Criminal defense lawyers in Walnut Creek, CA. Nobody in Walnut Creek, CA, wants to be in a position where they need a criminal defense attorney. Maybe you broke a law that you weren't aware of. Maybe the alleged victim is making the allegations up, or you were in a bad spot and you made some tough choices trying to get out. Or maybe your roommate went out last night and ended up in handcuffs, and you have to find a premier Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you find a way forward.
For any of these reasons, or more, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is ready to stand by your side. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and know how to win in a variety of case types. Reach us now at (800) 755-5174 or use our online contact form for a no obligation case review.
The Importance of Working With a Leading Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer ASAP
As you wait to contact a criminal defense lawyer, your chances of a positive outcome are dwindling. While you're pausing, the prosecution gets a head start on the case against you. California has historically been very tough on crime, and letting the prosecution get an advantage could make the difference in being found innocent and/or avoiding going to prison.
What's more, the longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more danger you are in to unconsciously give the prosecution evidence that wouldn't look good in a courtroom. By underestimating the charges or talking to the authorities without counsel present, there's a good chance that you will be unintentionally setting yourself up for a guilty verdict.
Reaching out to a Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense lawyer early might stop the state's case in its tracks, before you need to go to trial. By taking steps to protect your freedom right away, your defense attorney may be able to get the charges dropped or dismissed.
Arrests can happen any time of day or year, and we're ready to help whenever they happen. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're ready at all times for your call and can start helping you craft your defense as soon as you call.
How to Handle an Arrest in Walnut Creek, CA
Arrests are high-tension situations in Walnut Creek, CA. How you handle the situation can have a major impact on how your case turns out. Here's what to do during the arrest and following court procedures, to maximize your chances of a beneficial outcome:
- Don't Run From or Fight the Arrest: Making a scene, running, or fighting the government officials won't help your case. In fact, you could see more criminal charges that are even harder to beat.
- Invoke Your Right to an Attorney: If you are interviewed by the authorities, you can just say, "I am invoking my right to have an attorney present during questioning."
- Contact a Lawyer: One of your rights during an arrest in Walnut Creek, CA, is to make a serious of phone calls – to get immediate legal protection, make sure one is to your lawyer.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): During a special hearing, a judge will likely give you the opportunity to post bail and enjoy your freedom before a potential trial. Being able to act freely prior to a potential trial can make the rest of the defense process go a little smoother.
- Write Down All the Details of Your Arrest: In order to aid with your attorney's defensive efforts, you should organize whatever information you have on your defense and provide it to your attorney.
If you do all of the above and work with the right Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll build the foundation for a strong defense.
What to Expect From a Leading Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
We don't just represent you; we take the time to learn about what makes you and your case unique. Because nothing is more important in a case that the person we're defending, we both create a defensive strategy focused on your goals and know the difference we can make in your life.
We will go about your case by:
- Absorbing your case from all angles – we look at the police investigation, our conversations with you, and our own inquiries into your case all give us an intimate understanding of it.
- Create a fierce defense typically featuring motions to remove unlawfully obtained evidence, working with expert witnesses, and challenging the state's subpoenas.
- Be at your side in court should the case reach trial. We fight to remove biased jurors, discredit the state's witnesses in cross–examination, and present reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the district attorney for plea deals. If the prosecution isn't confident it will win in court, we can often reduce the charges and sentence you're facing.
- Advocate for lesser sentences during negotiations and after a trial. We'll fight for probation or shorter sentences, highlighting mitigating factors.
- Helping you get a fresh start once the case is over. We provide assistance with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't allow labels to control you.
Case Types Our Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Take
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley practices criminal defense for several case types, and are here to listen, not to judge. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you fight:
Traffic Charges
Traffic charges are one of the most variable categories of criminal charges in California. They can include driving while intoxicated, driving while high, and reckless driving. In Walnut Creek, CA, we frequently defend traffic charges including:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- Felony DUI Charges
- Street Racing Charges
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving With a Suspended License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges cannot be taken lightly. They can include anything from threats to firearm possession to actually harming another person. Following are some of the violent crime practice areas which the Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends clients:
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Walnut Creek, CA, are often based around someone either allegedly carrying or allegedly trying to sell a controlled substance. The state of California imposes criminal penalties for the misuse of everything from marijuana to fentanyl. If you're facing any of the following common charges (or another one) for any controlled substance, contact us now to start building your defense:
- Marijuana
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Ecstasy
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Walnut Creek, CA, theft charges have perhaps the widest variety of specifics in all of California. For those that intersect with violence (e.g. robbery), you could be facing years in prison. Below are some of our theft charge defense specialties:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes are socially and legally some of the most serious charges someone can face. They range from rape to prostitution to pornography charges. We defend those accused of the following sex crimes:
Murder Charges
It's hard to thing of a charge in Walnut Creek, CA that's as significant as murder. Regardless of the circumstances, you are looking at a major prison sentence, meaning that you need an expert Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense attorney in your corner. To get help with any of the below accusations, contact our offices immediately:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- And more.
Get in touch with our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help with your case.
How to Pick a Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
When deciding on a Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense lawyer, there are many choices available, but there's a wide range of quality. Picking the right criminal defense attorney is vital to creating the right defense for your case. Pick someone who can offer you the following:
- Experience – especially as a prosecutor, giving insights into how the state builds its cases.
- Relationships Within Local Courts – that can give you an advantage in both motions and plea deals.
- Familiarity With Your Charges – practice defending previous cases just like yours.
- Good Reputation – both from previous clients and their peers.
- Responsiveness and Availability – situations can change outside of working hours, so you want to work with a firm that can pick up the phone any time you call.
- Open and Honest Costs – don't get caught up in a contract you don't understand.
Our Criminal Defense Process in Walnut Creek, CA:
Our approach for every case is to build a staunch, powerful defense from day one. We don't rely on the prosecution making a mistake; we're always looking for ways to improve your defense, and are with you throughout the legal process, scaring the prosecution and persuading the jury.
When you call our Walnut Creek, CA, criminal defense lawyers, we take immediate action. In a criminal defense case, that normally includes the following steps:
- Research Your Case – We want to know your case from the inside out, from your perspective and the prosecution's.
- Argue For Charges Dropped or Dismissed – Either at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, if we can get the charges dropped or dismissed, we'll do so.
- Advocate for Pretrial Release – At a bail hearing, you get the opportunity to be freed before a trial, and argue for bail to be set at a low value.
- Communicate With the State – If the prosecution cooperates, we'll secure a plea deal that you can decide to take.
- Defend You at Trial – Based on all our experience and research into your case, we'll battle against the state at trial and present a convincing defense to the jury.
- Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – As needed, we will argue for lenient sentencing and can file appeals to give you the justice you deserve.
Why Choose Our Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:
Our lawyers have experience. When you work with us, you're getting a law firm with a combined more than five decades of legal experience. We know the way the prosecution builds its case, and we can exploit any flaws in their plan to convict you.
Our connections in Walnut Creek, CA, courts allow us to get a plea deal that secures your interests, and can avoid a trial in most cases. And if your case does end up going before a jury, you'll have a persuasive attorney armed with a powerful defense.
We're highly regarded by both clients and experts. We handle all types of serious crimes, and have a large team of the best criminal defense attorneys in California. We don't surprise you with fees, and you can talk to one of our representatives at any time if you think of anything you need to ask us or you need to speak with someone right away.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Walnut Creek, CA
A lot is going on after you've been arrested or accused of a crime. There's a lot you're trying to find out, and without a guide, there isn't a map to find your way through the situation. We've put together some of the common questions Walnut Creek, CA, residents have regarding criminal defense, and clear answers to each:
Do I need an attorney if the accusations are false?
Yes – while the police investigators want to find the right person who committed a crime, circumstantial evidence could make you look bad, and you could say or do something that gives them the wrong impression.
What is the hardest criminal charge to beat?
Each case is unique, so there isn't a hard and fast rule on "which charge is the hardest to beat." Generally speaking, though, white collar crimes, crimes against children, and repeat DUI accusations are treated harshly.
If I'm convicted of a crime in Walnut Creek, CA, how can I get it off my record?
The best way to explore options to remove a conviction from your record in Walnut Creek, CA, is to connect with an expungement lawyer, who can help you explore options to seal and destroy your criminal record.
If I'm arrested in Walnut Creek, CA, is that on my record?
Arrests do go on your record, but with a catch – the California Department of Justice keeps a record of arrests, but if you were released without being charged, your arrest qualifies to be sealed.
Can the police arrest me without a warrant?
If a police officer has a reasonable suspicion that you've broken the law, they can detain you regardless of whether they have a warrant or not.
What is plea bargaining?
Plea bargaining is the process where the state's lawyers and defense lawyer come up with a deal for the defendant, wherein the defendant likely pleas guilty for a reduced penalty. District attorneys use them to allow them to focus on the most serious cases, while defendants can take them to avoid the risks of a trial.
Call Our Walnut Creek, CA, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Your Freedom Is at Stake
If you're facing criminal charges in Walnut Creek, CA, your liberty depends on the quality of your defense. You need a leading criminal defense attorney to protect you. The right choice is The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
For all criminal charges, our team is prepared with experience and expertise. Contact us today – take too long to make a defense, and it could cost you dearly. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your case without delay.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also help you with the following in Walnut Creek, CA:
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