- Child Custody and VisitationSomeone who was served with an order preventing them from contacting their children would have to obey that order. They could perhaps seek some modification of the order in the family law court room or in a civil court room in order to restore some visitation rights or custodial rights. In the interim, if the order prevented them from contacting their children, they would not be able to legally contact them until they got a further order from the court.
- Child AbuseEven if the person being removed was the person on that lease, or even if they were on title, they would be excluded from their house if they were served with that. The judge would be able to issue an emergency protective order, if the judge found that reasonable grounds existed to believe it was necessary to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction, or stalking, and the judge would be able to issue that order on the spot.
- Criminal Defense"If you are in the unfortunate situation of needing a criminal defense attorney, hire Amy Chapman to represent you. Not only is she very knowledgeable but she is also very experienced. Amy is highly respected by district attorneys and judges alike. She was quick to respond to any inquiries I had and was aggressive in her representation. I have in the past and will continue to recommend Amy Chapman."
- DUI/DWIAccording to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 124,141 DUI arrests in the state in 2019 (the most recent year available). These arrests are not evenly distributed among California counties, as some counties account for a disproportionate number of arrests.
- Traffic ViolationsDetails: Client was driving northbound from Southern California through Sonoma County when he was pulled over fro a traffic violation. The officer smelled marijuana and searched the car. He found approximately $80,000 in cash and a duffel bag with marijuana crumbs in it. In addition, he found what he believed were “pay and owe” sheets and a “marijuana shopping list.” The car’s GPS was set to a destination in Mendocino County. The officer believed the Client was on his way to purchase a large amount of marijuana and arrested him. Following testimony from the officer and a narcotics expert at the preliminary hearing, the judge ruled there was not enough evidence and discharged the client.
- Sex CrimesIn rape cases, consent is the most common defense; that a sexual encounter was consensual. In child molestation cases, the most common defense or theory of defense is that the child is lying, exaggerating or was improperly influenced by adults around the child. Of course anyone accused of any type of sex crime is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to have their case proven to a jury unanimously beyond a reasonable doubt. I’ve been defending people accused of sex crimes for nearly 16 years and never cast judgment on my clients.
- Fraud: Theft crimes in California include burglary, petty theft, grand theft, check fraud, and other offenses that can send you to state prison for years. Residential burglary in particular is a serious felony that counts as a strike.
- Robbery. One of the most serious types of theft is robbery, which involves taking someone’s property from them through the use of force or fear. If you are convicted of felony robbery, you may be sentenced to as many as 9 years in California state prison.
- BurglaryBurglary means entering a building with the intent to commit a theft or a felony. “Breaking and entering” is not an element of burglary. If you walk into an open store with the intent to shoplift or cash a bad check, you could be charged with commercial (2nd degree) burglary. If you enter an unlocked door or window of a house with the intention to steal, you could be charged with residential (1st degree) burglary.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsAll misdemeanor domestic violence cases in Sonoma County start in a domestic violence courtroom presided over by the same judge, unless it was sent out to a trial department for further litigation. If the person was ultimately convicted, then they would send it back to the domestic violence court room for sentencing and monitoring within that courtroom. If it gets charged as a felony, then the case would be heard in the regular felony courtrooms just like any other felony case.
- Embezzlement– An embezzlement charge may be filed against someone accused of misusing personal property entrusted to them or stealing goods or money. Embezzlement charges are often filed in cases where an employee is accused of stealing from their employer or an accountant is accused of stealing or misusing client funds.
- Drug CrimesA conviction for drug possession charges can have devastating lifelong consequences, including potential complications in finding employment, housing, and financial aid for post-secondary education. Those who are facing such charges should carefully explore their legal options. In some cases, you may be able to get drug possession charges dismissed.
- AssaultPenal Code section 240 defines assault as an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another. Simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail.
- MurderThe killing occurred during the commission or attempted commission of a crime inherently dangerous to human life. This is commonly known as the felony murder rule.
- Probation ViolationProbation violations can be as serious as any new charge. If the court places you on any form of probation and you violate the terms of your probation, you could be brought back to court and face up to the maximum sentence for the crime for which you are on probation. You may also hear or see the term violation of probation abbreviated as “VOP”.
- Identity TheftIf you are accused of any type of theft related crime, you could face serious repercussions, even if no one was hurt or all of the property was returned. Some theft cases, such as identity theft, embezzlement, or fraud, can be incredibly complicated and require an experienced criminal defense lawyer to sift through the evidence and defend your rights in court.
- HomicideIf you’ve been charged with homicide, 1st or 2nd degree murder, contact Amy Chapman today at (707) 636-3207 or fill out the contact form to the right.
- ArsonResult: Murder, robbery, and residential burglary charges DISMISSED. Client admitted to an arson and being an accessory after the fact.
- ShopliftingRobbery does not need to involve a weapon. Taking money from a bank by pointing a gun at the teller is certainly a robbery. But taking money from a teller by using a fake gun or even a note is still robbery because the teller gave up the money because of fear. Some shoplifting cases turn into robberies if the shoplifter is confronted by store security and the shoplifter uses force on the security guard to try to get away with the property.
- Restraining OrderThere are a few different levels of orders in domestic violence cases. It starts from the time of the arrest. The police officer would be able to call an on-call judge and get an emergency protective order issued. That order would be good for five court days or seven calendar days whichever came earlier and after that order expired, or before the order expired, the victim would be able to seek a temporary restraining order in the family law or civil court and serve that against the accused.
- Forgery“Ms. Chapman represented me when I was charged with several counts of drug possession, burglary and forgery in multiple cases. I thought..." - Kathleen.
- KidnappingSimple kidnapping is defined in Penal Code section 207. In order to prove that a kidnapping took place, the prosecution needs to prove that...
- ManslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter is punishable by 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison. Involuntary manslaughter is one of the enumerated serious felonies, making it a strike in California.
- Internet CrimesBeing arrested or even investigated for any sex crime is a frightening and embarrassing experience. Not only is your freedom at stake, you can also face the loss of your family, your career, and your reputation. Because an allegation of sexual misconduct should never be taken lightly, you need to enlist the help of a qualified attorney who can defend you against a sex crimes charge at the earliest possible stage. Amy Chapman has successfully defended people accused of child molestation, rape, date rape, statutory rape, sexual battery, prostitution, pimping, indecent exposure, lewd conduct, child pornography, Internet sex crimes, and failing to register as a sex offender. You can be assured that the Law Office of Amy Chapman has the resources, knowledge, and experience to defend you against any type of sex offense.
- Prostitution: Being arrested or even investigated for a sex crime like rape, child molestation, sexual battery, prostitution, or child pornography is a devastating event that can destroy your future. You’ll need a criminal defense lawyer like Amy Chapman, who has successfully defended these charges in the past.
- Extortion: Kidnapping is the crime of unlawfully moving a victim from one place to another a substantial distance away without their consent. It is a violent felony in California, so 80% of a resulting sentence would have to be served. Related offenses include kidnapping a child under 14 years old and kidnapping for ransom or extortion.
- Hit and RunCalifornia Vehicle Code 20001 states that a driver who fails to stop at the scene of an accident that results in injury or death to another person may be found guilty of felony hit and run. Drivers who flee the scene of accidents with the knowledge that there is likely an injury could face a felony charge.
- Property DamageThese requirements apply in accidents involving two or more moving vehicles in traffic, collisions with parked vehicles, and collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. The severity of the property damage does not matter – you must stop at the scene following any accident in California.
- Work VisasI had a client who was here from another country on a work visa and he was out one night drinking and dancing with a group of friends. Later that night, he had a sexual encounter with a longtime friend of his who he had a crush on for quite some time. He felt guilty about the encounter afterward, not because it wasn’t consensual, but because her boyfriend, who was also a friend of his, was in the other room.
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