Choose A Defense Attorney With A Broad Range Of Criminal Defense Services Based On Experience

William Chestnut represents people throughout Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Alameda County, Silicon Valley and the South Bay Area who are charged with any of a wide variety of California felonies or misdemeanors:

• Record clearances and expungements
• Certificates of rehabilitation
• Applications for pardon by the governor
• Domestic violence and protective order hearings
• Sex offenses, from indecent exposure to child sex offenses
• Computer crimes, cyber crimes and Internet crimes such as Internet fraud or phishing schemes and identity theft
• Environmental crimes
• Theft crimes, property offenses and fraud, including benefits fraud such as workers' comp fraud or welfare fraud
• White-collar crime
• Traffic violations, speeding tickets and traffic crimes from hit and run to vehicular homicide
• DUI, including DMV license suspension hearings
• Drug offenses from possession of marijuana to drug trafficking conspiracy
• Violent crimes, including assault and weapons charges
• Parole and probation violations
• Sex offender registration violations
• Issues involving the immigration consequences of criminal charges
• Juvenile offenses

Contact Attorney William Chestnut for a Free Initial Consultation

Located two blocks south of Taylor/Naglee near I-880, William Chestnut's law offices are open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Weekend appointments can be arranged, and attorney Chestnut is available to meet with you in jail. The firm accepts Visa, MasterCard, cash and checks as payment for its services. Contact the Law Offices of William Chestnut today to arrange for a free initial consultation.

Call for a free consultation immediately. (408) 298 - 6990 (24/7).

Questionable Forensics Means New Trial For Murder Defendant

Perhaps one of the greatest misconceptions we have today is that because forensics is called a science the information that results from the tests and analyses done by experts in that field is thought to be indisputable truth. What criminal defense attorneys in California and elsewhere know is true, though, is that forensic evidence can be, and many times is, faulty, unreliable and experts may exaggerate their significance, all of which can result in innocent defendants being convicted.

The prevalence of such miscarriages of justice is what inspires the efforts of the Innocence Project - a national group that helps those it feels have been wrongly convicted and incarcerated get the justice they are due. One of the latest such cases involves a 34-year-old Minnesota man who's been in prison for six years of a 14-year sentence for the death of an infant daughter. He was freed on bail and has been granted a new trial based on new evidence presented in court by Innocence Project attorneys.

Don't assume that if you're innocent the "truth will set you free". Anyone being accused of a crime needs aggressive representation. If you're in need of criminal defense contact San Jose Criminal Defense Attorney William Chestnut at 408-298-6990 or at williamchestnutlaw.com for assistance.

Mistrial In Molestation Case Raises Questions About Prosecutions

Local San Jose media have picked up on the fact recently that of all the child molestation cases heard so far this year in Santa Clara County, 43 percent have ended with juries either acquitting the suspect or being deadlocked on a verdict, resulting in a mistrial.

The apparent jump in mistrials is beginning to raise questions among some legal minds with expertise in dealing with sex crimes charges. There are those who say it may be due to overly aggressive prosecutors taking their cases to trial without sufficient evidence. Others suggest that juries, swayed by myriad crime shows on TV, have expectations of receiving forensic evidence that aren't being met.

If you're in need of criminal defense contact San Jose Criminal Defense Attorney William Chestnut at 408-298-6990 or at williamchestnutlaw.com for assistance.

Social Host Ordinance Could Bring Criminal Penalties Against Parents

Social host ordinances have been springing up across communities for many years. Now, San Jose has passed its own ordinance, hoping to curb underage drinking. According the San Jose Mercury News, the social ordinance would make the adult who owns or leases the property responsible if more than three underage people are found drinking on the property, and they could be charged with a crime. This means parents need to be extra cautious as to what their children are up to.

These ordinances place the burden of responsibility on the parents for knowing exactly where their children are at every moment of the day. If a parent needs to go out of town for work for a night, or the parents take a vacation without their kids, they might risk being fined for the social host ordinance. It might not be as simple as locking up the liquor cabinet.

If you're in need of criminal defense contact San Jose Criminal Defense Attorney William Chestnut at 408-298-6990 or at williamchestnutlaw.com for assistance.

Man Claims Police Brutality After Arrest For Robbery

When someone is arrested, they have the right to be treated fairly and with respect. Being arrested doesn't mean a person is guilty of a crime; therefore they should be treated as innocent, until they are proven otherwise. Sometimes when a person is accused of committing a violent crime, police act violently toward the accused person, even if they are arrested without resistance. This could be an act of police brutality.

Sometimes police overstep their authority or abuse that authority and they violate the rights of the accused. A man in another state was arrested and convicted of robbery. He claims that while he was getting arrested police stomped on him and caused great bodily injury to him, including a hemorrhage in his eye and broken bones. These injuries are a serious violation of the accused person's rights.

If you are a victim of police brutality, contact San Jose Criminal Defense Attorney William Chestnut at 408-298-6990 or at williamchestnutlaw.com for assistance with criminal defense matters.

Juveniles Arrested After Fire In South San Francisco

Teenagers sometimes hang out with their friends, and do things that their parents might not approve of. If these activities result in an arrest, it is important that teens and their parents understand their rights. Five juveniles were arrested last week after allegedly lighting a fire in Sign Hill Park using illegal fireworks in South San Francisco. One boy was identified by investigators who allegedly told police he was with the four others.

Sometimes juveniles are accused of crimes and their parents might not know how to handle the legal situation. Speaking with a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in juvenile criminal cases might be a wise decision.

The teens in this case were charged with conspiracy and burning property. Although they were released to their parents, they may still face some legal issues. They could face consequences that could harm their ability to get into college and might have long lasting effects. Parents often care about their child's wellbeing, and even if they make a mistake, would never want those mistakes to harm their chance at a solid future.

An attorney can help the teen and their family understand the charges they are facing and how the legal system works for juveniles. People might think that a crime committed by a juvenile is just automatically wiped off of their record once they become an adult, but it is important to fully understand how each individual charge can affect a teen's future. Some charges might consequences that might last into adulthood.

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

Man Accused Of Sex Acts With San Jose Girl

Sometimes people are accused of crimes that could harm their careers. A psychotherapist has been accused of engaging in sex acts with a girl in San Jose and is now facing criminal sexual charges. The man has reportedly never had any disciplinary action within the context of his job, and has said the girl was not one of his patients. Even if the girl was not one of his patients, the charges against him could limit his ability to continue as a licensed psychotherapist in the future.

According to reports, the man met the girl in a social context and he said she lied about her age. Cases like this can greatly impact a person's career, regardless of their relationship to the other person. The man's reputation can be hurt just by having charges brought against him, which highlights the severity of the charges he faces.

If the man is convicted of the crime, he risks losing his license to practice in his profession as well as other consequences besides jail time. Many states require people convicted of sexual offenses to register as a sexual offender, and announce their presence to neighbors if the ever move. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help people understand the charges they face and how the criminal court proceedings work.

Sometimes police and investigators present evidence that might have been illegally obtained. An attorney can help protect the accused person's rights and make sure that no improper evidence is presented in court. Any such evidence could result in a wrongful conviction.

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