What Makes a Good Criminal Lawyer?

It is a question that may determine the future freedom of you or a loved one.  There is a big difference between the actions of a personal injury, a civil, a divorce, a bankruptcy and a criminal attorney.  It would seem logical that when you look for the best criminal lawyer you are looking for someone practices that branch of the law…and ONLY that!

Here are some things to look for –

1.  Investigation…thoroughness is always the key.

2.  Negotiation…one who knows everything about his client and applies it in negotiations.

3.  They challenge everything that they can.

4.  Winning records…in the end that is all that matters!

San Jose criminal attorney William Chestnut checks all of the boxes.  When he tackles your case, he does so with the idea that you will both come out of this as winners.  The most important thing is that you can get your life back.  If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense in California call Bill immediately at (408) 298-6990.      

Filing a Petition for Expungement.

Being charged with a crime in California is by no means a pleasant experience.  Not only are you facing potential fines, jail time, appearances in court, but damage to your reputation as well!  Because you are a resident of The Big Bear State you have an advantage.  Individuals with criminal records could “clean the slate” through expungement.

Now, this does not mean that your record is clean.  Instead, your guilty plea or conviction will be withdrawn and replaced with a permanent plea of not guilty.  What happens next?  The case is then dismissed as if the conviction never happened in the first place!  As you may have guessed, not every conviction qualifies for expungement.

To find out more about filing a petition for expungement contact San Jose criminal lawyer William Chestnut.  Attorney Chestnut has been dealing with this tricky nuance of California law for many years.  He will help you navigate these waters.  Give Bill a call today to discuss expungement at (408) 298-6990.    

Pot is Legal in California…or is it?

First the facts, recreational use of marijuana became legal in California on January 1, 2018. The legalization is the result of voter passage of Proposition 64 in November 2016.  If you are an adult age 21 and older you may now possess up to one (1) ounce of dried marijuana or eight (8) grams of concentrated cannabis.

Now the gray areas –

1.  It is still a crime for individuals to sell marijuana in The Big Bear State.

2.  You need a state AND local license to distribute it.

3.  Marijuana is still illegal on a national basis.

4.  You can never distribute it to a minor.

5.  And…don’t even think about driving while you are high.

Having a lawyer just a phone call away who has dealt with California drug cases for decades is always important.  For all drug-related charges San Jose criminal defense attorney William Chestnut has been aggressively defending Californians since the 1970’s.  You can count on Bill!  Just give him a call at (408) 298-6990.    

Who is William Chestnut?

Go ahead, Google him.  You will find this review written about him by The Law Firm Overview…Attorney William Chestnut is an aggressive trial attorney, but is also someone you can trust and easily talk to. Prior to founding the practice, William Chestnut was a probation officer, and encountered a number of people who he believed had been mistreated by the system.

By the way, Bill is bi-lingual.  Just visit his website at williamchestnutlegal.com and read for yourself.  As you would expect, Attorney Chestnut is committed to strict confidentiality.  What is said in his office stays in his office.  He has the time AND the desire to conduct a complete investigation of your case.

It all adds up to one thing, San Jose criminal defense attorney William Chestnut is committed to the accused of Santa Clara County and the surrounding area.  Since California is such a diverse state, Bill covers a diverse area of criminal law.  Check out his website at williamchestnutlaw.com, then give him a call at (408) 298-6990.

Youuu're Out…or Are You?

In baseball, if the umpire calls strike three…you’re out.  What about in the State of California?  It’s the famous “three strikes” law which was introduced in the mid-'90s amid a violent crime spree, where a defendant convicted of a felony who had two or more prior felonies would automatically receive 25 years to life.

Then, in 2012 came Proposition 36 which –

1.  Revised the law to ease the punishment when the crime was not violent

2.  Re-sentencing when there appears to be no risk to public safety

3.  It now depends on what the first two crimes were about

You don’t have to know all of the nuances of the “three strikes” law because San Jose criminal defense attorney William Chestnut does.  Bill was practicing in California when the law was first enacted in 1994 and when it was revised in 2012.  He will vigorously defend your rights if you are a three-time offender.  Call the law office of William Chestnut at (408) 298-6990.

What Color is your Collar?

That sounds rather cryptic doesn’t it?  The subject is fraud and most Americans think of it as a “white collar crime” done at the corporate level by people wearing business suits.  According to Wikipedia fraud is defined as the deliberate deception to secure unlawful gain.  It can also be the act of depriving a victim of their legal rights.

Fraud comes in so many forms such as –

1.  Welfare fraud…a growing entity in an aging population

2.  Worker’s compensation fraud…be careful when you mess with “Big Brother”

3.  Swindle…depriving someone of money or possessions

4.  Computer fraud…so many innocent people have been involved

San Jose California criminal attorney William Chestnut has handled fraud cases of virtually every type in the four plus decades he has defended the accused in The Big Bear State.  Fraud is a very complicated issue…do not take it likely!  If you or a loved one has been accused of fraud in California call on the experience of Bill Chestnut at (408) 298-6990.

When Good Kids Go Wrong.

So many families in the San Jose area are torn asunder when a juvenile is arrested for a crime.  The whole group is adversely affected when someone from the family who is under 18 is held in custody.  Perhaps I can make it a bit more comforting by giving you a brief synopsis of how juvenile courts differ from adult courts in California.

Some of the differences are –

1.  A minor in a juvenile case is not entitled to a jury trial.

2.  There are FOUR hearings in the process.

3.  Minors must be brought to court within 48 hours of their arrest.

4.  On occasion, teens who are accused of serious crimes MAY be tried in adult court.

5.  Juvenile probation differs considerably from adult probation.

DO NOT let fear of the unknown grip you or your family.  If a loved one has been accused of a juvenile crime in the State of California call me.  I am San Jose criminal defense attorney William Chestnut.  I have been defending underage kids for decades and I know all of the nuances of juvenile court.  Just give me a call at (408) 298-6990.