Chico Violent Crime Lawyer

Table of Contents

Chico Violent Crime Attorney

Being charged with a violent crime in Chico can come with serious consequences, both legal and personal, even if you are not convicted. Because of this, it is of the utmost importance that you seek qualified legal representation from a Chico violent crime lawyer. Working with a skilled violent crime lawyer significantly increases your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome and provides you with a steadfast advocate who can protect your rights throughout your case.

Choose Eric Alan Berg & Associates for Violent Crime Representation

Being charged with a violent crime in Chico is an incredibly daunting scenario. However, with the right legal help, you can fight the charges being held against you and work to get them reduced or even dismissed. At Eric Alan Berg & Associates, our experienced criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to helping Chico residents fight complex charges and protect their futures. Don’t wait to ask how we can be of assistance to you.

Types of Violent Crimes in Chico

Violent crimes in Chico include a broad range of offenses, all of which involve the harm or threat of harm to another person. These kinds of charges can come with severe penalties, depending on the circumstances. Some common types of violent crimes include:

Assault and Battery. It’s important to understand that assault is an attempt to harm another person, while battery is the action of carrying it out. For instance, raising a hand to punch someone who then moved out of the way would be assault, but if they did not move and the punch struck them, that would be battery.
Homicide. This offense occurs when the defendant takes someone else’s life. Charges of this nature range in severity, including manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and murder. While the penalties for homicide depend on the level of premeditation, the severity of the homicide, the intent, and the circumstances surrounding it, most of them are long-term and severe.
Domestic Violence. Domestic violence in Chico occurs when harm is inflicted on another person who is in an intimate relationship with the defendant. An intimate relationship can be defined as a spouse, partner, family member, or person with which the victim shares a child.
Sexual Assault. This involves non-consensual sexual acts, which could include rape or sexual battery. Sexual assault is always viewed as a serious offense in the eyes of the state and can come with harsh penalties upon conviction.
Gun or Weapon Crimes. These offenses involve inflicting harm using an armed weapon. This can include shooting in a home or in a public place.

Defenses Against Violent Crimes in California

If you are charged with a violent crime in Chico or surrounding areas, an experienced attorney from our firm can evaluate your case and the evidence against you to build a powerful defense. Some common defenses used against violent crime accusations in California include:

Self-Defense. If you were acting in defense of yourself or the defense of others (especially those who can’t defend themselves, such as children or the elderly), self-defense may be used as a defense.
Mistaken Identity. If you can show that you were not at the scene of the crime, such as proving you were somewhere else through eyewitness reports or travel receipts, a mistaken identity defense can be used.
Lack of Intent. While this does not prove that the violent act did not happen, many violent crimes require that intent be proven. If the prosecution cannot prove that you had intent to harm, it may result in reduced or dropped charges.
Lack of Evidence. It is the prosecution’s responsibility to present evidence that proves your guilt. If they do not have enough evidence to prove your guilt in a drug crime, it can result in the case being thrown out.
False Claims. In some cases, the accuser makes false allegations for a variety of reasons, including retaliation, spite, personal arguments, contentious divorce or child custody hearings, or misunderstandings. When this occurs, your lawyer in Chico, California can argue that false claims were made and work to disprove them.

Why You Need a Violent Crime Lawyer in Chico

When facing allegations with such heavy magnitudes, it’s crucial that you have an adept defense attorney by your side who can ensure justice is pursued. Working with a violent crimes lawyer gives you a much stronger chance at getting your charges reduced or dismissed, in addition to providing you with steadfast legal support and representation throughout your case. If you have been charged with a violent crime in Chico, do not postpone seeking legal aid to protect yourself.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a Criminal Lawyer Cost in California?

A: Every California lawyer uses a different pricing structure, making it crucial that you discuss costs and additional fees when consulting with potential representation. While some attorneys charge by the hour, others could offer a fixed price. The total cost of your attorney depends on their experience, how complex your case is, how long your attorney works on your case, their location, and more.

Q: What Is Considered a Violent Crime in California?

A: In California, acts that injure or threaten to injure another person are considered violent crimes. These crimes usually include assault, battery, robbery, murder, and domestic violence, and they may entail physical harm or force. Violent crimes can vary in severity depending on the situation and can be classified as either felonies or misdemeanors.

Q: What Is the Most Common Violent Crime in California?

A: In most areas of California, assault is the most frequent violent crime. This crime entails purposefully hurting or threatening to hurt someone else. Depending on the severity of the injuries and incident, assault in California can be categorized as either simple or aggravated. Beyond assault, robbery and domestic abuse are some of the most common violent crimes.

Q: How Much Is a Retainer Fee for a Criminal Lawyer in California?

A: A retainer fee is an up-front payment made to a Chico criminal defense attorney to guarantee legal services and the attorney’s availability for your case. This fee will vary with every lawyer. The complexity of the case and the attorney’s background will have the largest impact on the ultimate retainer cost. The retainer may be a fixed sum in some cases, or it may be applied to hourly charges in others. Before signing any contracts, you should discuss all fees with your lawyer.

Contact Eric Alan Berg & Associates Today

If you have been charged with a violent crime in Chico, you do not have to handle the legal process on your own. The compassionate, skilled attorneys at Eric Alan Berg & Associates can defend your rights and protect your future. Contact us today to learn more about our Chico violent crime services.

On May 4, 2018, Attorneys of Eric Alan Berg and Associates successfully suppressed evidence in a DUI case resulting in a complete dismissal. The client had been pulled over on a Friday night leaving the Market Street Steakhouse. A Redding police officer claimed that his tail light was out and initiated a traffic stop. Unbeknownst to the officer, the car had just passed a safety inspection a few weeks before. The defense subpoenaed the inspection records and called the technician who serviced the car to testify to explain that the light was working properly, and called an eye witness who saw that the light was in working condition the morning after the arrest. The client can now return to work without fear of any license restrictions, probation, or punishment.

DUI Dismissal

A man in his 60’s was charged with molesting and sodomizing five boys in a 35 year period. The sheriffs detective knew at least one of the boys had recanted but he hid the tape recording wherein the boy said it never happened. The district attorney had to search the sheriff’s computer himself to find the tape showing the man’s innocence and showing that the boy said he was innocent.

False accusation of multiple molestation

We represented an old man who was accused of sexually molesting his girl friend’s daughter. The prosecutor claimed that he confessed on tape. The defense showed that it was no confession. Many of the jurors found the defendant not guilty. The defendant eventually avoided state prison and was freed.

False accusation of molestation of girl friends daughter

Our client was a probation officer and was charged with sexually molesting his neighbor and his adopted foster daughter. The defense showed that his daughter had a long history of falsely accusing people of serious crimes. The defense also presented the daughters long history of mental illness. The defense also showed that the police lost a crucial recorded statement of another complaining witness. Many jurors found the accused innocent of the charges and the court dismissed the charges after the first trial.

False accusation of adopted child molestation

Our client was charged with sexually molesting his adopted step-daughter. The district attorney claimed that he had a confession on tape. The defense showed that it was not a confession but a set up. Many jurors found the defendant not guilty and the court dismissed all of the charges. In that case, the accuser originally accused our client of molesting her for many months. The district attorney tried to change the story when we proved that he wasn’t even in town when these crimes supposedly occurred.

False accusation of molestation of step daughter

We defended two Hells Angels accused of rape. At the trial we proved that the accuser exchanged her phone number with one of the other old bikers at the clubhouse, a few minutes after the alleged rape. Through our investigation, we learned that the accuser, a young woman in her early twentys had borrowed her father’s car for the night. She returned it late, making him late for work in the morning. She needed a good excuse. The excuse she used was that she had been raped by two Hells Angels.

False accusation of rape

An old man in his 70’s was charged with threatening 2 sheriff deputies with his Chinese assault rifle . This man was a famous newspaper editor and publisher in the county. He was a regular critic of the Sheriff. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. On Christmas Eve, he and his wife had been burning rat’s nests on his property in Hayfork. As the fire got out of control and spread prisoners from the local fire camp were called to put it out. They were up all night making noise and causing his dog to bark which kept him and his wife and his dog awake on Christmas eve. He went down to the prisoners and told them to be quiet and then went back home.

False accusation of threatening of Sheriff Police.

Recently, a client of ours was facing multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, which is a prison eligible felony. Additionally, the DA in the case was looking to add more prison eligible felonies such as bringing a controlled substance into a jail. Eric Alan Berg & Associates was able to negotiate an agreement with the DA where our client plead to only two misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm and controlled substance.

Securing Misdemeanor Deal when Client charged with Strikes

Recently we had a client who was arrested for possession of drugs and child abuse. Attorney Eric Berg was able to convince the DA to file only the drug possession charge and not the child abuse charge. Further, if our client continues with their treatment plan the entire case will be dismissed in six months without ever requiring our client to plead guilty or no-contest. If you or someone you know is facing legal troubles give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Facilitating Substance Abuse Treatment and avoiding a Criminal Record

Recently a client retained us who was stopped for a traffic violation while they were transporting a couple of pounds of marijuana, which was discovered by law enforcement during the stop. Our offices were able to get all their charges and case dismissed in court. If you or someone you know has been arrested for similar crimes, give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Marijuana Transportation Case Dismissed

Before retaining us, our client had a number of pending cases, and some matters being investigated by law enforcement. They took a plea bargain in which they plead guilty to three of their pending cases, with the understanding that the rest of their pending cases would be dismissed and any un-filed cases would not be filed. Shortly after entering this agreement, the DA’s office filed charges related to an investigation that began before they entered the agreement. We successfully argued that the DA’s office breached the plea agreement, and had the plea agreement enforced – meaning the new case was dismissed. If you or someone you know is in need of an attorney, give us a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!