Have a Safe and Happy Holiday.

I have been wishing my friends and fellow citizens this for over forty years now.  It has been my pleasure (and will continue to be) to have vigorously defended those accused of criminal offenses in 2017.  Without defense, a person faces the criminal justice system of California alone and that is NOT acceptable!

Too many good people in our area are wrongly accused of a criminal act.  Some of these charges range from domestic violence, sex offenses, juvenile crimes, drug charges, different types of theft, etc.  I hope to be there to aggressively defend you or a loved one when called upon for many years to come.

My name is William Chestnut.  I am a criminal defense attorney serving the citizens of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda Counties.  I am known throughout the South Bay Area for my dogged defense of many different criminal charges.  Please visit my website at williamchestnutlaw.com and, once again, happy holidays to one and all.

Bay Area holiday events 2017: Tree lightings, Santa, teas and more

Bay Area holiday events 2017: Tree lightings, Santa, teas and more

(Click the link above for more information)

Get together with family and friends and enjoy the holiday season!!

Holiday Parties Gone Wild.

This time of year, a holiday gathering may include illegal “party favors”.  People let their hair down and get careless by using narcotics to enhance holiday celebrations.  Being caught with drugs this time of year does not excuse you and your party-going friends, so you should know the consequences.

In the state of California, a drug charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony. Those convicted of this offense as a misdemeanor, face up to one-year in a county jail and a maximum $1,000 fine. If you are convicted of this offense as a felony, you face 16 months, or two or three years in the California state prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Sobering…isn’t it?  If you or someone you care about has been arrested on a holiday drug charge you need immediate and aggressive representation.  In our area, we have counted on San Jose drug possession defense attorney William Chestnut for decades.  Don’t let this holiday season go south!  Call Attorney Chestnut at (408) 298-6990.

5 Top San Jose Holiday Events

5 Top San Jose Holiday Events

(Follow the link above for more information)

Get out and enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

 

Holiday Joy…Holiday Stress.

All too often one accompanies the other.  As families gather together to celebrate the end-of-the-year holidays, familiarity all too often breeds contempt.  We speak of domestic violence.  It is in the news a great deal these days and holiday time may exacerbate the situation.  Do not let your loved ones go down that path!

Some of the components that constitute domestic violence are-

1.  Inflicting trauma on a loved one.

2.  Physical violence…assault.

3.  Kidnapping.  This time of year, kids are often targeted.

4.  Threats…sometimes bordering on terrorism.

All of these emotional tipping points and more could result in the arrest of someone you care about on a domestic violence charge.  In Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, and Alameda County the right choice is to call William Chestnut.  Bill is a domestic violence defense attorney serving our area for over 40 years.  Call attorney Chestnut today at (408) 298-6990.

Help Me…My Kid’s in Trouble!

These are words that no parent ever wants to utter.  It happens every day in this country…a good kid goes astray and is accused of running afoul with the law.  Even worse, a juvenile hangs out with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Suddenly his or her life and the lives of their loved ones are turned upside down.

What constitutes juvenile crime?  These are some offenses specifically related to one's status as a minor, such as truancy; possession and consumption of alcohol; the purchase of tobacco products; and curfew violations.  There is (and should be) a huge difference in how juvenile delinquents and adult criminal offenders are treated.

When your child is accused of doing something outside of the law there is no time for hesitation.  If it occurs in our area, you immediately call Attorney William Chestnut.  He has had four decades of experience as a San Jose, CA juvenile crime defender.  At this point it is merely an accusation.  Do not let it go any further!  Call Bill at (408) 298-6990.

Katy Perry in San Jose, Nov 14

Katy Perry in San Jose, Nov 14

(Click the link above for more information)

November 14, 2017

Tuesday   7:00 PM 

SAP Center

The Difference Between Theft and Burglary.

We hear these words interchanged often, but most of us do not think of the difference between the two.  First of all, there is theft.  It is sometimes known as larceny, petty theft, or grand theft.  To commit a theft, someone has to take another person’s property without the owner’s consent.  It involves money and other physical goods.

Then there is burglary.  In this particular case, you don’t necessarily have to take any property to be convicted of this crime.  You can actually be convicted without committing a crime within the building, and the crime you intend to commit does not have to be theft or robbery.  Force or violence does NOT have to be present to be charged with burglary.

The nuances of theft vs. burglary could mean the difference in considerable prison time.  You must seek proper representation to defend yourself against either charge.  People in California have been turning to San Jose burglary and theft defense attorney William Chestnut for decades.  Arrange an appointment at Bill’s office right away by calling (408) 298-6990.

Boo Bash Halloween Party - San Jose

Boo Bash Halloween Party

(Click the link above for more information)

BOO BASH HALLOWEEN PARTY..... Get your costumes and dancing shoes ready! Get your friends and groups together and come join us !!

Things are Getting Hot Beneath that White Collar.

In the internet age, white collar crime is rampant.  Maybe you or a loved one have been accused of such a crime.  If so, take it VERY seriously!  Just because you did not use a lethal weapon does not make the offense any less important.  Fraud, forgery, and identity theft are very common in personal and business life.

If you or someone you care about have been accused of one of these crimes you need an attorney who will stand up for your rights and ensure you get the best defense possible. Maybe you have been unjustly accused or you took actions you now regret, you still have the right to protect and defend your rights and tell your side of the story.

Since the dawn of the internet age Californians have turned to William Chestnut for aggressive and thorough defense.  He is a San Jose area white collar crime defense attorney.  Bill is a man who has fought for the fair treatment of hundreds of accused criminals over the decades.  Please call him today at (408) 298-6990.

Drug Possession 2017.

So, let’s get an update on what constitutes drug possession.  Our friends in Nevada say marijuana is now free to purchase and use within your home.  What about us here in the Big Bear State?  California state laws include two diverse categories for crimes of drug possession.  They are simple possession and possession with the intent to sell.

We are taking a step in the direction of marijuana.  The California Health and Safety Code now separates offenses related to controlled substances.  There are “dangerous drugs” and there is weed.  There are specific offenses related to methamphetamine as well.  If the prosecutor feels that someone had the intent to sell their stash that’s a whole new ball of wax!

Drug possession and intent to sell are very slippery slopes.  You need an experienced, aggressive San Jose drug defense attorney to represent you in any California criminal court.  Attorney William Chestnut has devoted the last 40 years of his life to defending people accused of crimes in our state.  Please call him today at (408) 298-6990.

GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS - Sept 19th!

The Concerts at Wente Vineyards

(Click the link above for more information)

"GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS "ROCK PARTY TOUR 2017" - Tuesday, September 19th"

Your Past May Also be Your Future.

It sounds like some cryptic old Chinese proverb.  In this day and age of access to almost everything what you or a loved one has done in the past WILL probably come back to haunt you in the future.  When you apply for a job the prospective employer will do a Google search on you.  Count on it!

If you or someone you care about has been convicted of a crime it is imperative that damage control be done.  Believe it or not, the majority of misdemeanors AND felonies may be cleared in court.  I’m not sure that you knew about the felonies part.  Even serious convictions may be ameliorated by Certificates of Rehabilitation.

One awful mistake should not hamstring you for the rest of your life.  There is an attorney who has been dealing with these matters in California for four decades.  He is William Chestnut…a San Jose rehabilitation lawyer.  If you don’t know him yet, look him up under www.williamchestnutlaw.com/rehabilitation.  Then call his cell phone at (408) 298-6990.

Reflections - Watercolor Works by Jan Grady, August 1-26th

Reflections - Watercolor Works by Jan Grady, August 1-26th

(Click the link above for more information)

Reflections by Jan Grady

August 1-26, 2017

Artist Reception: Friday, August 4 5-8PM

Artist reception will be held at Viewpoints Gallery and is free and open to the public.

Can’t We all take a Breath?

We will break from the traditional tidbit of information for a quick moment just to remind everyone to keep their heads about them.  People are fighting with people they don’t know.  Crimes are being committed in every state of the union that never used to occur.  We all need to take a deep breath and reassess how lucky we are to be Americans.

Be a better person and avoid conflict with people who disagree with you.  The American way has always been “it’s a free country”.  Recent violence has made all of us question what we can say and where we can say it.  We hope that you appreciate living in California and enjoying the freedoms that entails.

If you or a loved one ever get into a kerfuffle and are arrested on a criminal charge we hope that you will seek the council of one William Chestnut.  Bill has been a resident of the San Jose area for decades and is known throughout the area as a premier criminal defense attorney.  It you need him he will be there for you.

Santa Clara County Fair - San Jose!

Santa Clara County Fair, San Jose

(Click the link above for more information)

"Not many American festivals can claim over 70 years of fun in their history, but the Santa Clara County Fair is one of them. This weekend of music and family fun takes place every summer in San Jose."

Sex Offense Carries a Lifetime of Stigma.

Someone makes the wrong move.  Someone interprets that move incorrectly.  Now, we have the possibility of a life being changed forever by the stigma of a sex offense.  Everyone knows about the Bill Cosby case.  It grabs headlines because of the celebrity, but being accused of a sex offense is very real and it happens every day in California.

The life of a convicted sex offender is never the same again.  They must register wherever they live.  Even people who have spotless records in the past are suddenly branded and subjected to a lifetime of scrutiny.  So, if you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime in this state immediate action is required!

You simply must fight back and not be just another victim in a series of people convicted without proper representation.  For well over forty years in this state men and women have come to rely on San Jose sexual offense defense attorney William Chestnut.  It begins today by arranging a visit at his office by calling (408) 298-6990.

Grand Theft Auto.

Fun to play in your living room…not fun to be accused of!  The stealing of an automobile or other vehicle is a felony…period.  Prison may be the next destination.  In the summer in San Jose and the surrounding area joy rides increase.  What seems innocent on the surface may turn a life around forever.

The general principle of Grand Theft Auto is that it has a dollar amount placed on it.  Once that is exceeded, the prosecutor must show certain things.  They must show that the individual took and drove a vehicle.  That vehicle had to belong to someone else.  The intent had to be to permanently deprive the owner of said vehicle.

A vigorous prosecutor will go after all three.  A seasoned criminal defense attorney knows how to fight back.  In our area that man continues to be San Jose grand theft auto defense attorney William Chestnut.  He has defended unfairly accused car-jackers for over 40 years in California.  Call him today at (408) 298-6990.

California's Great America - Taste of Orleans

California's Great America - Taste of Orleans

(Click the link above for more information)

"The Taste of Orleans festival at California's Great America, featuring Cajun and Orleans food, live music and décor, takes place July 22-23 and 29-30 in the park’s Orleans Place area and will be open to all Great America guests."

Hey, that’s Mine!

Let’s examine the charge of theft.  Even if you have been charged for the first time in your life it is a serious matter.  The severity of the punishment (if convicted) could range from probation to jail time plus repayment of the value of the items that you were convicted of stealing.  Not only that, think of what a conviction would do to your reputation!

Areas of theft include-

1.  Fraud which is defined as deception by an individual for personal gain.

2.  Property crimes which would be the theft of personal property without using force.

3.  Robbery could be the worst in that it involves the implied use of force.

You would be amazed at how many Californians just sit around and wait for their trial date before taking action!  Why would you not call San Jose theft defense attorney William Chestnut for a consultation before the “horse leaves the barn”?  It couldn’t hurt to find out where you stand with the California criminal court system by calling Bill at (408) 298-6990.

4th of July Bay Area Guide!

4th of July Bay Area Guide

(Click the link above for more information)

Looking for 4th of July parades, celebrations and fireworks displays? Check out our Bay Area 4th of July events guide.

Protect your Kid.

Sometimes the unthinkable happens and your child is arrested for a juvenile crime.  Your lives have been turned upside down.  It is so important to keep a level head and NEVER trust the authorities to treat him or her with respect.  You must act immediately if your child has been arrested and held in juvenile hall. 

The prospect of juvenile court is looming.  So that you understand, this is a special department of a trial court for under-age defendants who are charged with crimes.  By under-age we mean under the age of 18 in the State of California.  Serious and repeat crimes can land a young person in prison!

This is NO small matter.  Your kid’s entire future is on the line.  At a time such as this the first thing to do is pick up the phone and call San Jose CA juvenile crime defense attorney William Chestnut.  For over 40 years he has defended the rights of those under 18 accused of every imaginable crime.  Call him immediately at (408) 298-6990.

Make Your Father's Day Plans

Make Your Father's Day Plans

(Follow the link above for more information)

"Father's Day in San Jose has a lot to offer for the weekend. Take dad to dinner, a Father's Day brunch or one of the many events going on in San Jose for Father's Day 2017."

Kids and Family Activities around San Jose

Kids and Family Activities around San Jose

(Follow the link above for more information)

Check out activities for kids and families around the San Jose area and plan your next family adventure! 

Temperaments Rising.

When temperatures rise, all too often, so do temperaments.  Hot weather, unfortunately, often triggers domestic violence.  The kids are home from school, the family is strained by familiarity - whatever the reason may be, restraint is the order of the day.  There is NEVER an excuse for domestic violence!

In the State of California steps have been taken to curb it by requiring arrests at the scene.  The prosecution is vigorous and the sentences are severe.  Make no mistake about it, if you are accused of domestic violence your future is in serious jeopardy if you are convicted.  Quick judgments lead to mistakes often being made.

Don’t be a victim of a false charge.  If you are arrested and accused, immediately call San Jose area domestic violence defense attorney William Chestnut.  He has been around long enough practicing before California criminal courts to know how the law works TODAY.  Call him right away for aggressive representation at (408) 298-6990.

What's Going on Memorial Weekend in San Jose

Your Guide to Memorial Weekend in San Jose

(Follow the link above for more information)

 Click on the link above for a list of events around San Jose to help you plan out your Memorial Day Weekend! 

Heroin use is on the Rise in California.

Unless you have been in a cave you have probably heard about rising heroin overdoses and arrests around the country.  Let’s focus on the millennials for a moment.  This segment of our society between 18 and 35 years of age is shaping the future of America.  Their use of heroin is growing at an alarming rate at least in the Big Bear State. 

Here is a statistic that may shock you.  Between 2012 and 2016 millennials checking into California ER rooms with heroin overdoses has increased by OVER 100%!  Just in the latest reporting year of 2015 our state’s 20 somethings had over 1500 emergency hospital visits because of this drug which is 50% more than 2012.

You may know or even BE a millennial caught in the middle of all this and suddenly your life is turned upside down with an arrest for possession.  That is when you act immediately and call San Jose CA heroin possession defense attorney William Chestnut.  In his many years he has just about seen it all and will act quickly to rally to your defense.  Call him at (408) 298-6990.

Mother's Day in San Jose 2017

Make Your Mother's Day Plans! 

(Follow the link above for more information)

"This is a list of events tagged as "Mother's Day" in San Jose-Santa Cruz, California."

What is Property Crime?

No, it is not when someone lets weeds grow in the front yard or decides to paint their house yellow!  Property crime may include vandalism, arson, a stolen vehicle, burglary, and more.  By definition, it is the seizing or destroying of items that do not belong to that person and does not directly threaten the safety of the victim.

Robbery is NOT a property crime.  That reaches the next level of a violent crime because it threatens an individual with bodily harm.  Still, property crime is very serious and needs to be treated as such.  We hear stories of “kids on a joy ride”.  They think they are “borrowing” a car for the night, but the owner does not see it that way.

It can get very complicated and needs to be sorted out by a seasoned attorney.  That is why people in this area have turned to Santa Clara County property crime lawyer William Chestnut for decades.  If you or a loved one is facing such a charge act NOW.  Call Attorney Bill Chestnut at (408) 298-6990.

Deep Cliff Golf Course NCGA PLAY!

Deep Cliff Golf Course NCGA PLAY!

(Click the link above for more information)

"The Northern California Golf Association and Deep Cliff Golf Course want to show you what a good time golf can be - with NCGA PLAY! The six-week Spring series of shorter, faster, more affordable golf events runs weekly on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. from May 4 - June 8."

Major California Drug Cases on the 2017 Docket.

It is always good to be informed.  California may have some landmark cases this year that will have an impact on drug law for years to come.  We thought that it would be wise to make you aware of one such case.  In particular, if you suffer from asthma or have a loved one who is so afflicted.

This case is T.H. vs Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.  This centers on product liability.  Can the asthma drug Novartis be held responsible for misrepresenting itself and failing to warn about a major side-effect that could occur.  In one particular case a pair of twins developed autism after their mother took Novartis for her asthma.

Cases such as these are many and varied.  We wanted you to be aware of one of them.  If you are faced with a criminal case as it pertains to drug possession or trafficking you have the comfort of relying on the four decades of experience of William Chestnut.  Bill is a San Jose CA drug criminal defense attorney.  Call him anytime at (480)  298-6990.

Easter Egg Hunt 2017

Easter Egg Hunt Tickets

(Click the link above for more information)

 

Come hunt for Easter eggs outdoors with other Windmill families and enjoy some pre-Easter cheer. We'll have an Easter Bunny and morning snacks!

 

 

Violent Crime Charges in California.

A conviction for a violent crime in this state carries dire consequences.  We don’t want to put the fear of God into you, on the other hand we do.  The first thing to remember at the point of arrest is…keep your mouth shut!  There is nothing that you can say at this moment that will do you any good later on.  Please don’t feel the need to explain yourself at this time.

There are many levels of violent crime in California.  Among them are –

1.  Sexual assault (the classic “he said, she said)

2.  Carrying weapons
3.  Robbery (with a weapon)
4.  Theft (without one)
5.  Destruction of property may even fall into this category

We said to keep your mouth shut, but there is one thing that you or a loved one must do.  You need to find the best attorney to defend you.  That is why people in the area turn to San Jose violent crime defense attorney William Chestnut.  For more than four decades Bill has been protecting the rights of the accused.  Call him today at (408) 298-6990.

A Charge of Theft in California.

If it doesn’t belong to you…don’t take it!  These are good words to live by.  Theft in the state of California is taken very seriously by prosecutors whether it is a first time incident or not.  And, if you are old enough to know better the consequences could be severe.  There is probation (at least), jail time, and repayment of the goods stolen…not to mention your permanent record.

You might think that what you or your loved one stole will be forgiven with restitution, but don’t make that error in judgement.  There are “white collar” crimes such as fraud of various types and “blue collar” crimes including theft, heist of a motor vehicle, burglary, and robbery.  Robbery generally means that force was utilized in the commission of the crime.

Whatever you or someone you care about is accused of DO NOT just wait around for a court date.  Take immediate action!  Call San Jose theft defense attorney William Chestnut immediately.  He has been defending good people in California criminal courts for more than four decades.  Call today at (408) 298-6990.

Make Your Plans for St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day Events in San Jose

(Click the link above for more information)

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day—even those who refuse to wear green.  Follow the link above to a guide to some of the best local pubs and restaurants. May the luck of the Irish be with you.