Violent Crimes Lawyer Woodland Hills, CA. When you're up against violent crimes charges, it can feel like the whole world is against you. They risk torpedoing your reputation, hurting your career, and possibly worst yet, a trip to jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And with 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 skillful Woodland Hills, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will examine your case, give you upfront, straightforward answers, and come up with defensive tactics that can be used for your case. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you're ready to construct your defense, speak with one of our representatives (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a free, private consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Allegations
Our team of Woodland Hills, CA, criminal defense lawyers are aware of how complex violent crimes allegations are, and we build a defense that's suited to your specific case. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- Learn Your Story – We believe that you should be at the center of your defense. We want to hear from you what really happened and why.
- Research the Statutes and Your Case – We'll investigate the charges and Woodland Hills, CA, violent crime law specifics, to see if there are any special circumstances which apply to you.
- Put Together a Defense Strategy – Our lawyers will recommend a defensive strategy such as defense, consent, 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 stick with you from start to finish, fighting for a positive outcome.
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 Woodland Hills, CA, the state must prove components like intent and harm beyond a reasonable doubt. Many cases begin with a preliminary hearing, where we can challenge evidence early. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). 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, the difference between assault and battery in California is critical: Assault (Penal Code 240) does not require any actual harm done (just an attempt or threat), meanwhile battery (Penal Code 242) involves actually causing harm. Both can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on severity. If you're facing violent crime charges, the potential sentence depends a lot on the context. First-time offenders facing misdemeanor charges are more likely to avoid prison, 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 Woodland Hills, CA, Violent Crime Categories 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. While you might be picturing cuts and bruises, California law actually describes assault as an attempt to inflict "a violent injury on the person of another." Many people don't realize that to be charged with assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, not necessarily actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges can already get you months in prison and a $1,000 fine, but the line can be fuzzy between simple assault and some of it's more serious versions. 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: Attempts to harm while using a non-firearm weapon. These variations aren't literally written into California law, but instead are used to describe specific types of "assault" charges
As discussed above, assault only requires an attempt to cause harm. Battery is similar to assault because both involve attempted harm. However, in battery's case, the harm was successful, instead of just being attempted. In Woodland Hills, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. On the other hand, 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.
We also commonly defend reckless endangerment charges in Woodland Hills, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and other charges along those lines. Because of the variation in individual statutes, it's critical to have a violent crimes lawyer who knows how to defend each of the charges.
Our violent crimes defense lawyers can also help you with the following charges in Woodland Hills, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: This is defined as an incident 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 particular, extra bad 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 can expect there to be links to hate crimes in these cases.
- Torture: Torture goes beyond battery and includes serious injuries, done to make the alleged victim suffer.
- 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 involves the intentional and unlawful burning of property, as opposed to reckless burning, which is an unintentional version of the same things.
- 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 Woodland Hills, 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, these 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 Woodland Hills, 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 other hand, discharging a firearm will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially in cases such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, the penalties are very harsh.
An experienced Woodland Hills, 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
Violent crime charges are bad enough on their own. Domestic accusations, though, are especially hard to fight. Domestic violence has a wider definition than battery on your spouse; it includes injuries of all kinds, threats of harm, and even just placing someone in fear of harm. 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, meanwhile child endangerment consists of putting a child at risk of harm, either intentionally or unintentionally. These charges are often filed together, intensifying their seriousness.
Our experienced violent crimes defense lawyers can help with more than just alleged conflicts between spouses and children. We can also help you fight animal cruelty charges, elder abuse charges, and, in cases with youth defendants, juvenile crime charges.
Sentencing Enhancement Defense Lawyers
If you're facing violent crime charges in Woodland Hills, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. However, you might also be up against elevated charges and/or sentencing enhancement if certain circumstances apply.
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 could be convicted of conspiracy if you make a plan with another person 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, you can also see them used as enhancements to other crimes. The district attorney in Woodland Hills, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender's motivation was related to race, religion, sexuality, or another protected characteristic.
Additionally, our Woodland Hills, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help defend you from 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, sentences for felony convictions are doubled, and you will have to wait significantly longer before earning eligibility for parole. When convicted and given a third strike, you are facing 25-years-to-life in prison, with additional limitations on early release.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Woodland 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 covers actions ranging from stealing a police officers gun to just acting disobediently. Obstructing a police officer is a similar category of charges, though this aren't contingent on you being arrested, and apply more broadly to anything you do to prevent a police officer from doing they job.
In most cases, if you're accused of a violent crime in Woodland Hills, CA, you'll be in municipal court against a local prosecuting attorney. On some occasions, when the accusations are especially severe, a federal prosecutor may take over. 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 defend 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
Robbery and Related Offenses: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary
You need a robbery defense lawyer if you're facing charges like carjacking (PC 215). Carjacking goes beyond grand theft: While grand theft auto involves the taking of a vehicle without its owner's permission, it doesn't necessarily include any interaction with the owners themselves. Carjacking, on the other hand, does involve a forceful interaction with the owner. Because of this, it carries a harsher penalty because of its violent nature, up to 9 years in prison.
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 priors, 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 defend your rights in Woodland Hills, CA, you want someone 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 has a history of successful violent crime defense results.
- Varied Legal Experience: Our team has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have inside knowledge of how the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Relationships in Your Area's Court: We're ready for your case in Woodland Hills, CA. We are familiar 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 those qualities.
Defending Against California's Three Strikes Law in Woodland Hills
California's Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667) can turn a seemingly straightforward case in Woodland Hills, CA, into something much more serious. 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. 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. 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.
Woodland Hills, CA, Three Strikes Law Defense Strategies:
- File 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.
- Motion for Resentencing: After Proposition 36 was passed in 2012, thousands of people 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. Part of this can also involve fighting against prior convictions, and showing that they were unconstitutional or incorrect.
- Impact on Parole and Life After Conviction: On top of increasing your sentence, 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 Woodland 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.
Minorities and low-income individuals are frequently affected by California's Three Strikes law in Woodland Hills, CA. 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 Legal Team Today
Don't try to face violent crimes accusations alone. The legal system is convoluted. The Woodland Hills, CA, district attorney is frightening. And the sentences are brutal. Without 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 accept a poor plea deal, just because it was the first one offered. We fight. We start every case by listening to our client, and fight for your freedom from day one until the case is concluded.
Contact us now to start putting together your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with amember of our legal team about how to fight these charges.
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