Violent Crimes Lawyer Riverside, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk harming your reputation, devastating your career, and perhaps worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But accusations are not the same as convictions. And when you hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you're getting expert legal representation to protect 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 expert Riverside, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will look into your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and find defense tactics that should be effective for your charges. We know that every case is unique and treat every client with respect. If you're ready to create your defense, call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a no-obligation, private consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Charges
Our team of Riverside, CA, criminal defense lawyers know that every violent crime case is unique, and we design our defensive strategy around the specifics of your situation. This is how we do it:
- Listen to Your Story – When we build a defense, it all starts with you. You can be honest with us about everything, and we'll start with your perspective.
- Research the Law and Your Case – We'll look into the charges and Riverside, CA, violent crime law specificsIf there are any quirks that are applicable to your case, we'll find them.
- Build a Defense Strategy – We'll recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, lack of intent, or procedural error.
- Negotiatiate With the State – Any time we communicate with the Riverside prosecution about your case, we will stand strong to find a deal that works for you.
- 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. If you're facing accusations of one of these crimes in Riverside, CA, it can be intimidating, but don't panic: The prosecution must prove factors like intent and harm beyond a reasonable doubt. After an investigation, if the state believes it has enough evidence against you, they will make formal charges against you. Felony charges carry harsher penalties, including state prison time, while misdemeanors might result in county jail, probation, or fines. 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.
If you're curious about violent crime distinctions, 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, while battery (Penal Code 242) involves actually causing harm. Both can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're asking, "Will I go to jail for a first-time violent offense?"—it depends. Probation is more likely if you don't have any prior convictions on your record, but aggravating factors like a weapon could mean jail time. 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 Riverside, 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. In fact, the literal definition describes it as attempting "a violent injury on somebody." A lot of people aren't aware that to be charged with assault, one only has to attempt to cause harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
While simple assault charges are harsh in and of themselves, there are several more serious variations of them. Aggravated assault charge types in particular are very similar to assault: they normally requires that the alleged offender was trying to cause 'serious' harm rather than general harm. Another similar one is assault with a deadly weapon: Committing assault while using a weapon other than a gun. These variations aren't official charges, but rather subcategories for more serious assault charges
You might be asking yourself now, "What's the difference between assault and battery?" Battery occurs when harm is actually done, instead of just being attempted. You'll find that in many cases, if you're accused of battery in Riverside, CA, you'll also be accused of assault. Meanwhile, criminal threats charges can result even from a nonviolent altercation. All you have to do is intimidate someone. Regardless of whether you wanted to (or even could) follow through on the threats, you can be found guilty.
Reckless endangerment charges are another set of charges that are typical in Riverside, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. As a result of the variation in specific laws, it's paramount to hire a violent crimes lawyer who knows not only how to defend against individual charges, but also the combinations of them.
Here are some other related violent crimes charges our attorneys defend in Riverside, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, for example, locking another person in a room.
- Kidnapping: Kidnapping is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: As opposed to the above allegations, human trafficking is done for particular, extra grim purposes such as forced labor or sex.
- Stalking: California defines stalking as repeatedly following or harassing another person, and making a related credible threat.
- Terrorist Threats: Terrorist threats aren't their own statute, but are an unofficial term for certain criminal threats charges – you can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is used for particularly grisly allegations of harm, wherein the action was performed for a sadistic purpose.
- Mayhem: What was once a battery charge can be elevated to mayhem if certain circumstances apply, such as the severing of someone's limb.
- 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
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Riverside, CA. California firearm offenses can result from any number of statute violations, and you can get in trouble for something as simple as unlawful possession.
Often, possession charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but it could also be related to possessing a concealed firearm without a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Riverside, CA, gun charges are serious, one thing that can make a big difference is how you supposedly used the gun. Brandishing a weapon normally does not include use of the weapon beyond showing it with the intent to scare another person. 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 cases such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An excellent Riverside, CA, violent crimes defense attorney can not only protect you from a prison sentence and hefty fine, but also from 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 isn't just battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, 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.
Crimes against children also have their own specific legal categories. Child abuse involves the direct, intentional cause of harm to a child, while child endangerment includes either negligently or purposefully putting a child in danger. These charges can be filed together, intensifying their seriousness.
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, if an adolescent or child is the alleged offender, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Riverside, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you might also need to fight increased charges and/or sentencing enhancement for special circumstances.
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 dangerous because you can face penalties without having personally done something actively wrong. You can be convicted of conspiracy if you agree with someone else to commit a crime, and either one of you does something overt to advance the plan.
Another way you can see your sentence raised is if you're accused of a hate crime. While hate crimes can be standalone offenses, they are often used as enhancements to other crimes. The prosecution in Riverside, CA is likely to apply a hate crime label if they believe that the alleged offender was motivated by hatred towards a demographic that the alleged victim belonged to.
Additionally, our Riverside, 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 will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. When convicted and given a third strike, the penalty could be 25-years-to-life in prison, with further contstraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
When you get into an altercation with the police in Riverside, CA, you can expect to face extra harsh violent crime charges. 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 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 Riverside, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. Sometimes, though, a federal prosecutor will take charge. Federal court can be a whole different arena, and you need a law firm with the strength to fight for your rights against the United States government. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., is prepared to represent you against federal crimes in addition to 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
Robbery and Related Offenses: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary
A robbery defense attorney is essential if you're up against charges like armed robbery, where force or fear is used to take property. Penalties can reach 9 years in prison, especially if a weapon is involved. First-degree burglary, entering a residence with intent to steal, is a felony with 2-6 years. Carjacking (PC 215) involves taking a vehicle by force, punishable by up to 9 years.
In one case, a client faced armed robbery charges after a misunderstanding during a transaction. By exposing false accusations and procedural errors, we secured a misdemeanor plea with no jail time. If you're on parole or have prior convictions, you could face harsher penalties. Depending on the nature of the alleged crime and your relationship with the victim, you might alse be up against a restraining order.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
You don't want to go into a violent crimes case without the right lawyer. When you're picking a lawyer to protect you in Riverside, CA, you want a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior Success: You want a lawyer who knows how to fight your specific charge. Our team has a history of successful violent crime case results.
- Diverse Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We know the ways the state prosecutes these cases, and how to fight against them.
- Local Relationships: Our team of attorneys cover cases across the state, including in Riverside, CA. We know 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 those qualities.
Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Riverside
California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) is important to keep in mind for violent crimes charges in Riverside, CA. The three strikes law assigns a "strike" to each alleged offender for serious or violent felony convictions. After the third, it requires the judge to sentence the alleged offender anywhere from 25 years to life. If you have any prior strikes on your record, it's critical to work with a leading criminal defense attorney to protect your freedom.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know what it takes to defend Three Strikes cases. Key strike eligible offenses include armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping. On your second strike, sentences are doubled, and on your third, you can be facing a life sentence.
Riverside, CA, Three Strikes Law Defense Strategies:
- File Romero Motions: Romero motions protect you by asking a judge to ignore a prior strike that is not fair to use against you. 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. Our legal team will petition for a reduction in sentences when your third strike was non-violent.
- Avoiding New Strikes: If your case is ongoing, we will argue for charges to be reduced down to misdemeanors when possible, avoiding a strike. 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: Strikes 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 Riverside, 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.
There is much debate in Riverside, CA over whether California's Three Strikes law is just or not. Whatever the future holds, in the present, you need a leading three strikes defense attorney. Don't give up; these cases are winnable. Contact our team today if you need help.
Tenatious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Lawyers Right Away
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The court system is complex. The Riverside, CA, prosecutor is intimidating. And the sentences are tough. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your freedom and constitutional rights are in danger.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we don't wait and watch the prosecution make its case against you. We don't settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We fight. We make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your rights from the day you call until the case is done.
Contact us now to start building your defense. Call (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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