Violent Crimes Lawyer Beverly Hills, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk destroying your reputation, setting back your career, and possibly worst yet, a long time in jail or prison. But all hope is not lost. And when you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you get a shield that will guard you from these legal and personal consequences. We will fight to protect you from violent crime accusations in each of the below categories (and more):
- Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm
- Firearm Mishandling
- Family and Animal Abuse
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Procedural and Governance Charges
Our experienced Beverly Hills, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, be honest with our recommendations, and develop defense strategies that will be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to construct your defense, call us at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online today for a no-obligation, 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 Beverly Hills, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. This is how we do it:
- Listen to Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear your side of the story.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Beverly Hills, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Build a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense of others, lack of intent, or false allegations.
- Plea Bargain With the State – When speaking with the prosecutors, we will stand strong and demand the justice you deserve.
- Fight At Trial – If there is a trial, we'll make sure that the judge and/or jury see your side of the story, and you're properly represented against the accusations.
Understanding Violent Crimes in California: Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges
Violent crimes in California encompass a wide range of offenses, from simple assault to more severe acts like armed robbery or kidnapping. Before you can be conficted in Beverly Hills, CA, the state must prove factors like your culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. After an arrest, you face an arraignment hearing, where you are told about the specific charges you're facing. Felony charges carry harsher penalties, including state prison time, while misdemeanors might result in county jail, probation, or fines. When arguing these cases, medical records, witness testimony, and digital evidence are often central to the argument.
As an example of the variety of case types, let's look at the difference between assault charges and battery charges in California: Assault (Penal Code 240) involves an attempt or threat to harm, meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) requires actual physical contact. Each of these can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. 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 aggravating factors like a weapon could mean jail time. We focus on defense strategies like procedural errors in the arrest or lack of intent to mitigate outcomes.
Major Beverly Hills, CA, Violent Crime Allegations We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
If you hear the phrase 'violent crimes,' assault is probably one of the first to come to mind. 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 someone else." Most people are unaware that to be guilty of assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
While simple assault charges are harsh in and of themselves, you could also potentially face a severe variation on the charges. Aggravated assault types of charges stem from attempts to cause serious harm, rather than just harm in general. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Attempts to harm while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
Now that we've covered assault, let's discuss battery. Battery occurs when harm is actually done, rather than only being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Beverly Hills, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. On the flip side, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. You don't even have to be willing to follow through; "I didn't mean it" isn't a valid defense for these charges.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Beverly Hills, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. Because of the difference in each of the laws, you need to have a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Our violent crime defense attorneys can also help you fight the following charges in Beverly Hills, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person confines another to a space against their will, and while it might seem like a stretch, it could be as little as grabbing someone's arm (if they are attempting to leave).
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping consists of taking a person from one location to another against their will.
- Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for specific, extra grim reasons such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: To be guilty of stalking in California, you have to both follow a person without their consent, and make a believable threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats aren't their own statute, but are an unofficial term for certain criminal threats charges – 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: Mayhem is like a more advanced version of battery, though in this case, a permanent disfigurement or disability must have been caused.
- Arson: Arson charges allege that you intentionally lit something on fire that you weren't allowed to.
- Rioting: Rioting charges can be split into inciting the riot or participating in it, but both are usually charged as misdemeanors.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
The right to bear arms comes with many restrictions and responsibilities in Beverly Hills, CA. California firearm offenses vary widely in nature and scope, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
In many cases, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but they could also be the result of having a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While any Beverly Hills, CA, gun charges are important to take seriously, a major differentiator is whether you allegedly used the weapon or not. Brandishing a weapon is when one person shows another a gun (or other weapon) to intimidate them, not necessarily firing it. Most of the time this is charged as a misdemeanor.
On the other hand, discharging a firearm can greatly increase the punishment you're facing. Particularly for allegations such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An excellent Beverly Hills, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. However, the stigma and penalties are even worse when spouses, children, or other family members are affected. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes intentional or unintentional harm, threats of abuse, and even just making someone think that they could be injured. Domestic violence charges are about more than just the alleged harm or danger, though — they're about who it supposedly was committed against. To qualify, the alleged victim must have held some kind of close relationship with the alleged offender, for example, romantic partners or parents who share a child.
Domestic violence charges aren't the only ones that are defined by the alleged victim. Child abuse is reserved for deliberate acts of violence against children (like hitting them), while child endangerment could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges are often filed together, heightening their gravity.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers aren't limited to just conflicts between family members who live together. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, should your child be the accused, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Beverly Hills, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. That said, you could also face increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
One way we frequently see penalties increased is through 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 another group-related charge. You can be found guilty of conspiracy if you collaborate with somebody else to break the law, and either one of you takes action towards committing that crime.
You could also see increased penalties if you're being charged with a hate crime. Hate crime charges can be their own case, but, they are often used as enhancements to other charges. The prosecutor in Beverly Hills, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Lastly, our Beverly Hills, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help guard you against California's three strikes law. This law allows the government to keep track of your criminal history and assign "strikes" to certain felony convictions. With one prior strike, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you won't be eligible for parole until you've served 80% of the sentence. With two prior strikes, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Beverly Hills, CA, the allegations can be even more severe. Assault on a police officer is more heavily penalized than assault against other civilians, while resisting arrest can range from physical attacks to simply being uncooperative. Obstructing a police officer is a similar set of charges, though these ones can broadly apply to anything done to get in their way, whether or not they were trying to arrest you.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Beverly Hills, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. But for more serious cases, a federal prosecutor may fight against you. You don't want to go to federal court alone. You don't want to face the full force of the United States government without help. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is prepared to be your defense attorney for federal crimes as well as state charges.
Robbery and Violent Crimes Intersections: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary
A robbery defense attorney is essential for 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..
Without a leading violent robbery defense lawyer, you could be facing serious felony charges without a path out. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we will fight to get your charges reduced and case dismissed. If you're on parole or have priors, you could face sentencing enhancements if convicted. Particularly for violent robberys, you're more likely to be given a restraining order against he alleged victim.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're picking a lawyer to fight your case in Beverly Hills, CA, 'good enough' isn't good enough. You want a firm with the below 3 qualities:
- A History of Success: You don't want someone who's new to the California legal system, or new to your type of charge. Our team is know for our successful violent crime case results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined legal 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 handle court cases all over California, including in Beverly Hills, CA. We have relationships with local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.
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 someone with all those properties.
Three Strikes Law Defense in Beverly Hills, CA
California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) can turn a seemingly straightforward case in Beverly Hills, CA, into something much more serious. 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. Even non-violent third strikes once triggered life sentences until Proposition 36 reformed it in 2012, allowing resentencing for some.
You need a law office with extensive resources to fight against Three Strikes cases. And the Law Offices of David S. Chesley has those resources. 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 Beverly Hills, CA:
- Challenging Prior Strikes: We file Romero motions to strike priors if they're old, minor, or unjust. Success rates are high with compelling arguments, like rehabilitation or procedural errors in old cases.
- Resentencing Petitions: Post-Prop 36, over 2,000 have been resentenced. 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. Showing lack of intent is key in thse cases.
- Constitutional Challenges: If the sentence is wildly out of proportion for the alleged crime, we can argue that it is cruel and unusual. This would make it unconstitutional for the court to give such a sentence to you. We can also look into prior cases to see if there were any procedural errors that should have resulted in an acquittal.
- Impact on Parole and Life After Conviction: 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.
Three strikes charges are not something to take lightly. If you're facing a third strike in Beverly Hills, CA, you need to contact an attorney now. And we're prepared to help you. It doesn't matter how hard the prosecution fights, we will be with you every step of the way. Our experience and resources give us the tools we need to defend you.
Three Strikes disproportionately affects minorities and low-income areas like parts of Beverly Hills, CA. Whatever the future holds, in the present, you need a leading three strikes defense attorney. If searching "California Three Strikes Law defense," know it's winnable—contact me to review your priors.
Ferocious Protection Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Right Away
You need help when you're fighting against violent crimes allegations. The laws are convoluted. The Beverly Hills, CA, district attorney is frightening. And the sentences are brutal. Without an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your innocence and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't take a passive approach to your defense. We don't accept a poor plea deal, just because it was faster. We fight. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your rights from the day you call until the case is done.
Reach out to us now to begin putting together 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 lawyer about how to defend you.
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