A common misconception about the criminal justice system is that an alleged victim “presses charges” against someone. In California, once the police present a report to a prosecuting agency (like the DA’s Office) about alleged criminal activity, it is up to the prosecuting agency, not the victim, to file charges. While most prosecutors take into account the feelings of victims, generally they won’t just drop a case because the victim doesn’t want you prosecuted. That said, there are circumstances that can persuade a prosecutor to go in a different direction from a criminal prosecution and/or view the case in a different light.
This is why it is so important to hire a sharp defense attorney right away. An experienced criminal defense attorney knows the things to look for that make a prosecutor second guess the strength of their case. And because memories fade and evidence gets lost over time, hiring an attorney right away is critically important to creating the strongest defense possible.