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.

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.

Juvenile Crime in the San Jose Valley.

Crime involving kids under 18 is certainly not unique to our area.  Unfortunately, juvenile crime rates run higher than average in the Bay area.  By county - Monterey, San Francisco, San Joaquin, and Alameda Counties rank one, two, three, and four in statewide rates for homicide for young people 10-24.

What are some of the most common juvenile charges?

1.  Larceny or theft.  Shoplifting, personal property…whatever it may be.

2.  Vandalism.  Kids seem to love altering the look of things and “showing the man”.

3.  Disorderly conduct.  Often time this happens at school.

4.  Alcohol.  They can’t wait to turn 21 and teenagers (just like adults) make bad decisions when drinking is involved.

Juvenile crime in the state of California is no joke.  The courts will not just give your kids a slap on the wrist.  One thing is certain…a conviction could affect your child for the rest of his or her life.  When a loved one is accused in this area turn immediately to San Jose juvenile crime defense attorney William Chestnut.  Put his four decades of experience to work for your family by calling (480) 298-6990.

The Effects of Juvenile Crime in California.

Juvenile crime tears apart families.  If someone in your family is under the age of 18 and breaks the law, they can be charged with a juvenile crime.  Your case will be handled by the Juvenile System, including Juvenile Corrections and Juvenile Court.  This is true even if you are emancipated so don’t think for a second that changes the scenario.

There are different outcomes that a court may order in the state of California including…

1.  Your child may live with you under court supervision.

2.  Your child may be get probation. He or she may have to live with a relative, in a foster home or group home, or perhaps some other type of institution.

3.  The juvenile may be sent to a probation camp or ranch. Look up the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. If your child happens to be tried in adult court, he or she WILL be sent to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

If you are ever faced with a minor being arrested in the San Jose area, make sure that you take immediate action.  Your first step is to call the experienced juvenile defense attorney William Chestnut.  Attorney Chestnut has been dealing with the defense of minors for 4 decades.  Call him to discuss the proper steps to take at (408) 298-6990.

Juvenile Crimes

Juvenile crimes are a nightmare for the entire family.  Lives may be torn apart when a minor is accused of a serious crime.  If you are under 18 and break the law, you can be charged with a juvenile crime.  Your case will be handled by the Juvenile System, including Juvenile Corrections and Juvenile Court.  This is true even if you are emancipated.

There are several different events that a court may order in the state of California including…

•           Your child may live with you under court supervision.

•           Your child may be put on probation. He or she may have to live with a relative, in a foster home or group home, or in an institution.
•           Your child may be put on probation and sent to a probation camp or ranch. Your child can be sent to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. If your child is tried in adult court, he or she WILL be sent to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

If you are ever faced with a minor being arrested in the San Jose area make sure that you take the proper and immediate steps.  Your first step is to call the experienced juvenile defense attorney in the area, William Chestnut.  Attorney Chestnut has been dealing with the defense of minors for over 30 years.  Call him to walk through the proper steps at (408) 298-6990.

A Competent San Jose Juvenile Attorney

If your son or daughter is facing the juvenile criminal justice system, you should know of the severe ramifications a criminal conviction can have on your child's future. Attorney William Chestnut has experience on all sides of the law. His intimate knowledge of your case and you as a person is what sets him aside from other attorneys who just want to move your case along.

If your child is facing the criminal justice system, don't gamble with his or her future. Call Attorney William Chestnut for a consultation. Preserving your child's future is a phone call away.

An Attorney In San Jose Who Will Fight For You

The Halloween season begins the Holiday Season. As we all know, DUI arrests tend to rise during the holidays. There are numerous reasons why, but the greatest is stress.




When we are kids, the holidays are pretty stress free. Nobody is expecting anything from us and we know we are going to be getting a bunch of goodies.




But, then we grow up and the responsibilities and rigors of adulthood seem to quell those love of the holidays because they remind us of how expensive and stressful they can be.




Add to that, the office work parties, the neighborhood parties and all of the travel. The short of it? The Holidays are stressful. Whether your rich or poor, the holidays seem to offer up problems for people in all walks of life.




Whether you were arrested for DUI or something even more serious, you have a friend during the holidays and beyond. William Chestnut, Attorney. For more than 30 years, Attorney Chestnut has a distinguished record on both sides of the law and has a complete understanding of both and how they affect you.




Don't let the holidays get you in a rut. If you go to that office party, carpool with a designated driver, or take a taxi, or uber. But, if you do happen to find yourself on the wrong end of the law, you know who to call.

The Need For Sentence Reform

When coming out of prison, people need many things, but the critical ones are safe housing, drug treatment and jobs. Theoretically, $2 billion dollars allocated to prison inmate reduction and sentence reform is ironically being given to county jails, which have seen their own overcrowding only get worse as they have absorbed thousands of inmates from state prisons. So far, counties have allocated an average of just 12 percent of their realignment funds to re-entry programs.

Where does this leave someone who has to reenter society? If there are no jobs, no treatment facilities and no proper reentry programs, the revolving door of California's
prison system perpetuates.

Until major sentencing reform is even discussed, a competent attorney who understands ALL aspects of the law from both sides; is your best defense when facing the justice system. Your best chance to preserve your future is to act in the present. Call the Law Offices of William Chestnut for a consultation. We are here to fight vigorously for you.

San Jose Criminal Attorney

When someone is charged with criminal spousal abuse charges relating to an argument involving domestic violence in the State of California, there are two common charges that they face in a criminal court. Those charges are corporal injury to a spouse, which is charged a felony crime or spousal battery which is generally charged as a misdemeanor crime. In this blog, we will discuss those two possible charges and will focus on certain issues that I have seen arise in various criminal cases that the Law Offices Of William H. Chestnut have handled involving criminal charges stemming from domestic violence.
Understand however, that every case is unique and that only an experienced criminal lawyer who is familiar with the facts of your case can properly advise you regarding your criminal matter. That is why if you or someone you love is facing criminal charges, the best thing that you can do for that person is to hire a San Jose Criminal Attorney to handle the criminal case. Going it alone can and will leave you at the mercy of the justice system which isn't very merciful when dealing with an accused domestic abuser.
Don't let the courts stigmatize you. We will fight for your freedom and good name. Call us today for a consultation.

A San Jose Defense Attorney Who Will Fight For You.

William Chestnut has over 35 years of experience in dealing with the law from both sides. Once a probation officer, this opened his eyes to the injustices he saw. Having felt the legal system was treating folks unfair based on biased reasoning, he decided to become a Criminal Defense Trial Attorney.


Since then, he has fought aggressively to ensure the rights of all of his clients are protected. We as a nation are a minuscule part of the world's population yet we imprison far more persons per capita than any other industrialized nation. That is a terrifying thought. It really makes you pause and think about the line: "land of the free...". Maybe land of the mostly free would be more apropos.


This isn't an effort to smear our justice system, it can only be improved when awareness is made and reform is pursued.
Until then, if you or someone you know are facing criminal charges, don't go it alone. Seek the counsel of a competent attorney who knows the law inside and out. The Law Offices Of William Chestnut are standing by and ready to fight for you.

The Distinction Between a Career Criminal and a Drug Addict

Drug use in America has skyrocketed. Some attribute it to the drug companies reintroducing the public to opioids and other horribly addictive drugs that will make the most pious person turn into a full blown addict.
Along with an addiction comes a physical and psychological need to get more... By any means necessary. Often, crime is the choice. When deep enough in the throws of addiction, one may or may not be able to decipher right from wrong. Crime then becomes not an option but an only resort.


There are repercussions for breaking the law, but theres also a distinction between a career criminal and a drug addict. The law unfortunately doesn't make that distinction. Which is why sentence reform is needed. The war on drugs was about as successful as the Vietnam War. A lot of people have died and no progress has been made.
If you or someone you know has been charged with drug possession, use, abuse, sales, etc. Give us a call today. The justice system doesn't care about your reasoning for committing crime, but we do.

Hire a San Jose Criminal Attorney to Handle a Criminal Case.

When someone is charged with criminal spousal abuse charges relating to an argument involving domestic violence in the State of California, there are two common charges that they face in a criminal court. Those charges are corporal injury to a spouse, which is charged a felony crime or spousal battery which is generally charged as a misdemeanor crime. In this blog, we will discuss those two possible charges and will focus on certain issues that I have seen arise in various criminal cases that the Law Offices Of William H. Chestnut have handled involving criminal charges stemming from domestic violence.
Understand however, that every case is unique and that only an experienced criminal lawyer who is familiar with the facts of your case can properly advise you regarding your criminal matter. That is why if you or someone you love is facing criminal charges, the best thing that you can do for that person is to hire a San Jose Criminal Attorney to handle the criminal case. Going it alone can and will leave you at the mercy of the justice system which isn't very merciful when dealing with an accused domestic abuser.
Don't let the courts stigmatize you. We will fight for your freedom and good name. Call us today for a consultation.

A Theft Charge Can Range From Petty To Grand Larceny.

A theft charge can range from petty to grand larceny. Both of those and everything in between can carry with them stiff penalties. Whether it was accidental or intentional, the law doesn't show much regard for an "accused thief".

We don't regard you as "thief", we regard you as a human being with liberties bestowed upon you the day you were born. Protecting those liberties and rights is our primary concern. We will not let you be labeled an unfair "Scarlett A" applied to one who is charged with theft. Sometimes it's a misunderstanding, sometimes it's just a bad decision made. Whatever it is, we don't judge. We defend.

If you or someone you know is facing charges of theft--be it petty to grand larceny, we are here to fight for you. Giving us a call today could be the difference between freedom and imprisonment.

Is Your Child Facing Serious Drug Charges?

“Boys will be boys” people often say when a youth engages in mischief. But what if it goes beyond toilet papering a house (which, by the way is an arrestable offense).
But what if it’s worse than that? What if your child is facing serious drug charges? Vandalism? Or the most serious; murder.

When facing the justice system as a juvenile, a few things should be taken into account.
Did the said youth know that what he/she was doing was wrong? Illegal?
The juvenile justice system should seek to rehabilitate and curb behavior rather than punish.
There is a disproportionate amount of minority youths being tried and sentenced for juvenile crimes that when their white counterparts face the same charges, the repercussions are far less.
As is the adult justice system is often imbalanced and flawed, so is the juvenile justice system.

These are scary realities your child will be facing. In some cases they may even be tried as an adult depending on the severity of the circumstances. Don’t let your child go it alone and don’t think because he or she is “just a kid” that they will be treated as such.

Curbing and rehabilitating a youth before he or she reaches the adult prison system is far more successful then trying to do so after they’ve entered the adult prison system. Sometimes a little guidance and patience is what’s needed to turn a youth around. Call us today so we can help steer you on that path. Go it alone and you may see the juvenile justice system is more concerned with moving cases along than rehabilitating your young one.

San Jose Area Teen Arrested After Allegedly Assaulted Cop

Police used a Taser on a teen who they say had been smashing side mirrors on cars in a parking lot. They also say the San Jose area teen punched a cop after they tried to arrest him, leading to the use of the Taser. When teens are arrested for violent crimes, they sometimes don't understand their rights. Police will talk to them without a parent, guardian or attorney present, and if a teen says something to them, authorities may use it against the teen in court.

The teenager in this case is facing charges of felony vandalism, public drunkenness, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. All of these charges can lead to significant consequences if the person is convicted. Many times when a teen is charged with a crime, they might find it hard to further their education and might even have difficulty finding a job.

Because of the potential consequences, it might be wise for a teen and their parents to speak with a criminal defense attorney. An attorney can help make sure their rights are preserved. If police said or did anything that might have violated the teen's rights during an arrest, it might lead to a wrongful conviction.

A rigorous criminal defense can help fight charges and might be able to reduce the impact criminal charges have on a teenager's future. Criminal charges could have an effect on a person's ability to get into college and further their education beyond high school. An alleged mistake as a teenager shouldn't mean a person's entire future goals become unattainable.

Contact San Jose Criminal Defense Attorney William Chestnut at 408-298-6990 or at williamchestnutlaw.com for assistance with criminal defense matters.

The Reduction Of Juvenile Incarceration

Can reducing juvenile incarceration decrease crime? When it comes to jailing juvenile offenders, the United States incarcerates a disproportional amount of youths compared to other industrialized nations. The juvenile crime rate is higher in the U.S., which tells us simply locking up our youth is not the answer.

There are many different types of detention facilities around the country who claim they are there to reform troubled kids. Statistics show that in most instances reform isn't exactly what is happening. Juveniles are exposed to deplorable conditions and humiliating treatment from staff and other inmates. After enduring this treatment they become conditioned.

Many other industrialized first world nations wouldn't dream of incarcerating their youth. There is still hope for a child. With the right guidance and discipline many, if not, most can be rehabilitated. Building character, trust, and getting to the root of the child's behavior with medical, psychological, and spiritual tutelage are more common practices abroad. In the United States we inhibit those possibilities by suggesting that the child is a criminal and needs to do "hard time." Some studies have revealed an increased propensity for violence among youths as a direct result of juvenile incarceration.

For more extensive information regarding the incarceration of youth, read the Annie E. Casey Foundation's report: The Case For Reducing Juvenile Incarceration: No Place For Kids.

If your child is facing legal action, you are not alone. Act quickly to preserve your child's future by contacting San Jose Juvenile Defense Attorney William Chestnut at (408)298-6990.