outcome.
To maximize your chances of beating violent crimes charges, you need lawyers with all of the above attributes. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get those qualities.
California Three Strikes Law Defense: A Significant Focus for Local Clients
California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) can greatly impact violent crimes charges in Baldwin Park, CA. This law can be devastating for repeat offenders, who face a sentence of 25 years to life after a third serious or violent felony conviction. Because of this, it's even more critical for you to work with an expert violent crimes defense lawyer if you have any prior convictions on your record.
As a violent crime defense attorney, I dedicate extensive resources to Three Strikes cases. If you're facing a strike-eligible charge like robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, or kidnapping, one conviction counts as a strike, doubling future sentences or imposing life terms. For example, a third strike for shoplifting (if priors are strikes) could mean life—though reforms limit this to violent thirds.
Defense Strategies Against Three Strikes Charges in Baldwin Park, CA:
- Romero Motions: We file Romero motions to strike priors if they're old, minor, or unjust. These are more likely to be successful by showing flaws with the older case, or proof of rehabilitation.
- Resentencing Petitions: Due to updated laws, people with prior Three Strikes convictions can petition to have their sentence reduced. This has the potential to reduce charges from a life sentence down to time served, if the third strike was non-violent.
- Avoiding New Strikes: Even better than having prior strikes removed, we'll fight to prevent you getting one in the first place. This often comes from skillful plea negotiation. Lack of intent defenses prevent strike enhancements.
- Constitutional Challenges: Depending on the context of your case, we can argue that the sentence is unconstitutional, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Part of this can also involve fighting against prior convictions, and showing that they were unconstitutional or incorrect.
- Impact on Parole and Your Future: Stirkes not only add onto your sentence: they also delay parole eligibility. A skilled criminal defense attorney like the ones at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley will fight for your early release and/or expungement of your record.
If you're facing Three Strikes charges in Baldwin Park, CA, you need to act fast to protect your freedom. The third strike can carry a life sentence. You need a lawyer with the resources to protect your future. And the Law Offices of David S. Chesley has those resources. We have a team of leading California attorneys ready to stand by you, from day one until the case is done.
Three Strikes disproportionately affects minorities and low-income areas like parts of Baldwin Park, CA. Right now, a high-quality defense is needed to protect alleged offenders from lifelong impacts. We're ready for your case. Call now to start building your defense.
Staunch Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Right Away
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The laws are convoluted. The Baldwin Park, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the sentences are tough. If you're lacking an expert violent crimes lawyer at your side, your liberty and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't stand idly by and let the state build its case. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We battle the state. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your freedom from the day you call until the case is concluded.
Reach out to us now to start building your defense. Connect with us at (800) 755-5174 or let us know how we can help you on our online contact form to speak with a member of our team about how to defend you.
We also offer the following legal services in Baldwin Park, CA:
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