Violent Crimes Lawyer Bellflower, CA. Any criminal accusations are serious, but few are as serious as violent crimes. They risk torpedoing your reputation, hurting your career, and perhaps worst of all, a trip to jail or prison. But you can fight to protect yourself. And with 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 skillful Bellflower, CA, violent crimes defense lawyers will investigate your case, tell you the truth about your situation, and develop defensive tactics that should be effective for your situation. We view your case, and you as a person, as unique and deserving of individual attention. If you need to create your defense, contact us at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online now for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Lawyers Defend You Against Violent Crimes Accusations
Our team of Bellflower, CA, criminal defense lawyers know how different each violent crimes accusation can be, and we give each of our clients' cases a tailored defense. Here's how we'll do that for your case:
- 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 Statutes and Your Case – We'll look into the charges and Bellflower, CA, violent crime law specifics, to ensure that we're well prepared to build a strong defensive strategy.
- Craft a Defense Strategy – Our team will recommend a defensive strategy such as self-defense, consent, or procedural error.
- Plea Bargain With the State – We won't back down in negotiations; we'll fight to secure a plea deal that protects your interests.
- Fight At Trial – Should your case go to 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
California law defines several violent crimes, including the likes of aggravated assault, child abuse, and resisting arrest. If you're facing accusations of one of these crimes in Bellflower, CA, it can be intimidating, but don't panic: The prosecution needs to 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. Violent crimes charges carry some of the harshes penalties in California, especially if they are charged as a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). 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, 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), while battery (Penal Code 242) goes a step further, with one person successfully, intentionally harming another. Each of these 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. Probation is more likely if you don't have any prior convictions on your record, but repeat offenders or felony charges are more likely to face harsh penalties. We focus on defense strategies like procedural errors in the arrest or lack of intent to mitigate outcomes.
Major Bellflower, CA, Violent Crime Categories We Defend
Assault, Threats, and Interpersonal Harm Defense Lawyers
Assault is perhaps the most prototypical violent crime charge people thing of. 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." Most people don't know that to be guilty of assault, there only has to be an attempt at causing harm, regardless of whether or not you actually cause harm.
Simple assault charges are usually a misdemeanor, however 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: Assault 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
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. In Bellflower, CA, it's common to be charged with both at the same time after an altercation. 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. 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 Bellflower, CA. This can include reckless driving, child endangerment, and similar charges. As a result of the variation in individual laws, it's important to have a violent crimes lawyer who can protect you from any of the possible charges.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., also defends against the below violent crimes charges in Bellflower, CA,:
- False Imprisonment: False imprisonment occcurs when one person wrongfully restrains or confines another, 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 is different from false imprisonment because it involves forcibly moving a person from one location to another.
- Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking is similar to kidnapping or false imprisonment, but is done for particular, extra heinous reasons like 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 are another form of criminal threats – you're also likely to see hate crime charges in these cases.
- Torture: Torture is a specific, grevious category of attack done for reasons such as revenge or extortion.
- 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 involves the intentional and unlawful burning of property, as opposed to reckless burning, which is an unintentional version of the same things.
- Rioting: Rioting involves multiple people acting together to cause and/or threaten violence while disturbing the peace.
Firearm Mishandling Defense Lawyers
Due to state law, you're not able to just do whatever you please with a gun in Bellflower, CA. California firearm offenses cover a large swath of statutes, and you don't even have to fire the gun to get in trouble. You can be arrested simply for unlawful possession.
Frequently, these charges are related to a felon in possession of a firearm, but you could also face them for possessing a concealed firearm when you don't have a permit or a felon possessing ammunition.
While all Bellflower, CA, gun charges are perilous, 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 will frequently get you harsher sentences. Especially for allegations such as a drive-by shooting or shooting at an inhabited dwelling, it's unlikely that you'd get off with a small fee or community service.
An experienced Bellflower, 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
No matter what kind of violent crime charge you're facing, it's tough to see a way out. 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 injuries of all kinds, threats of abuse, and even just causing a situation where someone is afraid they'll be hurt. 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), meanwhile child endangerment could be any action that endangers a child, regardless of whether you meant to or not. These charges can be filed together, heightening their seriousness.
Our expert 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 Bellflower, CA, there's a good chance that they're one of the ones above. That said, you might also face heightened charges and/or sentencing enhancement if your case meets certain criteria.
In many cases, the punishments can be heightened via gang enhancements. If a different crime was committed as a part 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 collaborate with someone else to break the law, and either one of you does something overt to advance the plan.
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 Bellflower, CA may charge another crime as a hate crime if they think that the alleged offender committed the crime as an attack against a specific protected group.
Furthermore, our Bellflower, CA, violent crimes attorneys can help protect 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 restraints on parole.
Procedural and Governance Charges Defense Lawyers
If the alleged violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer in Bellflower, CA, the allegations can be even more severe. 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 closely related 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.
These charges, as well as all the charges listed above, are most often handled by the Bellflower, CA, local prosecutor. 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 equipped 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
Violent Robbery Defense Lawyer: Armed Robbery, Carjacking, and Burglary
A robbery defense attorney is essential if you're up against 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 harsher penalties. Restraining orders may follow if violence is alleged, impacting your life long-term.
Top 3 Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer Qualities
Violent crimes charges need high-quality defense lawyers. When you're deciding on a lawyer to defend your rights in Bellflower, CA, it's important to hire a legal team with the below 3 qualities:
- Prior 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.
- Expansive Legal Experience: We have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including time as prosecutors, judges, and police officers. We have experience in the ways the state builds its case against you, and how to poke holes in it.
- Local Relationships: We handle court cases all over California, including in Bellflower, CA. We are familiar with local prosecutors and judges, and will leverage our relationships in your negotiations.
When fighting your violent crimes case, you don't want to gamble on an attorney who's unprepared or doesn't meet these criteria. And with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., you'll get someone with all those characteristics.
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 Bellflower, CA. Enacted in 1994, it mandates 25 years to life for a third "strike" felony if priors include serious or violent crimes. 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.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know what it takes to defend 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 Under Three Strikes:
- Romero Motions: 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: 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: In current cases, we negotiate pleas to non-strike offenses, like misdemeanor assault instead of felony. Many of these cases hinge on showing a lack of intent on the alleged offender's part.
- 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: On top of increasing your sentence, strikes delay parole eligibility. We advocate for early release or expungement where possible.
A Bellflower, CA, client with two priors faced a third strike for assault on a peace officer. By proving self-defense and procedural errors (improper Miranda), we got the charge reduced, avoiding life. The District Attorney often pushes hard, but jury trials reveal biases in victim testimony. With over 20 years defending Three Strikes, I've secured dismissals in 70% of cases by exploiting weaknesses.
There is much debate in Bellflower, 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. If searching "California Three Strikes Law defense," know it's winnable—contact me to review your priors.
Ferocious Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges – Call Our Attorneys Right Away
Violent crimes charges are tough to fight on your own. The court system is complex. The Bellflower, CA, district attorney is powerful. And the punishments are severe. If you don't have an expert violent crimes lawyer to defend you, your liberty 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 settle for a bad plea deal, just because it was easier to get. We confront the charges. We make a defense with you at the center, and fight for your rights from the day you call until the case is over.
Reach out to us now to begin putting together your defense. Call (800) 755-5174 or fill out our online contact form to speak with a lawyer about how to protect your rights.
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